Kinchen Apologizes for Comments on ESPN3 Telecast

I learned a long time ago, once you've said it, you've said it and all you can do afterward is apologize.

Former LSU Tight End, NFL player and now ESPN3 analyst Brian Kinchen has done just that.

Kinchen was called out by fans (and me) for comments he made during the Louisiana-Northwestern State football game Saturday night at Cajun Field.

At one point during the telecast Kinchen mentioned there wouldn't be anyone tailgating after the game unless they had a flat screen because LSU was playing Mississippi State.  Later, he remarked he was surprised more fans hadn't left Cajun Field in order to go home and watch the LSU game.

Needless to say, he didn't make a lot of friends with those comments.

Following a phone conversation with UL Athletic Director Scott Farmer, Kinchen issued a written apology for his comments to be shared with the UL fanbase.

Kinchen's apology is here:

.
Dear Mr. Farmer,

I wanted to take a minute and write to you, your fans, and your football
team to express my deepest apologies for the statement I made during
Saturday's broadcast on ESPN during your football teams contest against
Northwestern State University.

I am a Christian man who loves Jesus Christ, and does my best every day to
love people and treat them all without any bias whatsoever. That certainly
includes the work I do and the institutions that I am fortunate enough to
be able to observe and represent during these broadcasts in the fall.
There was no malicious intent, and certainly no bias whatsoever involved
in that statement. I was making a casual observation that should not have
been expressed, certainly not the way I stated it. I hope my apology is
accepted and I hope you, your fans, and your football team know and
understand that my intent was pure and innocent.

Throughout the broadcast I did my very best to praise your school, the
program, and the job all the coaches are doing there, especially coach
Hudspeth.

I realize I'm responsible for all the words that come out of my mouth, and
I pride myself on doing my job well, and to the best of my ability. So you
can imagine this was very difficult for me to hear about a statement I had
made, but have learned a valuable lesson and will never make the same
mistake again.

With deepest regrets and regards,
Brian Kinchen

Kinchen is correct in that he had many complimentary things to say about the Cajun program, but the ones that offend are the ones that are remembered.

Like I said, after you've said it, all you can do is say you're sorry.

I think we can put this to bed now.