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Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott apologized on Monday for remarks he made following the Buckeyes' loss to Michigan State on Saturday that were critical of the coaching staff and the play-calling. He also noted it was the inappropriate time to say that he would not return to school next fall.
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Elliott posted his apology in a long Twtter message, which read as follows: "I am sorry for all those offended by the statements made by me Saturday after OUR loss. My intentions were not to point fingers at anyone for OUR failure. I hope everyone can understand how strongly I love this team and this university and how much I wanted to win that game, but I do not regret anything I said.
"I have given nothing but blood, sweat and tears for this university and team ever since I stepped on campus in Columbus and have always put the team before myself.
"I don't care if I rushed for 20 yards or 200 yards but I just want to win that game. I agree that it was the wrong time and place to say that I was going to leave after this year. But I am not leaving after this season because we lost that game. I could have told you a month ago that that was going to be my last game in the Shoe as you can see I was very emotional before the game.
"Finally, I just want Buckeye Nation to know I am sorry for all controversy and unrest I caused in the past couple of days. But I promise you all will get a focused and prepared team this Saturday when we travel to Ann Arbor. GO BUCKS!"
The apology was in response to Elliott's comments on Saturday, when he said, "Honestly, this is my last game in the Shoe. I mean, there's no chance of me coming back next year. What happened today, it was kind of like a bad, bad dream. Offense had a rough day, and I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed in the play calling, I'm disappointed in the situations we were put in, and I wish it all played out differently."
Elliott carried only 12 times for 33 yards.
"How we lost, I just feel like we weren't put in the right opportunity to win this game, we weren't put in the right situations to win this game," Elliott said. "Honestly, I can't speak for the play calling. I don't know what was going on. I don't know what they were seeing. But honestly, it didn't work out. It wasn't working."
Coach Urban Meyer told the Columbus Dispatch on Monday that he met with Elliott on Sunday. Meyer said Elliott apologized to the coach.
"Zeke is an incredibly loyal person and football player, one of the most selfless players I've even been around," Meyer said, according to the Dispatch.
Meyer also said, "I couldn't disagree with his comments -- he should have gotten ball more. But that was not the forum" for saying he was dissatisfied.
