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Jerome Tang cites inbound play inspiration from Patrick Mahomes

On3 imageby: Sam Gillenwater03/20/23samdg_33
Kansas State HC Jerome Tang, Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes
Jared C. Tilton & Jay Biggerstaff | Getty Images

Jerome Tang has brought a distinct flavor to Kansas State. In his one season in Manhattan, the way the Wildcats play has his mark written all over it. However, he also said he draws inspiration from others, including some of the best of the best in the sports world.

In the 75-69 win for K-State over Kentucky in the Round of 32, the Wildcats ran an in-bounds play late that caught some eyes. When explaining it postgame, he said they got it from somewhere else but then named it after a two-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl winner.

“We, like, stole it from somebody else,” Tang explained. “We actually call it Mahomes for Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.”

The play picked up plenty of attention considering it’s not a formation you often see. It actually gained so much traction that Mahomes himself caught the clip and showed love to K-State on Twitter.

Tang’s touch has made things happen at Kansas State and has the Wildcats moving on to the Sweet 16 to face Michigan State. With that in mind, whatever he’s drawing up must be working, especially if it’s inspired by a star like Mahomes and a franchise like the Chiefs.

Jerome Tang on beating Kentucky: ‘Tradition does not help you if you don’t have dudes’

Jerome Tang helped earn Kansas State a massive victory in his first year with the program as the Wildcats knocked off Kentucky to earn a spot in the Sweet 16. Even so, he doesn’t want to hear it when it comes to tradition. At the end of the day, he said all that mattered is they had the players to win today’s game.

Tang had a spicy response with the media postgame when discussing what it meant to beat UK considering their history. He made it clear that K-State has just as much history and, as of this afternoon, the most important thing which is a win that will extend their season.

“We have a program that’s rich in tradition also,” Tang said. “I mean, like, all those old dudes that played for Kentucky? They ain’t coming back, right? So tradition does not help you if you don’t go out there on the floor and play with some dudes. And we had more dudes than they did today.”