Play-by-play announcer Wyatt Thompson, a native Kansan, serves as the anchor of the Kansas State Sports Network and returns for his eighth season behind the mike as “Voice of the Wildcats.” K-State’s director of sportscasting, Thompson also serves as host of the Bill Snyder and Frank Martin Shows on television and joins Snyder and Martin on weekly call-in shows on the radio K-State Sports Network. In addition, he is involved in various Catbacker Club, alumni and athletic department functions, frequently serving as a keynote speaker.
Thompson came to Kansas State from Colorado State, where he was the playby-play voice for CSU’s football and men’s basketball teams for five years.
1. Bill Snyder has done it again. What can you say about the coach and the job he has done yet again?
Coach Snyder is the most consistent coach and person I have ever been around. He believes in his system and rarely if ever deviates from his plan. He has done a great job getting this team to play to its strengths, which is solid defense, a good run game and solid special teams play.
2) After the first game of the season, which was a 3 point win versus Eastern Kentucky – did you ever even think Kansas State could be sitting at 7-0?
No. Nobody expected this team to be 7-0. Most thought the defense had a chance to be better than last year and it certainly has been and more. Last year’s defense was last in the nation in rush defense. This team is allowing just three yards per rush. Offensively, with a new quarterback, running back and three new offensive line starters, expectations were average at best.
3) Kansas State’s welcoming Oklahoma to town this weekend. The Wildcats win if…?
I think they must have offensive balance. K-State has been real consistent running the ball this season, and we have seen steady improvement in the passing game. Teams are just harder to defend when you can do both fairly well. K-State must limit big plays when the Sooners have the ball, and keep mistakes at a minimum.
4) How confident are you going in that Kansas State can control the clock and keep the Sooner offense off the field?
Klein and Hubert are both in the top 10 in the Big 12 rushing race. I think that speaks to their skills, but also to the effectiveness of the offensive line. This groups does not get the credit it probably deserves. How confident am I that they can run and control the clock? I guess I would say that I have a large degree of confidence that Coach Snyder and his staff will find some things in game planning that will allow them to run.
5) For those who do not follow Kansas State closely and have never been to Manhattan, tell us what a home game is like at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Bill Snyder Family Stadium is a wonderful place to watch college football. K-State fans are some of the most loyal in the country, and their passion for their university and football team can be measured by how loud this place gets on fall Saturday afternoon’s. This is my 10th season as voice of the Wildcats, and I have heard countless times that this facility is as loud as any.
