As long as Snyder's in charge at K-State, nothing much will change for KU football
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- The problem with Clint Bowen isn't that he's too green, too raw, too new to the head coaching fraternity and its secret handshakes.
No, no, no. He's too old. Bowen is 45. The interim football coach at the University of Kansas turns 46 in July.
Which means, basically, he'll be something like 64, 65 years old by the time Bill Snyder, at a young 95, decides he finally feels comfortable enough to turn the reins over to someone else, that the empire he built from nothing but dust and Taco Bell is safe in another man's grasp.
"It's a blessing to have stability and leadership," Kansas State athletic director John Currie said after his Wildcats had completed their usual facial tap dance over the Jayhawks, this time by a margin of 51-13. "Period."
And the contrasts between the two rivals-slash-neighbors on Saturday, from the outset, could hardly be more pronounced. While K-State officially began breaking ground on a new $65 million football complex during a feel-good halftime ceremony, the third phase of its facilities "Master Plan," KU is on its sixth head coach since 1997.
In Manhattan, they build.
In Lawrence, they rebuild.
And rebuild. And rebuild. And rebuild. And rebuild.
"It starts with getting a permanent leader," Jayhawks linebacker Ben Heeney, an outgoing senior who deserved more wins than he got, said after the contest. "And I think it is that guy (Bowen) that we just played for.
Lookin' good! Check out our gallery of Big 12 cheerleaders.
"I think the first step is hiring this guy that we have right now. (Bowen) has this thing moving in the right direction. I think that is the most important step right now."
Actually, the first step is Snyder retiring. Or flying with Richard Branson on an extended space mission of some kind, just to get it off his bucket list.
Fine, fine, fine, the Jedi Master doesn't have to leave the planet. But as long as he is where he is, and the No. 11 Wildcats (9-2, 7-1 Big 12) -- playing Baylor next week for at least a share of the Big 12 championship -- do what they do, nothing changes in Lawrence. Nothing.
And certainly, nothing, at least, where the Governor's Cup is concerned. Since 1993, the Wildcats and Jayhawks have posted winning records in the same season just twice -- '94 and '95, toward the tail end of the Glen Mason era. Over the past 20 campaigns, during the 17 seasons in which Snyder has served as K-State's coach, KU managed to reach a bowl in only four of them: 1992, '95, '03 and '05.
There's room for only one king on this here hill.
And he wears a purple windbreaker.
None of this is Bowen's fault -- he's a good guy, a true KU guy, trying to make chicken salad out of, shall we say, undesirable parts -- but it is his burden. There are young men who will run through walls for the man. Whether they can tackle some of those same walls, of course, is part of the problem at present.
Jim Harbaugh? Interesting. Not likely, but interesting. After two years of Hurricane Bill, he'd start missing Pete Carroll.
Ed Warriner? Maybe if he brought J.T. Barrett with him. And Urban Meyer.
Brady Hoke? Did you see the last Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl?
"The best way to honor coach Snyder and what he's done at Kansas State is to continue to build up our structure," Currie continued. "That's the most credible way to honor him and his leadership, by developing our physical plant so that it better reflects kind of what the program is elevated to."
Namely, dominance. Since 1997, there have been six different head coaches at Kansas, interim or full-time; five of those men got a taste of Snyder's Wildcats during their inaugural campaigns.
Average score: Snyder 56, first-time KU coach 10.
"The message (Bowen) was sending to the underclassmen after the game was to remember this feeling," Heeney said. "Obviously, if you're not feeling like crap after this game, there is something wrong. Remember this feeling and have a snapshot in your brain and think about it every time you are training."
KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger needs to remember, too. And skew young.
Not Bowen young. Heeney young.
Because the Jedi Master will wait them out. The support staff may change. The buildings may get bigger and grander and more opulent. He'll keep finding diamonds in the prairie rough, keep turning two-stars into Heisman Trophy finalists, keep turning water into wine, keep driving the recruiting experts batty.
A reporter pondered: Does dominating KU help to woo prospects?
"I have absolutely no idea," the old coach countered. "It doesn't hurt it, I can promise you that."
Another reporter, another question: How does it feel to be playing for a share of the league title in December, which would be the Wildcats' second in three seasons?
"It's better than not playing for it," he said, matter-of-factly.
As the scribes guffawed at his blunt reply, Snyder saw the dry humor in it, too, grinning broadly. It's good to be the king, same as it ever was.
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter at @SeanKeeler or email him at seanmkeeler@gmail.com.
