Kansas State's Klieman emotional, defiant after close loss - ESPN

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman fought back tears in a vulnerable postgame news conference Saturday, following a 51-47 road loss to No. 12 Utah that dropped his team to 5-6 this season.

The Wildcats rushed for a school-record 472 yards, second most by any FBS team this season, and held a 12-point lead with seven minutes remaining. The Utes rallied back, starting with an interception return on a 2-point conversion attempt, and scored 14 points in the game's final three minutes to win.

Klieman called it one of the greatest efforts he has been a part of as a coach and said he was heartbroken for his players, who've kept fighting during a challenging year full of injuries, close losses and negativity from their fan base.

«We're down so many players, and I know a lot of people thought we'd come over here and lay down, and that maybe the kids had cashed it in,» Klieman said. «Because I've heard it enough. I've heard I have cashed it in. I've heard the players have cashed it in, we need to get new leadership here, we need to get new players, new coaches. I'm tired of it. I got to be honest with you, I'm tired of it.

»I've given my friggin'… life for this place for seven years. I've given everything for seven years. And I think I deserve a little bit of respect. I'm frustrated like everybody else is, but I love those kids. And I'll go to friggin' battle with those kids any day."

The Wildcats' offense put up 574 total yards against the Big 12's No. 2 scoring defense and got a record-setting performance from running back Joe Jackson, who broke the program's single-game rushing mark with 293 yards and three touchdowns.

«We told the guys we were going to commit to running the football, and told the guys buy into it, believe in it,