Posted on 10/30/2014 12:22:22 PM PDT by 11th_VA
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Beloved Kansas State University football coach Bill Snyder on Thursday endorsed Sen. Pat Roberts for re-election and is appearing in a new television ad for the three-term Republican incumbent, potentially giving the GOP a boost in a race with national implications.
Roberts' campaign launched the statewide spot just five days before the election, which has Roberts locked in a tough contest with independent candidate Greg Orman, a 45-year-old Olathe businessman and co-founder of a private equity firm.
Snyder is highly respected throughout the state and college football. His 6-1 Wildcats are the only Big 12 team without a conference loss and are generating buzz because they're ranked ninth for a national football playoff spot.
The endorsement for Roberts comes with Republicans seeking to capture a Senate majority. They need a net gain of six seats, and they've always counted on the 78-year-old Roberts winning in a state in which the GOP has won every Senate race since 1932. But Roberts emerged vulnerable from a tough primary in August against a tea party challenger who portrayed him as out of touch, and Orman has painted the incumbent as part of Washington's gridlock.
In the new 30-second spot, Snyder describes Roberts as "a dear friend and a great friend of the state of Kansas." Roberts' campaign plans to spend "six figures" on air time, manager Corry Bliss said.
"I think his track record speaks for itself," Snyder says in the ad. "He is as good as it gets for the state of Kansas."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
But will it help the Wildcats get into the College Football Playoffs if they win out? There are priorities you know!
Oh, and I hope Roberts wins!
Snyder is highly respected throughout the state and college football.
That's understatement. The guy's a legend everywhere in the state except Douglas County (Lawrence). Farmers and small businessmen listen to and trust him. This is one endorsement that matters and it will help Roberts a lot.
I work at this fine institution. Coach obviously has a lot of respect out there. I am guessing the administrators aren’t going to slap his hand for voicing his opinion.
All faculty are “reminded” every year by the President’s head lobbyist not to engage any legislators on a political matter as employee of KSU.
I keep my head down and tend to matters that make beef cattle production more efficient.
MFO
I agree with you 100%. This is by far the best news Roberts has gotten in his entire campaign.
I praying for a big turnout in western KS and along the banks of the Republican River will help put Roberts over the top.
I cannot believe the good people of KS, with the Senate majority on the line, wouldn’t be flocking to Roberts. This is the time to kiss and make up, just as the Dems always shrewdly do. Milton Wolf is a jackass for not endorsing Robert; politics ain’t beanbag. Orman is a total fraud, no question he’ll caucus with the RATS.
I agree.
Wolf is a poor loser and a bad sport. People will remember.
And Orman is a complete charlatan and cannot be trusted.
He did in fact vote for and contribute to BHO’s presidential campaign. That tells you all you need to know.
His teams haven’t always been great but I do think he does more with the talent he has than just about any coach out there.
He's a great coach who is very selective in the kind of players he recruits. He gets the most out of the people he has. He runs a very disciplined team. He would do anything for his players and they know it. As a result their loyalty to him is incredible.
And I don't know a single K-State grad who would consider themselves a poor step-sister to KU in anything, much less football.
Just another old white guy, what do you expect /sarc.
Snyder is the master of junior college recruiting. He’s been extremely successful at find players ready to move up to the Division I level who can contribute immediately to his program.
Virtually all major college coaches sign JUCO players, but Snyder has elevated it to an art form. He understood from Day One that Kansas has a limited amount of high school football talent and relatively few players dream of taking the field in Manhattan, Kansas. But he’s found plenty of JUCO guys who don’t mind spending a couple of years in Manhattan, playing against solid competition in the Big 12 and preparing for a shot at the pros.
Full disclosure: I am not a KU grad.
I have a lot of respect for Bill Snyder even though his Wildcats whitewashed my Longhorns. Didn’t he retire a few years ago and come back as head coach?
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