On the field, Kansas State football has struggled with substandard play through the last several games, and two avoidable losses have bookended an off-week.
Off the field, head coach Chris Klieman has been dealing with a “non-football situation” involving his family that’s taken a toll on the sixth-year Wildcat head coach.
While he hasn’t gone into specifics on what it is, he’s mentioned the weight it has put on him over the last several weeks and nearly broke down in tears during an emotional press conference following Saturday’s loss to Arizona State.
“It’s been a really, really hard two weeks for me,” Klieman said with tears in his eyes. “And I feel awful for those older guys that have my back. Like I told them, I let them down, and it’s been … it’s been rough.”
Those older guys went to bat for their coach after the game as well, trying to take the blame of the last two losses off of their head coaches’ shoulders and onto their own. A couple also talked about how they’ve supported Klieman as he’s dealt with his off-the-field issues.
“We’ve definitely been there for him,” senior safety Marques Sigle said. “He’s been having a hard time. He doesn’t act like it when we’re out there. He always keeps that happy mindset, always smiling, so you never can tell. But we’re always here for him.”
Then, on Monday, Klieman waved off some online rumors that his emotion was tied to a supposed retirement at the end of this season. He expanded slightly on his situation without going into specifics, saying that those in and around the program have been instrumental in helping him and his family through this tough period.
“The guys upstairs and the guys downstairs — everybody in this building — have gone out of their way to help with the situation that we’re going through,” Klieman said. “All the (coaches’) wives have been really helpful … It sucks. I’ll just be honest with you, it does. But when you’re surrounded by people who care and surrounded by people who love (Klieman’s wife) Rhonda and I, it makes it easier. It’s not easy, but it makes it easier. And some positive things are starting to flip for us, and we’re going to pray on that, and realize that there are some positive things moving forward.”
Klieman and the Wildcats will try to continue to move in a positive direction on the field this weekend when they host a Cincinnati team that’s lost three straight. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
