"I think I deserve some respect:" Emotional Chris Klieman sounds off after heartbreaking loss to Utah

Kansas State lost a heartbreaker on Saturday. The Wildcats trekked to famed Rice-Eccles Stadium as 16.5-point underdogs to No. 12 Utah, but gave the Utes everything they could and handle and then some. K-State held leads of 7-0, 14-7, 21-14, 31-21 and 47-35 before a failed 2-point conversion that resulted in two points the other way turned the tide, sparking a 16-0 run for Utah in the final 7:40 of the game to deliver the Utes a 51-47 win. Significantly undermanned, the Wildcats rushed for 472 yards on 42 carries, led by Joe Jackson's 293 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. Collectively, K-State head coach Chris Klieman called it "one of the greatest efforts I've been a part of as a coach."

Klieman had a lot more to say than that, but the biggest statements from Klieman's emotionally-charged postgame press conference on Saturday night came when he wasn't speaking.

"I've heard I've cashed it in, the players have cashed it in, we need to get new leadership here, new players, new coaches. I gotta be honest with you, I'm tired of it," Klieman said.

"I've given my friggin ass life for this place for 7 years. I've given everything for 7 years. And I think I deserve a little bit of respect.

"I'm frustrated like everyone else is, but I love those kids. I'd go to friggin battle for those kids."

The loss dropped K-State to 5-6 on the season and 4-4 in Big 12 play. It's been a long season in Manhattan, beginning with the 24-21 Farmaggedon loss to Iowa State way back on Aug. 23. In that game, star running back Dylan Edwards was injured returning a punt after the first series of the game, and nothing has felt right since. 

Overall, Klieman is 53-34 at K-State and 35-27 in Big 12 play. Other than 2020, he's won at least eight games in every season but this one, until this season. The Wildcats won the Big 12 in 2022 and finished in the AP top-20 in 2022 and '23, but "only" went 9-4 and 5-4 in Big 12 play last season, and this year's team -- which began the year ranked 17th -- has played below expectations. 

Klieman was criticized by K-State fans for his comments after the Wildcats' 14-6 win over Oklahoma State last week. “I’ve been here (three times) and lost games here,” Klieman said then. “This is a hard place to play. So we’re going to enjoy this win. I’m not apologizing for winning in Stillwater, because it’s dang hard to win here.”

Those comments, and this long season, clearly followed Klieman to the podium in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. The most telling moment came when Klieman said nothing. Fighting back tears, Klieman was embraced by K-State AD Gene Taylor who told him, “You ain’t going anywhere, bud. Understand that. We’ve got your back. We’ve got your back.”

K-State concludes its regular season Saturday against Colorado (noon ET, FS1).