A routine gesture of support potentially created a significant headache for the University of Arizona football coach — literally.
During a Nov. 30 game between the University of Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils, Wildcats senior defensive assistant coach Chuck Cecil headbutted a Wildcats player — who was wearing a helmet at the time — to speed him up for a play. The move resulted in a bloody forehead for Cecil, who otherwise appeared unharmed.
The now-viral video of that moment and its aftermath was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Fox College Football. Cecil, 60, can be seen hitting his head on the player’s helmet several times and is later shown standing near the player with blood running down his forehead.
Cecil shared a post on X to comment on the moment on Sunday, December 1, saying he didn’t understand “all the fuss” surrounding the incident.
“Thanks for the support and applications, but I’m not quite sure what all the fuss is about; I didn’t even notice that I was bleeding,” he wrote and added, “and it was a love blow, not a blow to the head!”
“Clearly turning 60 means I have to be a little more careful with my thin skin, and maybe we should issue a disclaimer: ‘Kids, don’t try this at home; leave it to the professionals!’ ” he added.
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The coach ended his post by focusing the narrative back on Wildcats football.
“Seriously, there is nothing I love more (besides my wife and daughter) than the University of Arizona, our players and the amazing Wildcat community. We need to come together, rally around our team/kids and work to build a championship winning program,” he wrote.
“That’s my only focus and the reason I came back from the NFL — to contribute in any way I can. Let’s persevere and make it happen!” he concluded, referencing the University of Arizona’s historic catchphrase, “Hold back!”
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The Wildcats ended up losing the game by a final score of 49-7, leaving them with a four-eighth performance on the season.
According to his University of Arizona bio page, Cecil is a former NFL defensive coordinator and member of the NCAA College Football Hall of Fame. Although this is his fourth season overall with the Wildcats, it is his first as the team’s senior assistant defensive coach. He was previously the defensive backs coach from 2021 to 2023.
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Source: HIS Education