Growing Frustration in Manhattan Kansas State Wildcats: “Get Rid of the Portal and Let Coaches Coach Again”

MANHATTAN, Kan.  A growing chorus of frustration is echoing throughout Wildcat Nation. After another offseason shaped by transfer portal movement, some Kansas State supporters are voicing a bold demand:

“Get rid of the portal and let coaches coach again.”

The sentiment isn’t necessarily aimed at players  many fans understand athletes are pursuing better opportunities. Instead, the frustration centers around the growing influence of the NCAA transfer portal system, which has transformed college athletics into what some describe as “free agency every offseason.”

For a program like the Kansas State Wildcats, built on development, culture, and long-term player growth, the portal era has created constant roster turnover. In both football and basketball, Kansas State has seen key contributors depart  sometimes after breakout seasons  leaving coaches scrambling to rebuild.

One longtime season ticket holder put it bluntly:

“We recruit a kid, develop him for two years, and just when he’s ready to dominate, he’s gone. That’s not building a program  that’s renting one.”

Coaches Adjusting to a New Reality

While fans vent on social media, coaches are navigating a complicated new landscape. In modern college sports, recruiting never stops  not even after signing day.

Kansas State head football coach Chris Klieman has repeatedly emphasized culture and development. Under his leadership, the Wildcats have built competitive teams through discipline and steady growth. But even strong programs aren’t immune to portal movement.

Similarly, men’s basketball head coach Jerome Tang has embraced the portal as a necessary tool. In fact, his early success in Manhattan was fueled by key transfers. Still, balancing incoming and outgoing players each year can disrupt chemistry.

A Big 12 analyst explained the tension this way:

“The portal is both a blessing and a headache. It allows programs to reload quickly, but it also makes continuity rare. Coaches now spend as much time recruiting their own players as they do scouting high school talent.”

Some fans argue that this constant reshuffling undermines what once defined Kansas State athletics  loyalty, patience, and player development over four or five seasons.

 Reform or Reality?

The debate isn’t unique to Manhattan. Across the country, traditional college football and basketball supporters are questioning whether the current system has gone too far.

Critics say:

• The portal creates instability.
• Players transfer too easily without long-term commitment.
• Team identity becomes harder to sustain.

Supporters counter:

• Athletes deserve freedom of movement.
• Coaches can leave anytime; players should have the same rights.
• The portal increases parity and opportunity.

For the Kansas State Wildcats, the challenge is adaptation. The portal isn’t disappearing anytime soon. NCAA reforms may adjust timelines or eligibility rules, but the era of player mobility is here to stay.

Still, the emotional plea from fans reflects something deeper than policy frustration. It reflects a longing for the days when:

• Recruits arrived as freshmen.
• They grew into stars over time.
• And seniors left as program legends.

One Kansas State alumnus summarized it perfectly:

“We don’t hate the players. We just miss watching them grow up in purple.”

Whether reform comes or not, Kansas State’s coaches will continue adjusting, recruiting, and developing talent in a system that keeps evolving.

For now, though, one message from Wildcat Nation rings louder than ever:

“Let coaches coach again.”