Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman is optimistic that his team can help promote American football in Ireland when they visit Dublin in August for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. He expressed to the Irish Examiner his desire for the Wildcats to explore other cities, such as Cork and Galway, to introduce more people to the sport.
“I hope we get that opportunity. We haven’t finalized our schedule yet. Our main focus is to play our best football, but we also want to provide experiences for the team, particularly for those who haven’t been to Ireland before. I want them to experience the culture as well,” Klieman said.
The Wildcats will face off against the Iowa State Cyclones, rekindling their rivalry known as Farmageddon at the Aviva Stadium.
“This makes it special for us. Iowa State and Kansas State have had some fantastic matchups. It’s a great way to kick off Big 12 action,” he remarked.
Klieman noted that preparing for this game will be a different challenge compared to an away game in the U.S.
“This will change how we prepare. It will hit us more when we leave, as we will lose a day. For us, it’s crucial to manage hydration, nutrition, and sleep leading up to our departure on Wednesday and the game on Saturday,” he explained.
“We need to ensure our players are as fresh as possible. The week prior will be critical to help them be in top physical and mental condition. Both teams will be affected. It’s about overcoming challenges. In college football, the team that adapts best will triumph.”
Klieman is already planning for this adjustment as he prepares for the overall 2025 season.
“Football players thrive on routine. Many of our habits will be disrupted, such as shortening both summer breaks and workouts.”
Despite the changes to his team’s routine, Klieman mentioned that the opportunity to play in Ireland has been a selling point in recruiting new players to Kansas State.
“It was part of our pitch. Only a few schools get this chance. We learned about it in May of last year, right before our peak recruiting time in June, and we promoted it heavily,” he noted.
“I told my athletic director that we’re bringing everyone. I’m not interested in limiting it to a travel squad of 70 players. If we have 105 or 120 players on the roster, everyone will get the chance to experience this.”
Klieman is meticulously planning for the August game and is currently in Dublin, where he will attend a rugby match between Leinster and Cardiff in the URC, aiming to familiarize himself with the stadium.
“It seems like a venue that can get loud. We’re going to a rugby match, and even if it’s not a full house, I want to understand the atmosphere, the sounds, and echoes,” he stated.
“Noise is something we need to account for, regardless. Some of our players are accustomed to it, but many of the newer ones aren’t.”
Klieman revealed that discussions with past coaches who brought their teams to Dublin reinforced his decision to play in Ireland.
“I spoke with Pat Fitzgerald [former Northwestern coach] and Marcus Freeman [Notre Dame head coach], and both emphasized how valuable this experience was for them,” he said.
“That made me consider not just the football aspect, but the experiences this team would have. I recognized how significant an opportunity it was to showcase American football and it quickly became clear that this was a fantastic idea.”
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