Chris Klieman proclaims Kansas State’s uniform curse ‘dead’ after Rate Bowl victory
By Kellis Robinett – The Wichita Eagle (TNS)
Dec. 28—Phoenix
The loudest cheer of the night on Thursday at Chase Field didn’t come during Kansas State’s thrilling 44-41 win over Rutgers at the Rate Bowl.
It came afterward as head football coach Chris Klieman wrapped up the victory ceremony by shouting a message to the thousands of purple-clad fans who made the trek to Arizona for this postseason game.
“The curse of the alternate uniforms,” Klieman told the crowd with a microphone in his right hand, “is dead!”
One exclamation mark probably doesn’t accurately depict how loudly and enthusiastically Klieman said those words. He shouted them, as if he had been waiting several years for the opportunity.
EMAW nation responded with thunderous applause, almost like beating the Scarlet Knights suddenly did more than send the Wildcats into 2025 with a 9-4 record.
This is the type of thing that only superstitious fans can appreciate. But there are apparently many of them who cheer for K-State, because it seemed like many fans were expecting a loss in this game the moment Klieman revealed the Wildcats were going to wear alternate uniforms.
K-State traded in its traditional home uniforms, which feature a gray helmet and gray pants with a purple jersey, for an alternate look of white helmets and white pants. That was considered sacrilege by some, because the Wildcats entered this game with an 0-5 record under Klieman when they deviated from their classic uniforms.
Klieman clearly bought into the superstition at some level, because the Wildcats hadn’t worn alternate uniforms since they lost a home game to Tulane while wearing white helmets in 2022.
But he wanted to do something special for his seniors in this bowl game, so he agreed to bring them back.
Alas, that looked like a terrible idea when K-State fell behind Rutgers 34-17 midway through the third quarter. Some fans on X suggested that the Wildcats needed to change uniforms before the fourth quarter began to have any shot at a comeback.
Turns out, the uniforms weren’t holding the Wildcats back. Avery Johnson and Dylan Edwards led K-State to a 44-41 win that will go down as one of the biggest turnarounds in K-State bowl history.
And they killed the uniform curse in the process.
K-State players were already dreaming about more extravagant alternate uniforms for next season before they left downtown Phoenix.
“That was huge,” K-State defensive back Marquis Sigle said. “I can’t wait to see what kind of uniforms they put together next year. We’ve been wanting to wear those outfits and switch it up for the whole entire year. To finally do that and get a win and to break that curse was huge.”
Added wide receiver Jayce Brown: “I feel like we should do this every game and make the (traditional uniforms) our throwback.”
That seems unlikely to happen.
K-State is still just 1-5 under Klieman when it switches to alternate uniform schemes. And it needed a furious rally to win its first game. But more options suddenly seem to be on the table.
How much did white helmets actually affect the game? Not at all, probably. The score likely would have been the same had K-State worn yellow.
But it’s still worth noting that K-State is capable of winning in alternate gear.
After all, Klieman screamed about it during his postgame speech.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024, 5:30 AM.
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