Bill Snyder is entering his 23rd season at Kansas State University as the head football coach. In that time Snyder has acquired a 178-90-1 overall record.

After just the first six games last season things were not looking good at Kansas State as the Wildcats went 2-4, but all four of those losses were by 10 points or less. The Wildcats then went on to win six of their next seven games including a win over Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

Looking towards the upcoming season Tuesday during Big 12 Media Days Snyder said that his optimism for the upcoming season changes daily. One thing that he knows for sure is that the players can not take anything for granted.

“My major concern is always young people taking things for granted, and I say young people I probably can reference everybody in our program,” Snyder said. “It is not taking our performance level, our talent level for granted. Not taking the preparation for opponents for granted. Not taking our workouts during the course of the summer for granted. Trying to find that way to get better every single day.”

Snyder continued to say that his is proud of the amount of effort his team has put in over the summer months, but he can’t project what kind of football team that will make them when the season starts.

“I know what we have capabilities of being, whether or not we can reach that level or not is dependent upon a lot of things and the biggest thing is not taking anything for granted.”

Eyes will be on Senior Quarterback Jake Waters this season as he returns for just his second and final season at Kansas State. Waters transferred to K-State from Iowa Western Community College last season and split time at quarterback with Daniel Sams, who has left the team, early last season before taking a more permanent role towards the end of the season.

Snyder explained that Waters is one of those players that will do everything he can and do the little extra to improve.

“He does that consistently and we saw the benefits of that in the later part of last season, and hopefully it continues,” said Snyder.

The K-State offense also returns one of the top receivers in school history Senior Tyler Lockett. Snyder commented that Lockett is another one of those players that will work each and everyday to try and improve.

“He’s one of those guys that you leave the practice field, you go in your office, you look out the window and you’ve got the equipment managers out there twiddling their thumbs wanting to get the lights turned off and Tyler won’t let them because he’s out there catching balls off the machine and keeping quarterbacks out to throw to him.”

Both Lockett and Waters have been named this years Senior Captains along with offensive lineman B.J. Finney, linebacker Jonathan Truman, and defensive end Ryan Mueller.

The Wildcats kick off the 2014 season August 30th at Bill Snyder Family Stadium against Stephen F. Austin.