McNeley discusses ejection

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada head coach John McNeley took the blame for Saturday's ejection at Warrensburg, but did say the quick hook surprised him.

"I'm the guy that's responsible for it happening," McNeley said. "I'm going to accept responsibility."

McNeley will also have to accept the punishment, not only missing more than half of Saturday's key Class 4, District 10 matchup (which Warrensburg won, likely saddling Nevada with the second seed in the district tournament next month), but the coach will have to miss tonight's Southwest Conference opener at Webb City as well. MSHSAA rules mandate any coach or player ejected from athletic competition must miss the next full contest as well.

McNeley said he was surprised by both technicals, saying he didn't slip any profanities or make any outwardly offensive comments prior to either of the calls.

"I've always known where to draw the line and what type of personality I am dealing with," McNeley said. "I'm sure the unfamiliarity of them with me had a lot to do with it."

The first technical came after Trevor Hinkle was called for an offensive foul with 1:50 left in the second quarter. The official used a player control signal and McNeley said he was just arguing the type of call used.

"I didn't disagree (with the whistle). I thought it was a foul," McNeley said. "When the call was made on Trevor he used an incorrect signal. At that point I didn't know if (the official) knows the difference between a player control foul and not a player control foul.

"I told him 'a player control foul only takes place when the person who is in possession of the ball commits the foul.'"

Hinkle was called for a player control foul after setting an illegal screen, without possession of the ball.

McNeley said the official immediately changed his personality from "happy-go-lucky" and another comment from the coach brought out the first technical.

"I said, 'It wasn't the mechanics, it's the fact you've missed a couple of calls already and the game's young.'"

After the first technical, McNeley said he tried to talk to another official on the crew, and was telling him about the first official's inability.

"After the call his attention wasn't following the action, he's looking directly at me," McNeley said. "When I pointed that out (to the second official), I was assessed technical foul number two."

McNeley said he would not try to get thrown from a game, and had he known he was about to be tossed, he would have toned himself down.

"I don't know anybody who's prouder of where he coaches. I wouldn't want to miss even a minute of it," he said. "It negatively effects my program and I understand the severity of it and wish it hadn't of happened."

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