Massachusetts football coach Mark Whipple has been suspended for a week without pay after equating officials' calls with rape during a postgame radio interview.
After Saturday's 58-42 loss to Ohio, Whipple complained about a number of penalties called on his team, but was most upset with a missed pass interference call late in the game.
"I thought it was (pause) MAC got their revenge on us, officiating-wise — the worst I've ever been a part of. I've been in the SEC, I've been in the NFL and I've never seen anything so bad: six holds against none until at the end. … We had a chance there with 16 down and they rape us, and he picks up the flag," Whipple said, according to a transcript of the interview by the Athens Messenger.
Whipple is in his 11th season as coach of the Minutemen. His teams have compiled an overall record of 63-65. UMass left the Mid-American Conference after the 2015 season and currently has no conference affiliation.
The school on Sunday announced Whipple's one-week suspension, which will continue through the team's game against South Florida on Saturday.
"I am deeply sorry for the word I used on Saturday to describe a play in our game," Whipple said in a statement released by the school.
"It is unacceptable to make use of the word 'rape' in the way I did and I am very sorry for doing so. It represents a lack of responsibility on my part as the leader of this program and a member of this university's community, and I am disappointed with myself that I made this comparison when commenting after our game."
Defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham will serve as the acting head coach during Whipple's absence.
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