• Video: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini apologizes for his actions during NU's loss to Texas A&M during the Huskers' weekly press conference:
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LINCOLN — Bo Pelini apologized on Monday for his verbal assault of officials in Nebraska's 9-6 loss to Texas A&M and vowed that “it won't happen again.”
The third-year NU football coach spent the first 3½ minutes of his weekly press conference delivering a statement in which he explained his behavior Saturday and reiterated that quarterback Taylor Martinez remained in good standing on the team.
“I always believe it's OK to disagree with a call,” Pelini said. “It's not OK to make it personal. And at times during that game, probably, in my quest to fight for the kids on our football team, I let it get personal. And for that, once again, I say I'm sorry. I regret that.”
Pelini repeatedly hounded referee Greg Burks and his seven-man crew, who flagged Nebraska for 16 penalties, including seven personal fouls, to account for 145 yards — all school records. His display prompted University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman on Sunday to express disappointment in Pelini.
Perlman and Athletic Director Tom Osborne discussed the issue with the coach, Pelini said.
“The administration is behind me 100 percent,” he said. “They know me as a person. They know what I'm all about. They understand the character and the things that I represent and brought to this program, and they made that known to me.
“I'm not perfect, because nobody is perfect. You make mistakes. You look back at your actions. ... You make adjustment and move on. You hope that you better yourself through all your experiences, and you don't make the same mistake twice.”
Osborne declined to comment Monday.
Pelini said that if he embarrassed Nebraska, he's sorry.
The coach has dealt with this problem before. He addressed his sideline demeanor in 2008 after NU losses to Oklahoma and Virginia Tech and drew criticism last year for an outburst over the officiating after the Huskers' Big 12 title game loss to Texas.
Pelini did not dismiss the suggestion that his demeanor might have influenced officials to penalize the Huskers.
“Sometimes, you do yourself a disservice,” he said, “and I might have done that the other night. Like I said, I regret it, and I'm sorry about it.”
The other hot topic this week involves Martinez, the redshirt freshman QB who reinjured his right ankle Saturday. Martinez underwent treatment in the locker room and returned to the sideline in the second quarter to receive a verbal lashing of his own from Pelini.
Then on Sunday, speculation surfaced that Martinez had quit the team.
In fact, Pelini said Monday, Martinez missed Sunday's optional workout session. He was excused, the coach said, and could not have participated because of the injury.
“It was business as usual,” Pelini said.
Monday as Nebraska practiced, Martinez watched while wearing a boot on his left foot. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said after practice that Martinez injured a toe Saturday.
If healthy, Martinez will play Friday in the Huskers' regular-season finale at Memorial Stadium against Colorado, Pelini said, though Cody Green appears more likely to quarterback the Huskers.
Pelini said he talked to Martinez's father, Casey Martinez, as the rumors swirled over the weekend but that the quarterback's status on the team was never in doubt.
“I just believe in a situation like this you have to make sure you keep the parents in the loop,” Pelini said.
As for the sideline confrontation, it's staying in-house. Pelini said he regretted that ABC cameras captured the encounter.
“That stuff is nobody's business but ours,” Pelini said. “I can say this: I have heard the things that are being said out there and the speculation as to what that was about, and they are way off base.”
According to defensive tackle Jared Crick, even if Pelini's methods appear boorish to an outsider, they're embraced by the Huskers.
“We always have coach Bo's back,” Crick said, “because we know, in return, he's going to have our back, no matter what. It's a mutual thing. We're all family here. Everybody's in it together.”
Contact the writer:
402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com
twitter.com/mitchsherman
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• Video: Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick speaks during the Huskers' weekly press conference:
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