As Bill Callahan’s first season in Nebraska gets uglier by the week, the Associated Press has the story of the former Raiders coach losing his cool in Norman over the weekend.

While acknowledging he used a poor choice of words in a profane outburst directed at Oklahoma fans Saturday, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said he was upset because a group of hecklers were allowed so close to his players during warmups and oranges were thrown onto the field late in the game.

As he walked toward the Nebraska locker room after a 30-3 loss, Callahan looked into the stands and called OU fans “[expletive] hillbillies.”

“I’m an emotional guy, and I’m a competitive coach, and on the field I stick up for my players,” Callahan said Monday on the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “I don’t think any team should be subjected to the type of treatment we were subjected to in that particular contest.”

Callahan also said he could not comment on what Nebraska called a “collision” between a player and an Oklahoma student fan incident because the coach did not see it.

According to The Oklahoman newspaper of Oklahoma City, Nebraska backup offensive lineman Darren DeLone assaulted a member of the OU student spirit group, the Ruf/Neks, during warmups.

Adam Merritt was transported from Owen Field on a medical cart and taken to a hospital after having several teeth knocked out and suffering facial cuts, The Oklahoman reported.

The Ruf/Neks are a tradition at Oklahoma. From their position in one of the end zones, the students shoot pop guns and heckle opposing teams. Callahan said it’s a dangerous environment because of the proximity of the students to the opposing players.

“It’s inevitable something is going to happen,” Callahan said. “For game management or athletic administration to not recognize that, it’s astounding to me.”

Callahan said he was taken aback by the thrown oranges late in the game. The orange toss was symbolic of Oklahoma’s hopes of playing for the national championship in the Orange Bowl.

Between the pop guns going off before the game and flying oranges, Callahan said he snapped as he walked off the field.

“I probably could have used a better choice of words, but I am distressed when people are shooting off guns and throwing fruit at our players,” Callahan said. “I just have a hard time with that. It’s a part of the game, I guess. I’m trying to learn this the best I can. But I think it’s out of control.”