Nihon Univ. head coach to resign

NHK -- May 20

The head coach of Nihon University's American football team, Masato Uchida, has accepted full responsibility for a serious foul committed by one of his players and says he intends to resign.

During a game in Tokyo on May 6th, a Nihon University defender tackled the Kwansei Gakuin University quarterback from behind, after he had thrown a pass.

The quarterback suffered injuries that will take 3 weeks to heal.

Uchida and Nihon University's vice president, Naoto Kato, spoke to reporters at Osaka Airport after visiting the injured athlete to offer their apologies.

Uchida said he decided to resign after the incident, but waited until he had the opportunity to apologize to Kwansei Gakuin University in order not to appear as being insincere.

He refrained from commenting on whether he instructed the defender to commit the foul, and said he will respond to that question in writing.

Nihon University says it is speaking to all team members, including the defender who committed the foul, and will inform Kwansei Gakuin University of the findings around May 24th.

Kwansei Gakuin University says it will explain its future actions at a news conference after examining the findings.