In Week 13, Utah had a wild game against Kansas State. The Utes came back twice from a ten-point deficit and won with 56 seconds left. Post-game, emotions poured in. Even Kyle Whittingham, who usually maintains a stoic demeanor, choked up after the game. He said it was about his seniors featuring for the last time at home, but in his 21st year as head coach, the moment seemed more than that.

“We’re so happy for our seniors to go out with a win in their final opportunity,” Kyle Whittingham said in the press conference. “Excuse me, when I think about the seniors, I get emotional, so I apologize, but it’s just so awesome for them to have that experience.”

However, when he was saying this to the press, Whittingam’s wife, Jamie, was standing nearby. The rest of his family was also present in the vicinity. While the program hasn’t officially announced anything, if it was the last time they saw their legendary head coach at home, it was worth it for the fans.

Even the seniors couldn’t have envisioned a better send-off. Kansas State came out blazing and took a 31-21 lead at the Rice-Eccles through a Joe Jackson touchdown just before the first half. However, Utah persevered and kept fighting back, cutting a 10-point lead twice and winning the game through the late heroics from quarterback Devon Dampier.

The senior group includes linebacker Lander Barton, who will now follow the path of his older brothers, Cody Barton and Jackson Barton, to the NFL. He has been with the team since 2022 and has recorded 199 tackles, 8 sacks, and 3 touchdowns. He won Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and took on starting responsibilities as a sophomore and junior.

While addressing the dramatic comeback win and its significance for the seniors, Kyle Whittingham couldn’t hide his emotions. Was it just about his players leaving, or was there more to it?

How fans reacted to Kyle Whittingham’s emotional press conference

Although he didn’t explicitly say he was leaving Utah, fans read between the lines. They honored the long-serving Utah head coach with supportive messages and heartfelt farewells. One fan gave Whittingham the ultimate credit of being a legendary college football head coach, commenting, “Tip of the cap to a legendary CFB coach not just for the state of Utah, but for the game.”

Another fan captured what many others were feeling, writing, “I don’t care if you’re a Ute fan or not, you’ve got to love and respect Whitt.” While Utah fans shared their appreciation, non-Utah fans also took the opportunity to send their respects. One Boise State fan expressed his admiration by commenting, “Boise State fan. Besides Chris Peterson… y’all had my next favorite coach. Class-act human being 🤜🏼🤛🏼.”

Kyle Whittingham’s legendary status was on full display, as even archrival BYU fans poured in to show their support and respect. A BYU fan commented, “Legend. Not enough time or space to list his many accomplishments or the countless young men he’s helped over the course of his career. Rivalry banter aside, I can’t help but respect this man. Congrats, KW!✋”

Another BYU fan chimed in, saying they know Whittingham personally and consider him a great person: “As a BYU fan, I have always respected Whit! Hated it when he beat us, but respect him. He’s good friends with my dad, and I know that, although he seems rough and tough, he is a really caring and great person. He’s also a great coach!”

With the heartfelt messages from Utah and even rival fans, it’s clear to see how well respected Kyle Whittingham is in the college football scene. Now, with only one game left in the season for Utah, Whittingham will try to push for the Big 12 championship spot.