Snyder takes pen in hand
K-State coach writes letters of admiration
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The letters come on Kansas State stationary, always written in purple, felt-tip pen. The scrawling handwriting is unmistakable, the looping letters clear and distinct.
Each is unique, though, tailored to a player who was injured. Perhaps had a great game.
In an era of Twitter and text messages and attention spans of 140 characters or less, the notes that Bill Snyder writes still stand out. They arrive shortly after games, usually offering his encouragement or expressing his admiration, regardless of the outcome.
He does not leave the job to an assistant. He does not have a secretary type them up. No, the longtime Kansas State coach spends time each week writing them himself.
“Well, I’ve got to do something,” Snyder said with a wry grin. “You’re in an office 24 hours a day, so you find something to do. But I do write a great deal of notes.
“It’s to players that I believe performed well,” he said, “to young people that I believe have the right approach, the right attitude about their lives, about college football.”
Snyder has a hard time recalling the first letter. He doesn’t even hazard a guess as to how many he’s written over the years. In fact, the 74-year-old coach had probably sent hundreds before anybody but the recipient became aware of them.
It wasn’t until a few posted their letters on Twitter that they became known.
“You’ve had a great year, Jace,” read a letter that Snyder wrote a couple years ago to Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, who dislocated a rib against Kansas State.
“Admire how hard you play and the innate toughness you display to help your team. Hope you weren’t hurt badly,” Snyder wrote. “Wishing you and your teammates continued success, good fortune and health.”
Amaro, now with the New York Jets, still has the letter.
“It definitely meant a lot to me to get that letter,” Amaro said. “It was one of those deals where I got injured and I knew it was my last home game and I was never going to play there again, so I guess he took notice of how I was playing with a dislocated rib.
“He just respects the guys he goes against,” Amaro said.