‘Heartbroken’: What Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said after Wildcats’ loss to No. 12 Utah

An understandably emotional Chris Klieman summed up his feelings moments after he entered the press conference room at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday night after his Kansas State team lost a 12-point fourth-quarter lead in falling to No. 12 Utah, 51-47.

“Heartbroken for the kids and for the loss, but it’s one of the greatest efforts I’ve been a part of, one of the greatest efforts I’ve been a part of as a coach,” Klieman told the media.

He continued: “And it’s hard to say this because we lost the game. We’re down so many players, and I know a lot of people thought we’d come down and come over here and lay down and that maybe the kids had cashed it in, because I’ve heard it enough. I’ve heard I’ve 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 gotta be honest with you, I’m tired of it. Given my friggin’ (expletive) life for this place for seven years.”

Kansas State gave Utah everything it had — and more — as the two teams had their first-ever meeting.

The Wildcats ran roughshod over a usually stout Morgan Scalley defense, as they rolled up 472 rushing yards and 574 yards total.

But after a two-point attempt turned into a four-point swing when Tao Johnson intercepted an Avery Johnson pass and took it the other way, Utah still had life down 47-37 with seven minutes to play.

Despite the valiant effort to give Kansas State belief it would walk away from Rice-Eccles with a bowl-eligibility clinching sixth win, the Utes rallied.

Utah scored two touchdowns in the game’s final three minutes, as Devon Dampier put on the heroics.

It spoiled a career day for Joe Jackson, who ran for 293 yards and three touchdowns for Kansas State. His day included touchdown runs of 66, 80 and 24 yards, the last of which appeared to give the Wildcats all the points they would need.

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It came after the game’s first turnover, when Dampier fumbled the ball in Utah territory and Kansas State scored to go up 47-35.

“We told the guys we were going to commit to running the football, and we told the guys that buy into it, believe in it,” Klieman said. “We are running the football against these guys because nobody’s tried it like we’re going to try it, and the kids bought into it.

“Kids don’t buy into it if they’ve given in. Kids don’t buy into it if they’re halfway out the door. Our kids bought into it, and we stuffed it down their throat the entire game running the football, and we lost. And I’m crushed because of that, but I’m going to stand up here with friggin pride and say we battled our (expletive) off against a really good team, and I’m crushed we lost the football game, but I’m more upset with the …”

With that, Klieman trailed off, becoming emotional on a day where his program gave every effort to win — and nearly pulled it off, if not for a miraculous rally.

Klieman said his offensive coordinator, former Utah State coach Matt Wells, was in the box for the first time this season, and it was because of the loud environment at Rice-Eccles.

“We thought the noise with Matt talking to Ave(ry Johnson) was going to be too loud on the field, and there’s a lot of noise out there, and it would have muffled it a lot, and we were going to huddle the whole game, and we felt, felt it gave us the best opportunity to be successful by putting (him) upstairs,” Klieman said.

The move nearly paid off.

Though Saturday’s game didn’t result in a win, Klieman was sure to let his players know how much he appreciated their heart and effort.

“Once again, I’m just telling you these kids committed to what we wanted to do and believed in what we were going to do to try to be successful against a great football team,” he said.