MANHATTAN, Kan. — A few hours after Adrian Martinez announced that he was transferring away from Nebraska last winter, a restaurant full of Huskers fans greeted the dual-threat quarterback with a standing ovation when he went out for dinner.
Martinez was grateful for the reception when he arrived alone at HopCat, a popular bar and grill in downtown Lincoln, that night. But he chuckles as he recalls the story. Why? Because he’s still surprised no one in the place recognized the man with whom he dined:
Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
“I consider Coach Klein to be a college football legend,” Martinez said. “He was incognito in the back. When I walked in people started standing and clapping for me and they didn’t realize this guy, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist, was just sitting over there. I think if anyone deserved some claps it was probably him.”
Klein and Martinez share a strong mutual respect for each other, and that is one of the main reasons why Martinez ultimately decided to continue his college football career with the Wildcats.
“Our worldview from a faith and family perspective is the same,” Klein said. “Us both being quarterbacks and how we think is very similar. It was just a great fit from the get go.”
Indeed, it didn’t take long for Klein and Martinez to realize they were compatible.
Klein, who was one of the best quarterbacks in K-State history before he transitioned to coaching, was on a recruiting trip in Kansas City when Martinez entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. The news immediately shifted Klein’s focus north. He called Martinez and told him he could be in Lincoln later that day. He was already pulling up directions on his smart phone. Sometimes recruiting moves at warp speed.
Martinez wasn’t about to say no.
Not only did he admire Klein as a player and respect the offense he was trying to build around star running back Deuce Vaughn, but his girlfriend was a member of the K-State women’s soccer team. There were lots of reasons for him to be interested in relocating to Manhattan. Both sides agreed to meet for dinner and discuss how Martinez would fit in with the Wildcats.
“It was a unique situation,” Martinez said, “and a conversation I won’t forget.”
Martinez could see himself wearing purple by the end of the evening. His talk with his future position coach and offensive coordinator went so well that he didn’t want it to end.
He went on to meet with a handful of other coaches from other schools and he took an official visit to California, but he ultimately chose K-State. Klein gave the Wildcats an early recruiting lead they would never relinquish.
“The biggest thing is he wasn’t a salesman,” Martinez said. “He was genuine. He has been everything he said he would be. He has been true to who he says he is and he shows up everyday consistent. I saw that when I first met him. He talked me through his offense and their plans for the future. I was excited, even on that first night. I had a good feeling right away.”
When Martinez returned home, he pulled up old highlights of Klein leading the Wildcats to 10 victories in 2011 and then a Big 12 championship the following year.
