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We’ve seen head coaches lose their cool when things don’t go their way, but on Saturday night, the Georgetown Hoyas’ Ed Cooley took it to another level. After a tough 80-77 loss to the Xavier Musketeers, emotions got the better of him. He was caught on camera, squeezing and then hurling a water bottle into the stands. Unfortunately, it ended up hitting a young fan sitting in the front row, who was taken to the emergency room.

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“I met with Coach Cooley today to discuss the incident which occurred after last night’s game against Xavier,” Athletic Director Lee Reed said in an official statement. “I expressed that his conduct did not align with the standards we expect of our coaches, nor does it reflect the values of Georgetown Athletics or Georgetown University. As a result, Coach Cooley will be suspended for the next game vs. Coppin State.”

As a result, the Hoyas have handed Cooley a suspension. Associate head coach Jeff Battle will be stepping in, per reporter Jeff Borzello. The decision came from the school’s athletic department, not the Big East.

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Fans, unsurprisingly, aren’t happy with the Hoyas’ decision. With Cooley trying to lead his team back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his three-year stint, many on the internet feel a one-game suspension is far too light. Here are some of the reactions.

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Fans demand stricter punishment for Ed Cooley’s recurring outbursts

“Just one game (against Coppin State) for assault?! What is going on at Georgetown??” one fan wrote, while another added, “One game!? He should be fired with cause. Unacceptable.”

Ed Cooley, who took over from the great Patrick Ewing, watched his team miss 18 free throws in the Musketeers game yesterday, then brick a potential game-tying three at the buzzer. They were having a poor shooting night at all three levels. A lot of the reactions online centered on what followed…

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But Cooley opened his postgame press conference apologizing to the family, who, according to a report from Rob Reinhart, are now preparing to file a lawsuit against both him and Georgetown University. They allege the boy suffered a serious concussion and was rushed to the emergency room in critical condition.

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“Definitely out of character for me to be so frustrated but, really, that’s not called for and I’ll call them and make amends to them,” Cooley had told the reporters. “So I apologize to the fans, I apologize to our players. Totally, totally out of character for me to be that way.”

USA TODAY identified the family Cooley apologized to as that of Georgetown center Vince Iwuchukwu, who has been out after undergoing an undisclosed medical procedure last month. The coach had mentioned the Nyahkoon family by name in his apology, but a spokesperson confirmed it wasn’t them.

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But none of that did anything to cool the fans’ anger.

“One game, and it’s a buy game against Coppin State, is ridiculous,” one fan wrote.

Cooley also released a statement, saying he “will learn from this experience to ensure it never happens again.”

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But this isn’t the first time he’s been involved in an incident with a fan. Just last season, after a loss to the same team coincidentally, Cooley got into a heated exchange with a Musketeers fan who allegedly confronted one of his players after the final buzzer.

And that even led to comparisons with the legendary Bob Knight…

“Just suspended? For how long? Is this the new Bobby Knight? How’d that work out?” one fan wrote.

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Knight, of course, was infamous for losing his temper under pressure, most notably when he hurled a chair onto the court just five minutes into a game against Purdue after being hit with a technical in 1985.

The Hoyas are just 8-4 to start the season and have dropped four of their last seven, a worrying stretch that shows just how much pressure Cooley is under right now. He’ll miss the next game but is expected to be back on the sideline when his team takes on No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm.

And clearly, that’s not sitting well with anyone.

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“If I was in the stands and threw a water bottle at him, I’d never be allowed back in the arena. Same should go for him. That’s outright assault,” another fan said.

It’s also worth noting that the program itself imposed this punishment. The Big East only supported the Hoyas’ decision in its statement.

“We have communicated with Georgetown leadership and support their decision to suspend head men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley for his actions following last night’s game against Xavier,” the league said. “The safety and security of spectators and participants at Big East events is of paramount importance and fundamental to the enjoyment of our games.”

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According to Reinhart, though, further action from the NCAA could still be on the table, which might extend Cooley’s suspension. For now, it’s a wait-and-see situation.

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