Joe Glenn News...

The Butcher · Post by **The Butcher** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:04 pm

Wyoming coach apologizes for flipping bird during Utah game
ESPN.com news services

Updated: November 12, 2007, 12:17 PM ET

CASPER, Wyo. -- Wyoming coach Joe Glenn didn't like how Utah tried an onside kick with a 43-point lead, and he let coach Kyle Whittingham know by giving him the finger.

Mountain West Conference officials planned Monday to review tape of the game in Salt Lake City. The nationally televised incident could prompt the conference to publicly reprimand Glenn.

"Usually on Monday morning is when we get into the office and review anything that happened over the weekend," league spokesman Javan Hedlund said.

Glenn apologized for the gesture Monday.

"I met with my team on Sunday and apologized to them for the gesture I made toward the Utah bench during the game," Glenn said in a statement. "I also want to apologize to all fans for that action. Football is an emotional game, and I let my emotions get the best of me. I felt it was appropriate for me to let my team and all fans know that I am truly sorry for that emotional moment."

Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman said he viewed Glenn's gesture as a one-time occurrence.

"Coach Glenn should not have responded in the manner that he did and for that we are sorry. Coach Glenn has been a great ambassador for the University of Wyoming, and I view this action as a one-time incident that is out of character for him."

Glenn said after the 50-0 loss that he didn't remember giving the finger.

"Honest to God, I can't even respond to it," Glenn said. "Maybe, I don't know."

Find the crow and I'll eat it.
--Wyoming coach Joe Glenn, after he guaranteed a win over Utah -- and the Utes won 50-0.

According to the conference handbook, obscene gestures or language are subject to at least a reprimand for a first offense.

Utah (7-3, 4-2 Mountain West) tried the onside kick in the third quarter Saturday. Glenn gave Whittingham the finger when Wyoming (5-5, 2-4) recovered.

Glenn said at a weekly student luncheon earlier in the week that he could guarantee a win against Utah. Late in the game, the crowd of 42,000 began chanting "guarantee" and Glenn said afterward that he regretted making the promise.

"I got emotional last week and got my big Irish mouth going and made the guarantee," he said. "I'd probably like to have it back now. I wouldn't do it again.

"Find the crow and I'll eat it."

Wyoming has lost four of its last five, is no longer a competitor for the conference title and is all but eliminated from postseason consideration. The Cowboys would need to upset conference-leading BYU this Saturday to earn a bowl bid.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:11 pm

I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:18 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.

CPACAT · Post by **CPACAT** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:31 pm

I just gave that coach the finger in my mind and I'm not going to appologize.

WetWaderMT · Post by **WetWaderMT** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:46 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.

So, let me see if I got this straight, in your world it is perfectly acceptable, no "admirable" (using your word), to react to poor judgement/bad behavior with more poor judgement/bad behavior?

I don't agree w/ what either coach did, but I guess one bad act deserves another now-a-days? And we wonder what's going wrong...

Weltercat · Post by **Weltercat** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:34 pm

WetWaderMT wrote:
Bay Area Cat wrote:I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.
So, let me see if I got this straight, in your world it is perfectly acceptable, no "admirable" (using your word), to react to poor judgement/bad behavior with more poor judgement/bad behavior?

I don't agree w/ what either coach did, but I guess one bad act deserves another now-a-days? And we wonder what's going wrong...

We all have our moments! Joe Glenn has proven himself as a good guy many times over and I think he deserves some slack on this one.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:48 pm

WetWaderMT wrote:
Bay Area Cat wrote:I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.
So, let me see if I got this straight, in your world it is perfectly acceptable, no "admirable" (using your word), to react to poor judgement/bad behavior with more poor judgement/bad behavior?

I don't agree w/ what either coach did, but I guess one bad act deserves another now-a-days? And we wonder what's going wrong...

My point was, as was quite clear in my first post on the topic, that I don't consider it "poor judgment" or "bad behavior" to flip off a coach who called an onside kick when they were up by over 40 points.

I consider that an appropriate response. I do not consider it inherently wrong to say those two words to a person, either by sign language or verbally, if the situation calls for it. I consider this a situation where that expression might be justified as an appropriate response. If a guy chooses to express himself that way, I have no problem with it.

You are welcome to disagree with that position, and I am happy to agree to disagree if you think that such an action is an terrible act of some kind, just please don't make me explain it yet again.

GoCats18 · Post by **GoCats18** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:33 pm

I think it all comes down to the fact that he is the leader of his team, and though it was based on emotions, you will have people (boosters, alumni) that are not happy with what he did because of how it makes the program look. Apologize and move on, that is the way the world works.

