For Sore Winners, Snyder’s Hard to Beat

Grumpy Bill Snyder frowned his way through his postgame news conference Saturday at the Coliseum, the Kansas State football coach running down a checklist of things that made him unhappy.

His team’s performance against USC?

“Needs improvement.”

The fact that they beat the Trojans, 10-6?

“There was no celebration. Our players understand this is only a foundation. We’re a team without an identity and we are building one.”

His team’s trip to L.A., which included a one-hour detour from Manhattan, Kan., to Salina after the flight from Manhattan had to be canceled because the plane was carrying too much fuel?

“I didn’t like the traveling. I didn’t like the busing. I didn’t like being four hours late.”

The late-afternoon starting time?

“It seems like we’ve been here 40 hours.”

His defense’s performance, especially in light of the fact five of the Wildcat defenders were making their first career starts, including the front four?

“We played well, but we didn’t play well on third downs. [USC quarterback] Carson Palmer, we let him out too many times. We let our containment out too much.”

The tendency of his own quarterback, Ell Roberson, to stay in the pocket, in his first start?

“He hung in too long. That’s great in the NFL, but it doesn’t work for us. He does need to perform better to keep his job.”

The ability of his team to win its opener on the road?

“I wouldn’t say we passed the test with flying colors. Let’s just say we passed it with colors.”

The fact that this was Snyder’s 100th career victory?

“The significance of it is that it’s now 100 and not 99.”

Was there anything Snyder could smile about?

“Our kicker [Jared Brite] was lights out, wasn’t he?”

Snyder was soon gone, presumably to sulk over the fact that, after habitually scheduling lesser-regarded opponents early in the season to prepare for conference play, he had taken a gamble with a big-name opponent on the road and won a tough defensive struggle that can only bolster his players’ confidence.

Roberson, a sophomore who got into six games in a backup role last season, called Saturday’s game a “bittersweet” experience.

He completed only seven of 16 passes for 26 yards and gave up the football on a crucial third-quarter fumble that led to USC’s only touchdown. Roberson was on much more solid ground when he ran, gaining 119 yards on 21 carries for a 5.7-yard average.

With running back Josh Scobey rushing for 165 yards, it marked the first time in six years and only the fifth time in school history that two Kansas State backs had at least 100 yards in the same game.

“I am a better passer than I showed today,” Roberson said. “This was my first game. I was a little nervous.”

With Snyder looking over his shoulder, that’s understandable.