I walked out of the gates of Huskie Stadium on Saturday.

I had just sat through the post-game press conference where I listened to both head coaches, a few NIU players and a guy a couple rows behind me who asked too many questions.

It was not anything that happened during the game or anything said by anyone from NIU that brought on this bad mood.

What really yanked my chain was the disrespectful manner in which Eastern Michigan head coach Jeff Woodruff conducted his press conference.

Now, I admit, I’m not the veteran of many press conferences as were many of my colleagues Saturday. Maybe many coaches react this way after the game. Regardless, I do know when a coach shows a lack of respect for a team or a player, or when he makes excuses for his team’s play.

Woodruff strolled in to meet the press Saturday and began his time at the microphone by telling the media that the Eagles executed their offense and defense poorly and that they gave themselves no chance to win.

All of this was true.

Then he began with a string of statements that showed a lack of professionalism and class.

A question was raised from the media about a lack of execution in the special teams.

Woodruff then took a stab at the officials and the Huskies with his next comments.

“We were blocked into the returner twice,” Woodruff said of his team’s two personal fouls committed by the punt squad. “Maybe that is smart strategy, but that cost us 30 yards of field position right there.”

OK, coach.

It takes a big man to push two of your team’s penalties off on the officials. Anyone who has been around sports knows that officiating is part of the game. Woodruff simply could have said that there were a couple questionable calls in the kicking game that he didn’t agree with.

Next, he made it seem that NIU was teaching its players to block the opposing team into the returner. Good strategy? Give me a break. For Woodruff to say that about the Huskies is an insult to the coaches and the program.

But wait, the insults continue.

Woodruff went on to say that stopping Darrell Hill is a task anyone with good speed could handle.

“It’s pretty simple to figure out, he runs three routes,” Woodruff said. “He runs a post, he runs a go and he runs an out, it’s that simple. All you got to do is run in front of him, turn your back and let him run up your back. It’s basic fundamental football, it’s what everybody in the country teaches.”

Well, if it was that easy why didn’t you do it?

Why didn’t any of the teams in the last three games do it?

Maybe it’s because the veteran receiver knows how to get open. Maybe Hill is a little better than your defensive backs.

Never in the course of the press conference did Woodruff mention anything positive about the NIU football team.

Woodruff forgot to give credit to the Huskies, who out-gained the Eagles on the ground, out-played his team on special teams, did not turn the ball over and intercepted three of his team’s passes.

After clinching his second straight losing season at Eastern Michigan, coach Woodruff had reason to be upset.

But remember coach, every once in a while it’s OK to say that your club was beaten by a better team. Maybe you should remember this for next time.