Brent Musburger angrily defends himself on air after Twitter users criticize his Joe Mixon comments

ESPN’s Brent Musburger took a stand during the network’s showing of the Sugar Bowl on Monday night. After many people on social media expressed displeasure with what he said, the longtime broadcaster took another stand later in the game — this time in his own defense.

During the second quarter of the Oklahoma-Auburn showdown, Musburger made a comment about Sooners redshirt sophomore running back Joe Mixon, who was suspended from the team for the 2014 season after pleading guilty to assault.

Last month a video from the July 2014 incident that led to that charge became public. It showed Mixon punching a woman, Amelia Molitor, after she pushed him and put her hands on his neck. Mixon, who accepted a plea to a misdemeanor charge, publicly apologized for the incident.

In the two seasons since his suspension, Mixon has rushed for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns, and added 894 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. During the Sooners’ 35-19 victory over Auburn on Monday, he rushed 19 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 89 yards.

After pointing out that the video of the incident is “very troubling to see” and that the Oklahoma coaches “swear the young man is doing fine,” Musburger said of Mixon: “He’s just one of the best and let’s hope, given a second chance by [Head Coach] Bob Stoops and Oklahoma, let’s hope that this young man makes the most of his chance and goes on to have a career in the National Football League.”

Many folks on Twitter did not take kindly to the comments.

Later in the broadcast, Musburger noted the criticism he was receiving and angrily reiterated his feelings on the matter.

“Apparently some people were very upset when I wished this young man well at the next level,” Musburger said. “Let me make something perfectly clear. What he did with that young lady was brutal, uncalled for. He’s apologized, he was tearful, he got a second chance.

“I happen to pull for people with second chances, OK? Let me make it absolutely clear that I hope he has a wonderful career and he teaches people with that brutal, violent video. OK?”

His comments the second time around may not have gone over any better.

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii