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McCombs apologizes for Strong comments
Posted on January 9, 2014 | BY MIKE FINGER
SAN ANTONIO — Billionaire booster Red McCombs apologized Thursday for critical comments he made about new Texas football coach Charlie Strong, and said he told Strong he has his “total support.”
In an interview in his office near downtown, McCombs said he spoke with Strong via telephone on Thursday to clear the air. Earlier this week, McCombs told ESPN 1250 that Strong’s hiring at UT was “a kick in the face” and suggested that the coach would “make a great position coach, maybe a coordinator.”
Thursday, McCombs said he apologized to Strong and “to anyone that might have been offended by anything I said or did.”
“My interest is in Longhorn athletics, and in the University of Texas,” said McCombs, who’s donated more than $100 million to the school. “My interest was to see that we hire one of the best three coaches in the United States.”
McCombs said he regretted making the “kick in the face” and the “position coach” statements, saying he didn’t intend either to be a personal criticism of Strong. He said Strong told him during their phone conversation that an apology wasn’t necessary.
“He wanted my help and my support,” McCombs said. “I told him I’d be happy to do it.”
McCombs said he was bothered by the perception that his comments about Strong — who is black — were based on race. He said John Lucas, who McCombs hired as a head coach when he owned the Spurs, called him this week and said “a lot of people are saying ugly things” and offered to speak up for him.
McCombs said he told Lucas that wasn’t necessary.
“I’m not sure I knew anything about the race issue until it was broadcast like that,” McCombs said. “I didn’t even think about that.”