UConn head coach Geno Auriemma issued a public apology Saturday, for his outburst toward South Carolina's Dawn Staley and her staff just before the end of South Carolina's Final Four win.
"There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said in a school-issued statement. "It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that. I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."
Auriemma alleged Staley broke tradition by not sharing a handshake with him at center court before the game, then took exception with the liberties she took with officials, which he insinuated he would not be able to get away with, mentioning to ensure there wasn't a "double standard."
After the dust-up with 0.1 seconds remaining, Auriemma left the floor, not participating in the postgame handshake line to congratulate the Gamecock players.
My take: This whole thing was absurd and it was all Auriemma. I'm always leery of statements issued through the schools, but that's the best way to reach the most people, and as a noted public representative of UConn, it's proper. But is Auriemma really sorry? Why didn't it say he would call Staley personally and apologize?
THE ASYLUM
Auriemma apologizes
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma issued a public apology Saturday, for his outburst toward South Carolina's Dawn Staley and her staff just before the end of South Carolina's Final Four win.
"There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said in a school-issued statement. "It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that. I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."
Auriemma alleged Staley broke tradition by not sharing a handshake with him at center court before the game, then took exception with the liberties she took with officials, which he insinuated he would not be able to get away with, mentioning to ensure there wasn't a "double standard."
After the dust-up with 0.1 seconds remaining, Auriemma left the floor, not participating in the postgame handshake line to congratulate the Gamecock players.
My take: This whole thing was absurd and it was all Auriemma. I'm always leery of statements issued through the schools, but that's the best way to reach the most people, and as a noted public representative of UConn, it's proper. But is Auriemma really sorry? Why didn't it say he would call Staley personally and apologize?
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