Posted by: Josh Kendall on January 15, 2013

Kansas State starts each football season with a list of the same 16 goals. None of them talk about wins on the field.

"Right or wrong, we don't sit around talking about championships," Wildcats coach Bill Snyder said Monday on Yahoo! Sports Radio. "When we talk, we talk about trying to achieve those intrinsic values."

Snyder is a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award, which will be handed out Thursday night in Houston.

"Certainly to have the recognition is rewarding," Snyder said. "I think all of us in the coaching ranks regardless of our age grew up with that monumental figure (Byrant) over the top of us. I appreciated him so much not because of the amazing successes he had but the type of man that he was. At the end of the day, even though it doesn't always come across the way, he was someone that genuinely cared about young people. It was kind of that tough love, demanding approach that really benefitted those young guys. I think anyone who played for him over a period of time, maybe not the moment that they were there, all had a great deal of gratitude for what he taught them."

In his second stint with the Wildcats, Snyder led Kansas State to an 11-win season, which capped a steady improvement from six to seven to 10 and finally 11 wins for this senior class.

"When you look at the teams that we have had, haven't necessarily had great athletes, not that we've had poor athletes, we've had some very fine young players and talented players, but the value of the intrinsic values that our players have collectively really draw them together in a special way," he said. "All those things you want to teach your children are really important to us. I am a strong believer in the fact that if those are the core of your program then it not only guides young people in the right direction for the remainder of their lives, but it also transforms itself into successful opportunities on the football field. The good thing is those intrinsic values that we cherish so much are things you have total control over as an 18-, 19-year-old, and it doesn't have anything to do if you are a 4.4, 40 guy or are 6-foot-5 and weigh 300 pounds. Those things don't enter into the other aspect of it, and those values allow you I believe the opportunity to be the very best you can possibly be."

Former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein was the embodiment of Kansas State's 16 core values, Snyder said.

"If you called him up today, he would give you those in order and tell you why they are important to him and why they were important to the football team," Snyder said. "He portrayed all those values."

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Josh Kendall is a staff writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered the SEC for more than 15 years for papers such as the Athens Banner-Herald, Macon Telegraph, and The State. He’s the father of two boys who he’s hoping don’t inherit his wide receiver frame and offensive guard feet. Follow @EyeOnCoaches on twitter and send your feedback to josh@coachingsearch.com