The now famous headbutt

[FurdTurgason]

Do you think a technical would have been called if, instead of Hurley, it had been the following coaches? (My answer in parentheses)

Mark Pope (yes)
John Calipari (yes)
Rick Pitino (yes)
Jon Scheyer (maybe)
Mike Krzyzewski (no)
Bob Knight (no)
Kelvin Sampson (yes)

 

[UKSanders]

Do you think a technical would have been called if, instead of Hurley, it had been the following coaches? (My answer in parentheses)

Mark Pope (yes)
John Calipari (yes)
Rick Pitino (yes)
Jon Scheyer (maybe)
Mike Krzyzewski (no)
Bob Knight (no)
Kelvin Sampson (yes)

Knight would absolutely have been given a technical... he just didn't give a crap about getting one. Once he got the first, his reaction to it likely would've earned a 2nd one to get tossed

 

[BlueBomb]

That was not a headbutt. The ref approached Hurley and initiated it. I actually think it was the ref's way of congratulating Hurley in a quiet way. He didn't have to shake his hand and look biased. They know each other fairly well.

That ref wasn't chosen to work the Final Four. It wasn't because he headbutted someone. It's because he's biased toward UConn. Just my take.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Fox

 

[BlueSince92]

It wasn't anywhere close to being a headbutt. Can't believe so many major news outlets are calling it that. What a gullible population we've become.

It may well have been a silent congratulations on Ayers' part as @BlueBomb thinks. In which case it's nothing.

Otoh if Ayers was trying to intimidate Hurley somehow by getting in his face, which Ayers definitely did good or bad, then that would actually make me respect Hurley for having that split second backbone.

 

[Catphright23]

He looked like he was gonna kiss him. He was first famous from being on Little Nicky, playing Todd.

 

[preacherfan]

That was not a headbutt. The ref approached Hurley and initiated it. I actually think it was the ref's way of congratulating Hurley in a quiet way. He didn't have to shake his hand and look biased. They know each other fairly well.

That ref wasn't chosen to work the Final Four. It wasn't because he headbutted someone. It's because he's biased toward UConn. Just my take.

Context is everything. All this happened after the game winning shot. Hurley is not going to headbutt an official in that situation. It was strange and awkward, but this is just the media making a big deal out of nothing.

Had that last shot gotten waved off or we had some kind of strange call that took away the 3, yeah, I could see Hurley going ballistic on a referee.

 

[WallMash]

Mating ritual of wild rams and men in bars that play show tunes.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

The first I saw of it was a still picture. Looking at that I couldn’t believe he didn’t get a T. When I saw the video, I thought the ref came to him more than he went to the ref.

 

[ManitouDan]

I can see ole Danny boy slinging a chair ( or a person) someday . I hope it does happen , to get rid of this terrible human being.

 

[PushupMan]

I didn’t see a whole lot in it, but I do have to admit it was simply weird. Ref was trying to get over to the monitor to see how much time should be left on the clock, and Hurley was in his way.

 

[CutNets]

I find it laughable how misconstrued this has become. It was literally Hurley just being silly with Ayers. My guess is at first Hurley leaned in as if Ayers was about to tell him something but when he realized he wasn't he just stared at him while touching foreheads. Weird? Absolutely. Bizarre? For sure. But no where close to a head-butt, anger, animosity, etc.


Hurley was quite literally in a state of euphoria, just floating in space and time, and in the moment he was being goofy with Ayers, a guy he likes. That's it, and it's literally one of the funniest things I've seen a basketball coach do.

 

[UKSanders]

It wasn't anywhere close to being a headbutt. Can't believe so many major news outlets are calling it that. What a gullible population we've become.

It may well have been a silent congratulations on Ayers' part as @BlueBomb thinks. In which case it's nothing.

Otoh if Ayers was trying to intimidate Hurley somehow by getting in his face, which Ayers definitely did good or bad, then that would actually make me respect Hurley for having that split second backbone.

Context is everything. All this happened after the game winning shot. Hurley is not going to headbutt an official in that situation. It was strange and awkward, but this is just the media making a big deal out of nothing.

Had that last shot gotten waved off or we had some kind of strange call that took away the 3, yeah, I could see Hurley going ballistic on a referee.

