Nov. 16 (UPI) -- University of Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver got into a heated argument with his coach regarding a coat he was wearing during a game against Tulane.
Cameras captured the squabble in the first half of the Cougars' 48-17 thrashing of the Green Wave on Thursday at TDECU Stadium in Houston. Oliver did not play in the win, sidelined for the fourth straight game due to a knee injury.
He was wearing a hoodie and a black jacket on the sideline while standing near his teammates and coaches. The jacket -- which read Houston Football on the back -- is reserved for starters who are playing in the game. Coaches spoke to Oliver about needing to remove the coat before Cougars coach Major Applewhite approached the star defender.
Oliver became very heated as the teams went into the locker room at halftime. He needed to be restrained by his teammates as he edged closer to Applewhile while shouting in his direction. Oliver pushed away some of those teammates who were attempting to hold him back. He did not return to the sideline in the second half.
"If that's the worst thing that happens, we are going to be alright," Applewhite told ESPN. "So we were all young. I don't blame him. I've made plenty of mistakes in my life and we all need second chances. He'll do great and he'll be fine."
Applewhite said he wasn't trying to single out Oliver, as he also asked other players to remove the jackets.
"We deal with things like this all the time as coaches," Applewhite told reporters. "That's part of our job."
Oliver is a junior from Houston. The 6-foot-3, 292-pound defender is slated as a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver has 51 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed in seven games this season for the Cougars.
