When the opportunity arose to move back closer to home and join the coaching staff of the reigning Orange Bowl champions, Emporia High School graduate and Kansas State defensive end Joe Bob Clements jumped at it.
Clements was hired last month to be Kansas’ new defensive line coach after two years in the same position at San Diego State. Following his graduation from Kansas State in 1999, he served as a graduate assistant, coach and recruiting coordinator with the Wildcats from 1999-2005.
The Gazette recently asked Clements about the upcoming season and the reaction he’s heard about joining his alma mater’s archrival.
Q So, let’s get a tough one out of the way first: Has anyone made you feel like a traitor yet?
A (Laughs) No, I wouldn’t say that. Nope, I wouldn’t think anybody made me feel like that whatsoever.
Q Well that’s good. Anybody made any comments to you about being a former K-State guy on KU’s staff?
A Oh sure. I mean, that’s natural. That’s a natural thing for people to notice. But the reality of the situation, I left a pretty good job out in San Diego to come join the staff here at KU, for obvious reasons. It’s a great opportunity, professionally and personally, for me to be that close to my family. So people have a tendency to leave that part out of the equation. I left a good boss and what I felt was a good job, and I was trying to accomplish something out at San Diego State.
Q Did you get much of a chance to see KU during last season?
A Every now and then on TV. We played most of our games at night, so we had a chance to watch some college football in between our meetings and our own preparation, getting ready for the games ... yeah, I got a chance to watch some games. And obviously with the success they had last season, (it gave) me more of a desire to check ’em out and see what was going on.
Q Talk about your new group of defensive linemen and losing James McClinton, who of course was All-Big 12 and second team All-American. What does the defense need to do to compensate for his loss?
A We’ve got some guys coming up that didn’t have all the experience that you would like to have had last year, but there’s a good reason they didn’t get that experience, was because they had a great player in front of them.
We do have some good young talent that’s coming up. We’ve got Jamal Green, who got some playing time last year, that has some ability. We have Richard Johnson, who redshirted last year, that earned the scout team player of the year award. And then we have two guys returning that did have quite a bit of experience: Todd Haselhorst from the Kansas City area, and then Caleb Blakesley, who’s (from) just down the road at Ottawa, returning. So there’s some bodies in there that can contribute, obviously, and the type of player James McClinton was, that does leave a void that we’ve got to compensate for.
Q As a defensive line coach, what are the most important aspects of playing those positions to you? What do you focus on?
A If you had to focus on one aspect to make it the most important at that position, I’d probably have to say toughness. Really, in my mind, it’s the only position on the entire team that does not go a single snap without making contact with another player. I don’t think there’s another position that can quite say that. So if you’re getting hit every snap, you’ve gotta have a certain level of toughness about you to play that position.
Q Of course, 12-1 and an Orange Bowl championship is an extremely tough act to follow, and the schedule’s going to be tougher. What do you feel are reasonable expectations for next year, with what you know right now?
A It’s going to be hard just to put a number out there on what you expect to win or expect to lose. I mean, you got to expect to win ’em all. But we’re gonna take a one-game-at-a-time approach. I know that’s coachspeak, but that’s really how you got to deal with it. I mean, you can’t go into any season saying, ‘Well, we’re gonna expect to win all 13 games,’ and you sure as hell don’t wanna go into any season saying, ‘Well, we’re gonna expect just to win seven.’ I mean, who in their right mind’s going to sit there and say, ‘Well, we’re expecting to lose these five’? We’ll just keep working, getting better, and taking it one game at a time.
Q How’s Lawrence been for you so far? Are you settled there yet?
A Yes, I’ve moved in. My family’s moved here; we’re still in the process of unpacking boxes. Lawrence is a great community. I’m really enjoying it so far. We’re just now getting settled in here, so there’s still a lot stuff we haven’t had a chance to enjoy. But up to this point, it’s been a great change.
Q What’s it going to be like for you on Nov. 1, when the Wildcats come to Lawrence?
A I’m assuming it’ll be just fine. Kansas State is moving in the direction they want to move in right now. Right now, I’m working for the University of Kansas, and that’s where my focus is, and that’s where my loyalty lies. Basically just paying my paycheck, so that’s where all my effort and all my concerns are put to right now.
Q You talked about the benefit of being closer to your family. How often are you going to be back in Emporia?
A Oh, I’m sure I’ll be back and forth. My wife and kids will probably make that trip a little bit more than I do, because most of my time is tied up with work-related issues. I’d have to say that the family will probably be traveling to see me more than I’ll get the opportunity to travel and see them, even though it is real close.
Shawna (anonymous) says...
Congrats Joe Bob! Welcome to Lawrence! I'm sure the players and fellow coaches will enjoy having you on the team! You've always been a first class guy!
March 19, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )