Kansas State still views Missouri as football rival a decade after Tigers left Big 12

Kellis Robinett
Jeff Tuttle/ASSOCIATED PRESS

How long has it been since Kansas State and Missouri met on the football field?

There are a few good ways to answer that question without mentioning the actual number.

  • Collin Klein was playing quarterback for the Wildcats at the time. Now he is their offensive coordinator.

  • Bill Snyder and Gary Pinkel were roaming the sidelines and shared an icy farewell handshake. They are both now retired.

  • Chris Klieman was working as a position coach at North Dakota State.

  • Eliah Drinkwitz was a quality control coach at Auburn.

  • Missouri and K-State were Big 12 rivals. Now they are in separate conferences.

Much has changed since K-State defeated Missouri 24-17 in 2011 during their final meeting as conference foes, but there is one thing the Wildcats are trying to keep the same. They want to view the Tigers as a rival.

“To me it does (feel like a rivalry),” K-State football coach Chris Klieman said. “We’re having some of the older guys reach out and talk to the players about the rivalry game, because I think it is. I remember as a kid growing up and watching KU, Missouri, K-State and Nebraska and I thought they were great rivalries. I’m excited.”

Fans seem to feel the same way. Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be over capacity for the second straight week when K-State hosts Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday. The athletic department has been selling standing-room-only tickets for weeks.

Few K-State players have much hate for Missouri, as they haven’t been on the schedule for 11 years, but some definitely felt overlooked by the Tigers as high school recruits.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Phillip Brooks, Jaren Lewis, Randen Plattner all grew up in the Show-Me State, and they each shared stories of their disdain for the Tigers at a team meeting earlier this week.

“They told stories about how they grew up Mizzou fans and were pushed away from Mizzou because they never got a chance to play for them,” K-State defensive end Nate Matlack said. “They doubted their talent. So that’s why they came here, because they came to the school that believed in them.”

Former K-State defensive lineman Reggie Blackwell also submitted a humor-filled motivational video for the team to watch about the importance of beating Missouri.

That should provide extra motivation this week.

“That is something that is going to allow me to practice harder this week, watch film harder and play hard on Saturday,” K-State running back Deuce Vaughn said.

Linebacker Austin Moore also mentioned that his late grandfather was a gigantic Missouri fan, until the Tigers left for the SEC.

“He was always watching them,” Moore said. “I saw quite a few of their games. He’s not with us anymore, but I know if he was he would definitely be cheering for K-State.”

Even a complete foreigner to the dormant rivalry like Adrian Martinez, who transferred in from Nebraska last winter, understands it’s importance.

“I am incredibly excited to be a part of an old-school Big Eight rivalry,” Martinez said. “I know we’re sold out and we have got a lot of Missouri guys on the team. They are passionate about this game.”

The Wildcats and Tigers are only scheduled to play twice as nonconference opponents before they once again go their separate ways. K-State will travel to Missouri for a road game next season.

But Klieman wouldn’t mind playing the Tigers more often, or other schools that K-State has football history with.

“We have played Stanford and we have played Mississippi State. Now to have a regional game for our fans and for our players is really exciting,” Klieman said. “I know it is exciting for the fans and all the people that saw Mizzou coming here for so many years.”

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