Author(s): KALEY LYON
Hays Daily News: July 14, 2006
The scene at Hastings Books, Music and Videos, 3300 Vine, was one of chaos at 5 p.m. Thursday. Kansas State University fans stood in almost hour-long lines, while employees in green aprons rushed frantically about, distributing Wildcat merchandise to the excited crowd.
Local football fans were gathered to have former KSU football coach Bill Snyder sign copies of his biography, "Bill Snyder: They Said It Couldn't Be Done."
The book provides an in-depth account of how Snyder transformed the Kansas State football program into a winning one.
"We have book signings, but usually not with anybody of this stature," said Jason Davis, counter team leader at Hastings. "Usually it's just local writers or bands or something like that."
Snyder was in Hays for the official kickoff of the Heartland Catbackers club, which was celebrated with a hog roast at the American Legion.
Hastings had about 140 copies of the book available, which was released earlier this year. They were sold out shortly after 5:30 p.m.
However, Hastings said it will attempt to provide everyone who stood in line with Snyder's autograph, said Tracey Miles, store book manager.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get as many (copies) as we had hoped," Miles said. "We will make every effort to make sure if they want a signed copy, we get them one."
For the 11/2 hours Snyder was at Hastings, he sat down with each fan individually, signed the books how each person wanted them, and at one point, even had a brief cell phone conversation with a fan who could not be present.
"This is so exciting - in our family, he's such a legend," said Hayley Charles, Hays.
Charles and her brother were waiting in line to have a copy of the book signed for their father, who is an avid fan, she said.
"Dad is a huge K-State fan - he follows them everywhere and was, of course, devastated when Bill Snyder retired," she said of her father, John Charles. "This is just going to be a present because he loves K-State."
Residents of Hays and surrounding areas were not the only people present for Thursday's events. Brian Pfannenstiel, Hays, attended the book signing with his extended family, who traveled from as far as Wichita and Manhattan to have their books autographed.
"The lines are longer in Manhattan," Pfannenstiel said. "It's worth it."
Though Pfannenstiel has not missed a KSU home football game in 10 years, this was his first time to meet the coach, he said.
"It was amazing," Pfannenstiel said.
For some standing in the long line, Kansas State athletics hit even closer to home.
Kay Maska, grandmother of Marcus Watts, a defensive back for the Wildcat football team and a Hays native, said that Thursday's events were a nice connection between home and the university.
"It gives Grandma something to brag about," Maska said.
Intern Kaley Lyon can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 133, or by e-mail at klyon@dailynews.net.