LUBBOCK, Texas — Tommy Tuberville on Monday took full responsibility for losing his cool with a Texas Tech graduate assistant along the sideline during Saturday’s win over Kansas.
The third-year head coach said he had watched a replay of his outburst after the 41-34 victory and saw what had fans upset. He called his actions “unfortunate” and said he had apologized to Kevin Oliver, who works with special teams.
“It upset me, too,” Tuberville said. “You don’t do things like that, and it was obvious I reached up, grabbed his headset and pulled on it. Heat of the battle, some things happen sometimes that you’d like to take back.”
Tuberville said he did not strike Oliver.
Video of the confrontation went viral on the Internet on Saturday. It shows Tuberville angrily facing Oliver and appearing to strike him after the Red Raiders had difficulty getting the right personnel on the field.
Tuberville was hired to replace Mike Leach, who was fired in 2009 for alleged mistreatment of a player with a concussion. Tuberville said he needs to set an example on acceptable sideline behavior to his two sons — one is a walk-on freshman quarterback at Texas Tech — and to Red Raiders players.
“I’ve got to hold myself to higher regard than that, and usually do,” he said.
Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.