Big 12 reprimands Texas DE Breckyn Hager for saying Oklahoma 'sucks'
Texas defensive end Breckyn Hager has been issued a public reprimand by the Big 12 for comments he made following UT’s win over Iowa State.
Hager’s comments “were in violation of the conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct policies,” per commissioner Bob Bowlsby. It’s Hager’s second violation of the Big 12’s sportsmanship policies.
According to the Dallas Morning-News, Hager, a senior, had some things to get off his chest about rival Oklahoma. When informed by a reporter that OU had allowed 40 points in a win over Kansas, the Big 12’s worst team, Hager said, “OU has no defense.”
He then followed that up with this gem as he walked away from a group of reporters:
He then pointed at a nearby clock and offered one last thought from his perplexing postgame session.
“And what time is it?” Hager said. “It’s 11:12…and OU still sucks.”
Yes, DE Breckyn Hager actually showed up postgame like this. pic.twitter.com/VDO76nKKJS
— Trenton Daeschner (@TrentDaeschner) November 18, 2018
Big 12 asked for public apology from Hager
In a press release, Bowlsby said the conference expected a public apology from Hager.
“Breckyn Hager violated the conference rule that prohibits coaches, student-athletes, athletic department staff and university personnel from making negative comments about other member institutions for his remarks about the University of Oklahoma,” Bowlsby said.
“This is Mr. Hager’s second violation of the conference sportsmanship rules and therefore, he is receiving a public reprimand and will be expected to issue a public apology for his inappropriate comments.”
Not long after the conference went public with the reprimand, Hager issued the requested apology:
“I consider sportsmanship to be an essential part of the game I so truly love. I spoke with our athletics director Chris Del Conte and Coach Herman about what I said after Saturday’s game and understand why it reflected poorly on me and my team. I had no ill intentions when I made my comments about Oklahoma, which included a phrase that’s used by fans, but I have to realize that it’s different coming from me. My thought process was that it would put a fun and light-hearted charge into the greatest rivalry in college football that my family has been involved in playing in for many years, but I can see now that was not the way to do it.”
“I have the utmost respect for the University of Oklahoma and their football program and know a number of players on their team, and I want to apologize to them. I want to represent myself, my family, my football program, my University, and the Big 12 Conference in the best possible way. I’m truly sorry for the comments I made, will learn from this, and will keep working to improve my ability to think about the ramifications of what I say before I say it.”
Hager once apologized for comments about Patrick Mahomes
Hager is known to be, um, outspoken. Back in 2016, he made headlines for saying Texas’ plan to slow down Texas Tech’s offense was to “injure that quarterback.” That quarterback was Patrick Mahomes. You may have heard of him.
Later in the same day, Hager issued a public apology, saying it was “a poor choice of words” that he regretted.
“I play hard and it’s our team’s goal to get pressure on the quarterback, hit him and disrupt the offense. When I go out there I want to play my most aggressive game, but I’m not trying to do anything to physically injure someone. That’s not what I’m about, not the way I was raised and not the way we play football at Texas,” he said in a statement released through UT.
Full statements from Texas DE Breckyn Hager, coach Charlie Strong. pic.twitter.com/zk6YjvJPfy
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) October 31, 2016
Oklahoma and Texas could meet in the Big 12 title game
Texas beat Oklahoma earlier this season for OU’s only loss of the season. The two could meet again in the Big 12 title game if Texas beats Kansas and Oklahoma beats West Virginia this weekend.
If that happens, it’s a sure bet Hager’s comments will be on the minds of some folks in Norman leading up to the game.
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