Kansas State's Revitalized Program and Thematic Identity

Key Quotes

"WWWWWWWWELCOME to the return of 40 For 40, our bowl preview series where every bowl game gets its own episode and each episode is exactly as long as that game deserves."

The host introduces a recurring series where each college football bowl game receives a dedicated episode. The length of each episode is determined by the perceived importance or deservingness of the game. This establishes a unique format for previewing the postseason matchups.

"Uh, Kansas State. My alma mater. This is our first bowl game. I have the fact for, um, mainly for you, Ryan. Um, so Jerry Mack, our first year head coach. Uh, everyone knows the good job he did turning a two and ten team into a ten and three team and then somehow not being hired away by Memphis. Thank you, Memphis, because he's from Memphis."

The speaker identifies Kansas State as their alma mater and notes this is their first bowl game. They highlight the success of their first-year head coach, Jerry Mack, in transforming the team from a losing record to a winning one. The speaker also expresses gratitude to Memphis for not hiring Mack away.

"That would be offensive coordinator, Mitch Miletto. What? As well as defensive coordinator, Mark Maddioli. We are the most Italian team in all of college football. The Italian Stawlians."

The speaker reveals the names of the offensive and defensive coordinators, Mitch Miletto and Mark Maddioli, respectively. They then humorously declare their team to be the "most Italian team in all of college football," coining the nickname "The Italian Stawlians." This highlights a playful observation about the team's coaching staff.

"You also have a special teams coordinator named Kyle Blocker. And while that's not Italian, it's also another gangster name. It's excellent nominative determinism. These are all great LA Noir names."

The speaker points out the special teams coordinator, Kyle Blocker, noting that the name, while not Italian, sounds like a "gangster name." They describe this as "excellent nominative determinism," suggesting the name perfectly fits a character from a crime drama. This observation adds a layer of colorful characterization to the coaching staff.

"Um, and then especially middle heavy year for the Mac. They were the one team that emerged in the regular season and obviously the conference title game. Good job by them. Unfortunately, they're not the K S U Owls, though they, so that, you know, therefore they will and must be eradicated."

The speaker acknowledges Western Michigan's successful season as the MAC champion, recognizing their achievement in the regular season and conference title game. However, they then playfully state that because Western Michigan is not the KSU Owls, they "will and must be eradicated." This expresses a strong, albeit humorous, bias towards their alma mater.

"Myrtle Beach Stadium. We were there, uh, just a few weeks ago for Coastal Carolina versus the scoundrels of Marshall on that day. Phenomenal stadium. Incredible, uh, WWE grade theatrics all around. I don't know how they'll translate to an 11 AM weekday game."

The speaker describes Myrtle Beach Stadium, recalling a recent visit for another game. They praise the stadium as "phenomenal" and note the "incredible, WWE grade theatrics" present. The speaker expresses uncertainty about how these elaborate presentations will translate to an early weekday game.