College Recruiter · Post by **College Recruiter** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:47 pm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CZx5i7LMKu0

College Recruiter · Post by **College Recruiter** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:54 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:
WetWaderMT wrote:
Bay Area Cat wrote:I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.
So, let me see if I got this straight, in your world it is perfectly acceptable, no "admirable" (using your word), to react to poor judgement/bad behavior with more poor judgement/bad behavior?

I don't agree w/ what either coach did, but I guess one bad act deserves another now-a-days? And we wonder what's going wrong...
My point was, as was quite clear in my first post on the topic, that I don't consider it "poor judgment" or "bad behavior" to flip off a coach who called an onside kick when they were up by over 40 points.

I consider that an appropriate response. I do not consider it inherently wrong to say those two words to a person, either by sign language or verbally, if the situation calls for it. I consider this a situation where that expression might be justified as an appropriate response. If a guy chooses to express himself that way, I have no problem with it.

You are welcome to disagree with that position, and I am happy to agree to disagree if you think that such an action is an terrible act of some kind, just please don't make me explain it yet again.

I agree with you....back in the day, Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi and several others I can think of would have punched out the opposing coach from the other team at mid-field and would have been thought of as defending the honor of his team and his fans. Nowadays, we must be politically correct and might I say "mamby pamby" in our responses to idiotic and out of line conduct by our opponents. Indeed....a product of our times!

SaxCat · Post by **SaxCat** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:12 am

Did anybody stop to consider that Glenn initiated all of this by publicly guaranteeing a win? He got what he deserved and will in all likelihood be out at the end of the season.

tampa_griz · Post by **tampa_griz** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:18 am

SaxCat1985 wrote:Did anybody stop to consider that Glenn initiated all of this by publicly guaranteeing a win? He got what he deserved and will in all likelihood be out at the end of the season.

He was talking to a group of students at what was basically a pep rally. Big deal.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:30 am

SaxCat1985 wrote:Did anybody stop to consider that Glenn initiated all of this by publicly guaranteeing a win? He got what he deserved and will in all likelihood be out at the end of the season.

I haven't heard that Glenn is on the hot seat at Wyoming....have you heard that?

BobcatOninetails · Post by **BobcatOninetails** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:11 am

HelenaCat95 wrote:
SaxCat1985 wrote:Did anybody stop to consider that Glenn initiated all of this by publicly guaranteeing a win? He got what he deserved and will in all likelihood be out at the end of the season.
I haven't heard that Glenn is on the hot seat at Wyoming....have you heard that?

Buddy of mine in Sheridan Wy says that there are more than a few boosters grumbling. He is very well liked though and will probably get one more year. Thats the skinny he has right now.

GFCatFan · Post by **GFCatFan** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:28 am

Aw the Crying Cowboy....

WYCAT · Post by **WYCAT** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:12 am

HelenaCat95 wrote:
SaxCat1985 wrote:Did anybody stop to consider that Glenn initiated all of this by publicly guaranteeing a win? He got what he deserved and will in all likelihood be out at the end of the season.
I haven't heard that Glenn is on the hot seat at Wyoming....have you heard that?

Joe Glenn is not on the hot seat. I would guess 2 more years of 5 or less wins may change that but as of right now, he is very safe.

Whisky_Ditch · Post by **Whisky_Ditch** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:29 am

This Utah coach is an idiot. He is that mad about a comment he made to some students at a pep rally. He didn't make this comment to the media or anything. 43-0 onside kick is more classless than an emotional "finger." That guy sounded like a complete fool in his interview.

tampa_griz · Post by **tampa_griz** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:34 am

Whisky_Ditch wrote:This Utah coach is an idiot. He is that mad about a comment he made to some students at a pep rally. He didn't make this comment to the media or anything. 43-0 onside kick is more classless than an emotional "finger." That guy sounded like a complete fool in his interview.

If Utah's coach wanted to use Glenn's comments at a pep rally as motivation for his players to give it everything they have, then go for it. But to use that as an excuse to attempt an onside kick when you're up by 40 is assinine.

This column does a pretty good job of putting the proper perspective on everything.

GrizinWashington · Post by **GrizinWashington** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:58 pm

Iinteresting that that article, so anti-Whittingham, was in the SLC paper.

Eastcoastgriz · Post by **Eastcoastgriz** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:06 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:I have never quite figured out why there is this puritanical mindset that suggests that he has to apologize for anything in this case.

If a team is up by over 40 points and goes for an on-side kick, I believe that flipping off the opposing coach is perfectly acceptable ... if not admirable.

Perhaps he should have instead text-messaged the opposing coach something like, "I wsh u wud trt our tm wth mor rspct and dgnty, and I tak ofnse 2 ur lck of sprtsmnshp," but flipping the bird is much more efficient.

This was discussed today on Mike and the Maddog radio show which is broadcasted on The Fan 660 out of New York. (I think this is the #1 sports radio show in the US) Their take was similar to yours. They thought the Utah coach owed WY an apology.