I find it laughable how misconstrued this has become. It was literally Hurley just being silly with Ayers. My guess is at first Hurley leaned in as if Ayers was about to tell him something but when he realized he wasn't he just stared at him while touching foreheads. Weird? Absolutely. Bizarre? For sure. But no where close to a head-butt, anger, animosity, etc.


Hurley was quite literally in a state of euphoria, just floating in space and time, and in the moment he was being goofy with Ayers, a guy he likes. That's it, and it's literally one of the funniest things I've seen a basketball coach do.

It may be a whole lot of nothing, but I think the main reason it has been viewed as potentially something bigger is because of Hurley's past actions being an arrogant jerk.

I mean, would it REALLY be surprising to anyone if there was footage of Hurley getting into a ref's face AND actually headbutting them?

 

[JwUKFan11]

I don’t really understand the outrage. He wasn’t mad, just a silly guy that was in shock of what he just saw. There are plenty of times he should get a T but this isn’t one of them.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

 

[BlueSince92]

It may be a whole lot of nothing, but I think the main reason it has been viewed as potentially something bigger is because of Hurley's past actions being an arrogant jerk.

I mean, would it REALLY be surprising to anyone if there was footage of Hurley getting into a ref's face AND actually headbutting them?

For me this time it's in the opposite direction—assuming, for the sake of argument, that what Ayers did was not bro energy.

For a long time I've hated Hurely because he's so damned snide about other schools and coaches in interviews.

Looming over some mofo who jumps in your face and calling out "two rings, baldie" to a guy heckling you are things that could make me actually start to like Hurley.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It really was a non issue and it seems that ref knew what Hurley was doing, and thats why he never called a technical.

That being said, 1,000% a technical if it's Cal.

 

[Anon1774630942]

If you were winning like he is, and had him leading your program that proud, you'd be eating it up.

I in fact thing 95% of those talking smack are simple jealous of what that guy is doing. The guy rally's players and fans. But when you get him behind the mic, he's always respectful and gracious. And self depracating.

 

[Kantucke_rivals]

What a legend Dan Hurley is, not only can he recruit/coach but he's pure entertainment. Must see TV

 

[preacherfan]

If you were winning like he is, and had him leading your program that proud, you'd be eating it up.

I in fact thing 95% of those talking smack are simple jealous of what that guy is doing. The guy rally's players and fans. But when you get him behind the mic, he's always respectful and gracious. And self depracating.

Oh my! That sounds horrible. I hope he is okay!

(Yeah, I know it is a typo but it cracked me up!)

 

[cordmaker 74]

Perfect situation would have been, Hurley gets a flagrant 2, gets tossed, Puke gets two free throws, misses both of them, U Conn still wins, Hurley has to set next game out!!!!

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Pope would have been given a tech for saying "golly gee"

 

[FurdTurgason]

I agree, too much has been made of it since the ref himself has dismissed it.

I also think there are some coaches who would have been T'd up for it.

Both things can be true.

 

[Vek96]

Not only should have Hurley been given a technical for that unprovoked, vicious attack on the ref, but he should have been tased, handcuffed, arrested, and brought up on attempted murder charges.

Much ado about nothing.

 

[BlueRocker777]

You forgot to list Pat Kelsey. Of course, he would have to be standing on a step ladder for it to happen.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Pope would have been given a tech for saying "golly gee"

As he should. Any grown a$$ed man that says golly gee deserves a technical.

 

[Anon1768287303]

I didn’t see a whole lot in it, but I do have to admit it was simply weird. Ref was trying to get over to the monitor to see how much time should be left on the clock, and Hurley was in his way.

I would in no way call it a headbutt. But, it most certainly had the appearance of a stare down.

 

[yoshukai]

Do you think a technical would have been called if, instead of Hurley, it had been the following coaches? (My answer in parentheses)

Mark Pope (yes)
John Calipari (yes)
Rick Pitino (yes)
Jon Scheyer (maybe)
Mike Krzyzewski (no)
Bob Knight (no)
Kelvin Sampson (yes)

The better question might have been a list of officials and what they would have done .
Doug Shows ….
Pat Adams…..

 

[travisbickle]

I’m still trying to wrap my brain around what the hell that even was.

 

[65pacecar]

Knight would absolutely have been given a technical... he just didn't give a crap about getting one. Once he got the first, his reaction to it likely would've earned a 2nd one to get tossed

Couldn't stand Knight, but if he headbutted a ref, he would have made it count with a full knock out.