UABâs Trent Dilfer admits sideline explosion during Tulane loss was over the top

Trent Dilfer said he regrets his actions Saturday and admits he coaches with passion.

It was certainly on display Saturday in a 35-23 loss at Tulane when he exploded on his coaching staff, saying he regretted it.

On Monday, he talked about the incident.

“I’m regretful about it,” he said, per SI. “I’m a passionate guy. Anybody that’s ever been around me as a player, as a coach, at ESPN. … I mean, my kids will tell you this: I am a passionate, passionate person. Sometimes, that passion comes out in ways that I am not proud of. And that’s a moment that I am not proud of.

“One, I wasn’t just mad at that singular coach. We do have headphones on, so every person — 22 people —was getting the message that that was unacceptable.”

The Blazers, who were trailing the Green Wave in New Orleans, got hit with an illegal substitution penalty in the fourth quarter. UAB (1-4) had 12 men in the huddle, which gave Tulane a fresh set of downs. Dilfer unloaded on his guys.

“Now, I could’ve done that in a better way, and I’ll learn from it, like I’ve learned from my mistakes in the past. I don’t really get caught up in what people say. I’ve woken up to a lot worse things to that. I’ve been booed out of stadiums. I’ve had people lie about my character multiple times. I don’t get too caught up in that stuff, but I’m very concerned about the 200 people in this building (and) about the people we represent in the city of Birmingham, and that’s not what I want their head coach to be remembered for. Now, I am going to be passionate, and there may be other times that I’m stern, but that one was over-the-top, and I regret it.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.