Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville normally uses his weekly news conference to address his team's previous game and what it has to look forward to in its next opponent.
Tuberville, instead, opened his Monday press conference by apologizing for an altercation with graduate assistant Kevin Oliver that received national attention during Tech's 41-34 double-overtime win against Kansas on Saturday.Leading up to the incident was a penalty the Red Raiders had received for having 12 players on the field, a result of confusion over a 4th-and-2 situation in which a special teams player found himself on the field after Tech had opted to try and convert the down. Tuberville proceeded to direct his anger at Oliver, who coaches special teams, swatting at the assistant's headset and knocking it and a ball cap off Oliver's head.Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby publicly reprimanded Tuberville on Monday, according to espn.com, then said as far as he is concerned, the matter is closed."After watching the film when I got home, it was obvious what a lot of people were upset about," Tuberville said. "It upset me too. You don't do things like that, and it was obvious I reached up, grabbed his headset and pulled on it."Tuberville said he talked to Oliver after the incident and apologized."I've apologized to Kevin," Tuberville said. "We talked. Of course, we talked 30 seconds after that (and) for the rest of the game, because I talk to him more on the headset than I do anybody else because he helps me chart special teams. But it's unfortunate that that happened. I've got kids of my own. I've got a hundred kids on the sidelines and coaches, and I've got to hold myself to a higher regard than that, and I usually do."However, Tuberville reiterated that he did not slap Oliver, downplaying all suggestions that he had done so. Tuberville said all reports of him slapping Oliver are "dead wrong" and he is "a little bit disappointed" that the incident was portrayed that way." ... I never thought about it in 35 years," Tuberville said. "Never dreamed of hitting anybody and never have."During Saturday's post-game news conference, Tuberville explained the situation as him trying to get Oliver off of the field by reaching for his shoulder, and missed. When asked if he stood by his explanation Monday, Tuberville chose not to answer."We're not going to talk about that anymore," he said. "No more, no more, no more."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
