Contrite Holmgren apologizes to fans

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, September 26, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

KIRKLAND – Hoping to put out a fire before it ever got burning, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren apologized Wednesday for using a profanity in regards to local fans.

Holmgren was quoted in the current issue of Sports Illustrated as finishing off an address to his team following Sunday’s 27-3 loss to Philadelphia by saying, ” (expletive) them,” meaning the fans.

Holmgren acknowledged making the statement to his players in the locker room shortly after the game, but only as a source of motivation. He also said that he was “embarrassed” after reading the article.

“I’m not proud of my language at times,” Holmgren said Wednesday. “I don’t set a very good example. I lecture my own children about it. As a teacher I used to lecture my students about it. The sad thing is that during an emotional time at a football game – after a game, during a game – sometimes I slip up.”

Holmgren’s post-game comment was made in reference to a group of fans cheering for backup quarterback Trent Dilfer as starter Matt Hasselbeck struggled through Sunday’s loss.

“We sincerely need our fans,” Holmgren said Wednesday. “I was really making a reference to the small group of people that I didn’t think were giving Matt much of a chance. It comes off looking worse. I know that, and for that I am sorry.”

Holmgren felt so strongly about his portrayal in the SI article that he opened his Wednesday press conference with an unsolicited, 10-minute explanation.

“Our fans are wonderful and we didn’t give them much to cheer about on Sunday,” Holmgren said. “However, I think the small group of people that were chanting for Trent after Matt was about to complete his second start of all time in his career, that bothered me that they wouldn’t have a little more patience. And so I said what I said.

” … We have great fans. I think anybody that has been around me and the fans that I have talked to, they know.”

To put Holmgren’s post-game comments in perspective, he was addressing the team after an embarrassing loss, and was trying to rally the players. Instead of pointing a finger toward Hasselbeck, Holmgren warned the players that any of them could have been in the same position, with fans chanting for their backup. Holmgren contended that his expletive “kind of added an exclamation point at the end of the speech.”

The incident does not mark the first time Holmgren has let his fan frustration boil over. During his final season with the Green Bay Packers, Holmgren confronted a fan at Lambeau Field who had reportedly told him to concentrate on coaching instead of his future job prospects. At that time, Holmgren was widely rumored to be seeking a job that included the coach/general manager title – something he eventually found in Seattle.

During his Wednesday press conference, Holmgren expressed regret for both incidents.

The difference, of course, is that his expletive last Sunday was made behind closed doors.

“I said what I said,” Holmgren admitted. “I kind of expected it to stay in (the locker room), but I’m also old enough to know that (players) are young people and a lot of times … (the media) can get them to say stuff to you that I don’t necessarily want them to tell you. Do I have a sense of betrayal? No.”

The players let out a collective shrug at the publicity, wondering why the article generated any fuss.

“People swear all the time in the locker room,” safety Reggie Tongue said. “People say things they don’t mean in the locker room all the time. It’s to motivate people. It’s not meant to hurt people or to be taken literally. Coaching is about motivating players and about being loyal to your players. I don’t think he meant to hurt anybody by it.”

Hasselbeck added: “I think I’ve had one coach who hasn’t sworn.”

The SI article also points toward an incident last season when Holmgren, following a loss to the Denver Broncos, used the same expletive in addressing his team. That time, he reportedly flipped his players an obscene gesture.

“All I can say is that I did everything that I could possibly think of doing last year to get us out of the funk that we were in,” Holmgren told the media Wednesday, “and that was from being the nice guy to being a number of things the article said I was. I don’t think I’m a bad guy all the time, you know. And I don’t think you (reporters) think I am. I was searching and struggling for a way to get some of the players to grab hold of the football team themselves.

“This year, this is a new group of players and I’m proud of the way they’re handling it. I won’t have to be the same guy I was last year.”

As for the most recent slip-up, Holmgren wanted to set the record straight with the fans. And a few other people.

“I apologize for my language. I will continue to work on it,” he said. “I really am concerned about what you think of me, but I’m more concerned about what my mom thinks about me when she reads this stuff. And it’s not good. So I’ll continue to work on that.”

Seahawk notes: Cornerback Willie Williams practiced in non-scout-team drills Wednesday for the first time since breaking his forearm almost six weeks ago. Williams is listed as probable for Sunday’s game at Oakland, and he could be in the starting lineup along with rookie Ken Lucas. … Also on the Seahawks’ injury list are linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski (concussion, questionable), cornerback Shawn Springs (hamstring, questionable) and tight end Christian Fauria (hip, probable). … The Raiders will be without starting center Barret Robbins, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s loss to Miami. Adam Treu, a 27-year-old long snapper, will start in his place.

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