For nearly a decade the Kansas State Wildcats have posted one of the top five winning percentages in the country, and regularly battle it out for the national championship with pedigree teams like Nebraska and Florida State. They've been on top for so long that one of their players actually grew up wanting to be a part of the Wildcat program.
Zac Burton did end up on the Wildcat squad, during one of their biggest winning streaks, and now he has written a book about what it's like to be a part of a football team that regularly pursues championships.
"Great Day To Be A Wildcat: Inside The Life Of A Kansas State Football Player" is available through the Internet at www.greatdaytobeawildcat.com. It is chock full of pictures and sidebars that give readers a peek into locker room half-time sessions, off-season training, what Coach Bill Snyder is really like, and how it feels to take snaps at the quarterback position.
"I grew up around Kansas State Football," Burton says. "As a fan of the program, I always wondered what happened behind the scenes that made K-State successful. It was always my dream to play for the Wildcats. This book allows others to experience the inner-workings of the program."
And though it may ruffle the feathers of Jayhawk fans, there is no denying the winning ways of the Wildcats. During Burton's tenure in uniform (as a red shirt in 1996, and full seasons in 1999 and 2000), his team had four-straight seasons where they won at least 11 games. Only Florida State has equaled that feat.
Burton is quick to diplomatically address the complaint that has always shadowed the program: The Wildcats play a wimpy schedule and pack it with pushover teams.
"I think if we were not playing in the Big 12 that would be a valid complaint," he says. "But when you look at the caliber of teams, when even the lower tier teams can beat anyone on a given day, then I think that says something about the strength of the league," he says.
He emphasizes the respect shown the Big 12's depth by pointing out that the top league teams are usually in the hunt for the national championship.
"Look at Oklahoma last year. When you play (in the Big 12) and can win all your games, then you'll be playing for the national championship. They also played teams like UTEP and Arkansas State last year," he says.
So while he's fielding the tough questions, how do K-State players feel about playing the Kansas University Jayhawks, especially since the Jayhawks have had several mediocre seasons? Burton swears that the rivalry is still intense.
The Clay Center native was a walk-on with the program and ended up as a back-up quarterback. He met all his personal goals, including being a varsity letterman and playing in the KU/K-State showdowns. But the best thing to happen at K-State, Burton claims, was their league victory over Nebraska.
Burton credits Snyder with the program's success, saying that the coach is collected and definitely under control.
"The image you see is pretty much it," Burton says. "He's not a big rah-rah kind of guy. He has a level of coolness that keeps things even-keel. That means he doesn't get too high or low when we win or lose.
The sports tome looks at the methodical manner in which Snyder conducts half-time meetings, the strength of the off-season program and the camaraderie among the players. To put the book together, Burton would keep notes on games, practices and coaches comments, updating them weekly. Then he edited the material and published the book himself. Burton holds a bachelor's degree in journalism, and he plans on writing more sports stories.
So how does Burton think the team will do next year, since they lost 26 seniors to graduation?
"The recruiting is strong, and they've got to the point where they pretty much just reload each season," he says. "They'll be alright."
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