Nebraska's Octavien Apologizes For His Remark About Fans

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Linebacker Steve Octavien apologized to Nebraska fans Tuesday for criticizing them for booing during last week's one-point win over Ball State.<br/><br/>The Cornhuskers' defenders

Tuesday, September 25th 2007, 2:24 pm

By: News On 6

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Linebacker Steve Octavien apologized to Nebraska fans Tuesday for criticizing them for booing during last week's one-point win over Ball State.

The Cornhuskers' defenders were booed in the second half as Ball State moved with ease against them. Nebraska won 41-40 despite surrendering 610 yards to the Cardinals.

After the game, Octavien chastised fans for booing: "If they don't like it, they don't have to come and watch the game."

During the Huskers' weekly news conference, Octavien said he shouldn't have made the remark.

"I was just very emotional, and I really truly apologize to the fans for the comment I made," he said. "We have great fans. It was just a mistake, and it was very un-Christianlike for me to say, and something I won't do again."

Octavien said he was frustrated by the way the defense has played the past three games. The Huskers have allowed an average of 481 yards to Wake Forest, Southern California and Ball State.

"We've given up a lot of yards," Octavien said. "It's frustrating as a defense when you have the crowd booing. We feed off the crowd's energy, so it's very difficult."

Octavien's comment Saturday came during a postgame interview with the Husker Sports Network. It got big play in this state, where football passion runs deep and Memorial Stadium has been sold out an NCAA-record 285 consecutive games since 1962.