Bob Lutz: Kansas State’s rally falls short and so does support

MANHATTAN – Two days after Kansas State was embarrassed inside Snyder Family Stadium by Oklahoma, 55-0 on Oct. 17, coach Bill Snyder wrote a letter of apology to the Kansas State students.

Well, students, it’s your turn to pull out a pen and paper and send a note to Snyder. And more than a few non-student fans could sign the thing, too.

The stadium was barely half full during the second half Thursday night as Kansas State came back to scare second-ranked Baylor before falling 31-24. The Wildcats scored 14 straight fourth-quarter points and had the ball with less than a minute left and a chance to tie before an interception on a gadget play – quarterback Joe Hubener completed a lateral to receiver Cody Cook, whose pass downfield was intercepted – put an end to the K-State rally.

As I paid attention to the action on the field, I couldn’t help but notice the empty seats in the stands. There weren’t that many when the game started – Kansas State announced another sellout although the stands weren’t packed -- but at halftime the drain started. It was odd, given all the exciting and historic moments that have taken place here during Snyder’s 24 seasons.

It got me to wondering.

What if Kansas State sinks to the bottom of the Big 12? What if the Wildcats’ five losses in a row and 0-5 record in the conference is an indication of things to come and not just a bump in the road?

What then?

Kansas State has poured millions of dollars into facilities over the past 20 years, including an impressive renovation of the Vanier Football Complex this year. Nobody has blinked at the price tag because the football product has remained viable for so long.

And this isn’t to say it won’t be again. Or that it’s not now at times, given that the Wildcats have taken unbeaten TCU and Baylor to the wire.

That just makes the apathy indicated Thursday night that much more unusual and interesting. What does it mean?

It could mean that it was a Thursday night and students wanted to get back to their dorms, apartments and houses to prepare for classes Friday. It could mean there’s still an emotional hangover from the OU drubbing. It could, I suppose, mean a lot of things.

When Snyder was asked after the game whether he was concerned or surprised by the exodus of fans, he simply said, “No.”

For all I know, that may be how he feels. Or he may have just wanted to move on to the next question.

Snyder, 76, won’t coach forever. At least I don’t think he will. He is, of course, a beloved figure at Kansas State and you could argue soundly that he’s among the top five college football coaches in history.

There will be a time when his time on the sideline ends, the way it did when he retired after the 2005 season, a season that also included a five-game losing streak.

Snyder returned three years later to rescue the program from Ron Prince, whose 2008 season, his last, included a five-game losing streak. And Snyder, once again, has transformed the Wildcats, although he’s currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

The 2015 team is struggling, but in most games Snyder has been able to pull every last bit from his players.

When it comes to athleticism, K-State has no business being on the same field with TCU or Baylor, teams that have more speed and size. Injuries also have hurt the Wildcats.

There is no more fervent fan base than the one that exists for Kansas State football. But so many hit the road early Thursday and must have been kicking themselves as they discovered how much fight the Wildcats had in them.

Snyder, as he usually does with extra time to prepare, devised a good game plan. But every game plan needs horses and that’s where the Wildcats come up short.

There are too many walk-ons in key spots and the offense, after scoring 34 and 45 points in back-to-back losses to Oklahoma State and TCU in November, has managed only 33 points in three games since.

Kansas State goes to Lubbock next week to play Texas Tech and a loss in that one would drop the Wildcats to 3-6. They would have to win their final three games against Iowa State, Kansas and West Virginia just to become eligible for a bowl game.

No one would be shocked if that happens. It’s ridiculous to count a team coached by Snyder out of anything. He’s that good. And that’s another reason why I don’t understand so many people calling it a night early Thursday. Have they forgotten all the miracles Snyder has achieved?

It’s possible, perhaps even likely, that Kansas State will put a Big 12 contender on the field in 2016. But it’s not as much of a sure thing as it used to be.

K-State’s defense, and especially its secondary, is undermanned. The Wildcats gave up 419 passing yards Thursday night as Baylor freshman Jarrett Stidham impressed in his first start since replacing the injured Seth Russell by completing 23 of 33 passes and throwing for three touchdowns, two to impressive junior receiver Corey Coleman.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, were just good enough to make it close at the end. They came back in a game many of their fans gave up on.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 11:08 PM with the headline "Bob Lutz: Kansas State’s rally falls short and so does support."