Wyoming coach Joe Glenn apologizes for obscene gesture during Saturday's game

11/12/2007 4:22 PM

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) -Wyoming coach Joe Glenn apologized Monday for making an obscene gesture to the Utah team after the Utes tried an onside kick while ahead by 43 points.

Glenn was reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference later in the day and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the onside kick with a 43-0 lead was a ``bad decision.''

Glenn, who had publicly guaranteed a victory last week, was furious when the Utes tried to get the ball right back after Louie Sakoda's 41-yard field goal with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

Wyoming recovered the onside kick and Glenn gave the finger to the Utes, who went on to win 50-0 in Salt Lake City. After the loss Saturday, Glenn said he didn't remember the gesture, but on Monday acknowledged it.

``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,'' he said. ``I felt it was appropriate for me to let my team and all fans know that I am truly sorry for that emotional moment.''

Mountain West Conference officials reprimanded Glenn in a brief statement Monday afternoon after reviewing videotape of the game and speaking to Wyoming Athletic Director Tom Burman. The gesture was Glenn's first offense of the Mountain West's sportsmanship policy, which is subject to a reprimand, according to the league handbook.

During his news conference Monday in Salt Lake City, Whittingham said he shouldn't have called for the onside kick in a game the Utes (7-3, 4-2) were well on their way to winning.

``We had worked two weeks on it and wanted to find a spot to use it,'' Whittingham said. ``You get caught up emotionally in a football game, you want to be competitive and the juices are flowing, but when I had a chance to digest it, if I had to do it again I wouldn't.''

Glenn said Saturday he regretted guaranteeing that the Cowboys would win. Utah fans mocked him for it late in the game by chanting ``guarantee.''

``I got emotional last week and got my big Irish mouth going and made the guarantee,'' Glenn 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 (5-5, 2-4) has lost four of its last five games. The Cowboys must upset conference-leading BYU on Saturday to earn a bowl bid.