Collin Klein's mind won't be on Kansas State football's Ring of Honor ceremony Saturday
MANHATTAN — Much as Collin Klein would love to participate in Kansas State's Ring of Honor ceremony Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, he has more pressing concerns.
While the five other inductees — two of them former K-State teammates — are on the field for the unveiling, Klein will be in the locker room, making sure the current Wildcats are up to speed. Duty calls.
In addition to joining the Ring of Honor, Klein will make his official debut as offensive coordinator when the Wildcats kick off the season at 6 p.m. against South Dakota.
"I'm sure there will be a minute to be able to step back and reminisce a little bit," Klein said of seeing his name permanently displayed along with 19 others around the stadium. "(But) it's about this week for me.
"It's about our guys and making sure that we're in as good a position as we can be, being as prepared as we can be to let them go out there and play the best clean game they can, and get after it."
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The 50,000 fans expected for the game will get their chance to reminisce about Klein's playing career as a Wildcat quarterback during the recognition ceremony. There's a reason he's joining linebacker Arthur Brown (2011-12), running back Larry Brown (1967-68), defensive end Darren Howard (1996-99), wide receiver Tyler Lockett (2011-14) and quarterback Ell Roberson (2000-03).
As a senior in 2012, he helped lead the Wildcats to an 11-2 record and a Big 12 championship, including a No. 1 national ranking in November. In addition to winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and receiving second-team All-America honors, he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brian Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Manning Award.
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On the field, he completed 64.8% of his passes for 2,641 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 920 yards and 23 scores. That came on the heels of a junior season in which he passed for 1,918 yards and ran for 1,141 with a school-record 27 rushing touchdowns.
"It's pretty cool for CK and all those inductees," said K-State head coach Chris Klieman, who promoted Klein to offensive coordinator in January. "I'm excited, because when I think of Collin I think of a very humble guy that appreciates the opportunities that he had. He made the most of the opportunities.
"A terrific player, but just the humility and how he's done a tremendous job with our players, about talking about being grateful. Talking about taking advantage of the opportunity when you're given that, and it's going to be a pretty special weekend for the Klein family."
While Klein is in the locker room with his offense, he will be represented on the field by wife Shalin, herself a former K-State basketball player, and their three sons.
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Quarterback Adrian Martinez said K-State's players are well aware of the ceremony, but that it hasn't come from Klein.
"He hasn't really brought it up and I think that's just part of his humble nature," said Martinez, the Nebraska transfer who will make his K-State debut against South Dakota. "But we did see his name go up on the side, and it's our job to go out there and maybe ease his nerves.
"I'm sure he's going to be going through a lot of emotion, and we've got to go out there and do our jobs for him."
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State's Collin Klein's mind on football game, not Ring of Honor
