New Kansas State coach Collin Klein's opening press conference went just about the way any fan thought it would.
As a school legend returned to the building to take the highest position in the sport, a mix of excitement, optimism, and respect filled those listening to his opening remarks.
Gene Taylor and the Wildcats ushered in their 36th head coach in school history, as Klein dropped many gems and one-liners that could stand alone as soundbites in a future hype video or his career outro tribute.
And he promises to lay claim to them over the course of his career.
“I love challenges and doing hard things," Klein said Friday afternoon. "To go and take this program where it’s never been is gonna be hard. I want it to be hard, I want it to be difficult. We’re gonna attack it together as a staff, as a fanbase, and as an administration, and we’re gonna take this program where it hasn’t been before."
And why wouldn't onlookers believe him? His track record speaks for itself, helping lead the program to a Big 12 championship as a player in 2012 and as an offensive coordinator in 2022. As a Kansas State icon, he wants to emphasize the school's most reputable characteristics: grit and toughness.
"You look at toughness, the mental and intestinal fortitude to play this game of football the way that it needs to be played, is different," Klein said. "That’s bred and will continue to be bred into every single Kansas State Wildcat. You talk about physicality. Some people like to visit physicality, we live there."
The Wildcats are known for smash-mouth football, emphasizing the run game and suffocating defenses. After a season that saw inconsistencies in both, Klein wants to reinstate that for years to come.
“We’re gonna be the new old school," Klein said. "We’re gonna stay true to a value system that’s been in place for a long time. We’re gonna move our program forward and take the steps necessary to chase excellence in everything we do. We’re gonna love our players. We’re gonna be elite relationship builders that strive and scratch and claw to make sure that we know that we, myself, and out staff have their backs no matter what. And make sure to help them become the best they can possibly be, on and off the field."
His words check off the boxes fans want to hear, and they're coming from a pretty reputable source. However, above all, they want results. The high expectations for Kansas State since 2022 have not come to fruition, and they want to see change from the top down.