Kirk Herbstreit apologizes to Baylor player for critical comments

ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit apologized Sunday to Baylor and Terrell Burt after accusing the senior safety of faking an injury during the Bears’ loss to Oklahoma.

Herbstreit’s apology came in a series of three posts on his Twitter account.

With the Sooners lining up for a play with 9:44 left in their 44-34 victory Saturday night, Baylor cornerback Ryan Reid suddenly ran toward Burt and motioned for him to get down to the ground. Burt then bent forward and rolled over onto his back, prompting an injury timeout.

What was unknown at the time was that Burt had sprained his right ankle on the kickoff before Oklahoma had already snapped the ball twice on that drive.

Baylor trainer Mike Sims said Sunday that Burt’s ankle “is sore and swollen today.”

During the broadcast, when thinking it was a fake injury, Herbstreit was critical with his comments while Burt was being tended to by trainers and a replay was shown.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” Herbstreit said during the broadcast. “That is awful. Now he’s going to fake a limp. I mean that is bush league. I don’t get that. … This is football. That’s unethical. You don’t do that.”

Even when fellow broadcaster Chris Fowler asked if it was possible that Burt was hurt, Herbstreit quickly responded, “No, he was ready to play.”

Etc.

Rutgers center Derrick Nelson left a New Jersey hospital after being carted off the field following a helmet-to-helmet collision late in a game against Nebraska. The university says the junior was released from the hospital Saturday night, walking out under his own power. Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood said after the game that Nelson had movement in his extremities.

No. 4 Oklahoma State is the highest ranked team from the Big 12 and Oklahoma moved up five spots to No. 7 in the Associated Press college football poll. The top three of No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Alabama is unchanged after all three won Saturday. Baylor slipped from No. 4 to No. 10, helping the Cowboys move up a spot. Oklahoma State rallied from 17 points down to win, 35-31, at Iowa State.