On Sunday, Ole Miss released statements from head coach Matt Luke, wide receiver D.K. Metcalf and defensive end Breeland Speaks responding to unsportsmanlike incidents that happened during Thursday’s 90th Egg Bowl.
While the conclusion to Thursday’s Egg Bowl matchup was met with bliss, emotions ran high throughout the game. Beginning with two pre-game kerfuffles, tensions eventually boiled over as Metcalf and Speaks’ actions took center stage for the Rebels.
Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf after a touchdown during the Egg Bowl on Thursday. Photo by Marlee Crawford
Metcalf, who scored on a 63-yard reception, raised his right leg and gestured similarly to a canine urinating, while Speaks was ejected in the fourth quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct and, in exit, taunted the remaining Bulldog fans.
Here are the individual statements:
Head coach Matt Luke:
“While I could not be prouder of the effort by our team in Thursday’s Egg Bowl victory, I was also disappointed in how some of our players let their emotions get the best of them. Those actions are not representative of who they are as men and not indicative of the type of behavior we instill in our student-athletes. This will serve as a teaching moment for these men, and we look forward to seeing them grow from this experience.”
D.K. Metcalf:
“I’m sorry for my actions in the Egg Bowl. I let my emotions get the best of me in the game, and what I did is not a reflection of my coaches or the university.”
Breeland Speaks:
“Thursday night was certainly a chippy game, and in the fourth quarter, I let my emotions get the best of me. I regret those actions, and I look forward to learning from this experience.”
