Jerome Tang doesn't want Kansas to live 'rent free' in K-State fans' minds

Jerome Tang has changed the culture very quickly at Kansas State. In his first season in Manhattan, the Wildcats are off to a 15-2 start. They’re also second in the Big 12 at 4-1 and are now ranked No. 13 in the nation. Now, ahead of the Sunflower Showdown against No. 2 Kansas which will determine first place in the conference, Tang is taking a different approach to the rivalry.

In his preview press conference, Tang sent a message to the Wildcat faithful planning on attending the game in Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday evening. He asked them to show up not because they hate the Jayhawks but because they love their K-State program.

“My message to our students? I don’t want them to show up to the game and yell and scream. And I don’t want our fans to show up to the game because they hate the other team,” said Tang. “I want them to show up because they love Kansas State.”

“Our guys, every guys on our roster? They didn’t pick this school because they hated somebody else,” Tang said. “They picked this school because they love us as a staff, they love this community, and they love this university. I would be real interested to see how we can change this thing around if we’re motivated by love rather than by hate”

As a long-time coach in the Big 12, he’s still well aware of the importance of knocking off Kansas. Still, he looked back at Baylor’s national championship year in 2021 when they split their games with the Jayhawks. They were still able to win the regular season crown and the national title without going undefeated against Bill Self’s program.

“This game? It’s one game in the conference. If we win, we get one win. If we lose, we get one loss. That’s it,” Tang said. “I came to try to win a Big 12 Championship and win a national championship. The year we won the national championship (at Baylor)? We split with (Kansas), right? So that’s my thing.”

Now, as head coach of K-State, Tang wants his fans focused on their team rather than their opponent. He motivated them in a whole new way as he wants them to pack their home arena because of their love for this team rather than solely thinking about knocking off their rival.

“I know I’m going to upset some people. (But) I feel like we, the Kansas State community and family, allow them to live rent free in our heads way too much” said Tang. “Let’s show up to the game because we love Kansas State, let’s show up to every game because we love Kansas State. Let’s pack Bramlage and make it the Octagon of Doom because we love Kansas State, not because we hate somebody else.”