Why K-State football players may tone down celebrations after showing off in Game 1

What was your favorite player celebration from Kansas State’s 45-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State?

Take a moment to consider your options. There is no easy answer.

Fans can choose the sack dance that defensive tackle Uso Seumalo showed off in the first half, or the Cristiano Ronaldo tribute that wide receiver R.J. Garcia flashed after he grabbed a 37-yard touchdown pass. Khalid Duke also pretended to reel in a fish when he recorded a tackle for loss. For the record, head coach Chris Klieman said he liked that one best.

Or maybe you preferred the moment when quarterback Will Howard and center Hayden Gillum pretended to shotgun a couple beers at midfield after the Wildcats surged ahead 21-0?

Whatever you choose, make sure you savor the options now. There’s a good chance there won’t be that many choices in future K-State football games.

“They were all pretty funny,” Garcia said. “One in particular was very funny. I thought a lot of guys had a pretty cool celebration. But we have got to tone it back a little bit, probably.”

One celebration is unlikely to be seen again. The next time Howard and Gillum come together after a touchdown, don’t expect any beer references.

Turns out their offensive coordinator, Collin Klein, wasn’t a fan.

“I really liked it, but it probably wasn’t the most appropriate thing to do,” K-State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe said, “and Coach Klein definitely let us know about it. It’s fun watching dudes celebrate, we just have got to do it at the right time so it doesn’t hurt the team in the long run.”

Still, the celebrations that K-State football players unleashed in the season opener were a sign that this team is ready to play with swagger.

Plenty of thought went into them — and none of the celebrations drew penalties for excessive celebration.

Uso Seumalo chose to shimmy his 340-pound body from side to side just like his favorite defensive lineman in the NFL — Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants.

“It just a little shuffle,” Seumalo said. “It’s something us big boys like to do. I thought it fit the moment.”

He heard nothing but good things about it after the game. Expect that one to continue.

“It was all over social media,” he said. “People like it. I was just trying to have fun out there.”

Klieman said he was looking forward to Duke’s fishing rod celebration, because he watched him rehearse it defensive meetings during the week.

Garcia revealed a fun fact about his victory dance, which saw him leap into the air and flex his arms exactly like one of the world’s most famous soccer players whenever he scores a goal.

The initials R.J. stand for Ronaldo Junior. He felt like honoring that connection after his first touchdown of the season.

“People don’t actually know that my real name is Ronaldo,” he said. “That is why I did it. Obviously, it’s a cool celebration, too. But my little brother wanted me to do it because my name is Ronaldo. So I did it.”

Howard said he rehearsed his celebration with Gillum leading up to the game and heard mostly good feedback about it from teammates and friends afterward.

But that might be the only time K-State fans get to see it if the Wildcats are serious about dialing back their celebrations in future games.