Why the Liberty Bowl is arguably K-State’s most meaningful postseason game in years
Kansas State football players danced across the field as rap music signaled the start of Liberty Bowl practice Saturday. Then they strapped on their helmets and enthusiastically prepared for their upcoming game against Navy like a team that has badly missed being a part of the postseason a year ago.
But just in case they needed extra motivation, Chris Klieman asked performance coach Ben Newman to give the Wildcats a passionate speech at midfield.
His message: Navy is going to bring its best this week. K-State needs to do the same. Millions of potential football fans will also tune into the Liberty Bowl to watch K-State take on No. 21 Navy, and a victory will mean a great deal for both teams. Winning a game like this against a quality opponent won’t be easy.
That is important for the Wildcats to remember this week. The Liberty Bowl may not rank among the most prestigious bowl games in the land, and K-State fans were upset that their team missed out on bigger postseason destinations, but it is arguably the most meaningful bowl they have played in several years.
“I want it real bad,” K-State senior receiver Dalton Schoen said. “I think all the seniors really do, just for us to have one more win for each other and our new coaches would be the perfect way to end my career here.”
Consider what is at stake for Chris Klieman’s team.
A victory over Navy Tuesday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium would give K-State its first nine-win season since 2016 and match its most successful year since the Wildcats won the Big 12 championship in 2012.
It would also likely earn the Wildcats a spot in the final top 25, which is something they haven’t accomplished since 2014. Odds are good K-State can move into the rankings with a bowl victory. Navy is ranked 21 in the current AP poll, No. 22 Southern California lost to Iowa in the Holiday Bowl and No. 25 Oklahoma State lost to Texas A&M at the Texas Bowl.
That leaves lots of room for K-State to enter the mix after finishing just outside the national polls at the conclusion of the regular season.
Klieman could add another feather in his cap in his first year as K-State’s head coach.
It has also been a while since K-State won a postseason game against a healthy opponent that genuinely wanted to be there.
That hasn’t happened since K-State defeated Arizona State 34-27 in the 2002 Holiday Bowl or K-State beat Tennessee 35-21 at the 2001 Cotton Bowl.
Its most recent bowl victories came against UCLA (playing with an interim coach and a backup quarterback) at the 2017 Cactus Bowl, Texas A&M (playing with its top upperclassmen eyeing the NFL Draft) at the 2016 Texas Bowl and Michigan (playing with a backup quarterback) at the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
Things feel different this time.
“It’s a great opportunity,” K-State freshman receiver Joshua Youngblood said. “We are in a great city and a great bowl playing a great opponent. We couldn’t ask for more.”
Motivation won’t be an excuse for Navy. The Midshipmen want to be in Memphis.
“We are all very excited,” Navy linebacker Diego Fagot said. “This is an historic game and I know the team is very excited to be playing a Big 12 team like Kansas State. The American Athletic Conference isn’t very respected for some reason, so when we have a chance to play a Power 5 team it’s very exciting. I look forward to it, for sure.”
The Liberty Bowl is a big deal for Navy, because it is one of the few times it has gotten to play in a bowl that isn’t designed around honoring the military. The Midshipmen earned an invitation to this game based solely on their football accomplishments.
A win over K-State would give them their second 11-win season in school history.
“Knowing that only one other Navy team has done that, it would be a terrific thing to finish 11-2,” Navy defensive tackle Jackson Pittman said. “But we know Kansas State is going to come in and give us their best. We need to make sure we focus on ourselves and do everything we can to stop them as a defense.”
The Wildcats were hard at work Saturday making sure they will be ready for whatever the Midshipmen try at the Liberty Bowl.
This is a big game for them, too.
This story was originally published December 28, 2019 at 3:07 PM.