In this Michigan football news update, Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison expressed regret for the heated exchange he had with head coach Brady Hoke during the second quarter of Saturday's 26-10 loss to Utah.
After Frank Clark had picked up a sack to force a 4th-and-long for the Utes, Michigan was assessed a five-yard penalty for sideline interference when Mattison stepped out on the field of play.
Hoke subsequently yelled at Mattison to "get off the f---ing field," which led to Mattison snapping back at him.
"It's a heat of a ballgame," Mattison stated about the incident, via Angelique S. Chengelis of The Detroit News. "(Hoke) and I are two of the most competitive people in the world. I'm out there in the middle of the field during a timeout. I got an official saying, 'Get back.' I want to go after him and strangle him because I'm trying to get done what I want, and I've got a head coach being a head coach."
Mattison would then become emotional, addressing his friendship with Hoke that has spanned several years.
"Let me just say this, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't Brady Hoke," Mattison stated. "So, anybody can say anything they want, that man is why I'm here. You should see us play Euchre. You ought to see us when we first knew each other and we used to wrestle each other, or we played basketball against each other. There's no more competitiveness in him or me than anywhere.
"When he said something to me (on the field), I should never have said a word. He's the head football coach. But at that moment, I was upset, because I wanted our guys to do well. He was being a head football coach, which he does a phenomenal job of. So I snapped at him. Good thing it was him – maybe somebody else would have fired me right there."
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