When Bill O'Brien's wife, Colleen, told him that people had begun a swear count for him, the head coach joked that he was surprised. O'Brien has emerged as a popular figure on the HBO series "Hard Knocks" as much for his intense, straightforward coaching style as the language that matches it.
"She told me that they were keeping a count of the swears and I didn't even know what she was talking about," O'Brien said Tuesday."I really don't really believe that I swear that much. Like I said, I think it's how you are portrayed."
O'Brien watches every episode of "Hard Knocks" before it airs on Tuesday nights. Unless the volume is muted, it's safe to say he's aware of the colorful language. What he wasn't aware of was the massive discussion surrounding it, i.e. the swear count and swear jars being discussed on social media during and after each episode.
"When it comes to social media, you're looking at the wrong guy," O'Brien said. "I look at the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, the Houston Chronicle sometimes, ESPN Houston, ESPN Boston on my phone. Is that social media? I'm not sure if that is. I don't know Twitter and Facebook and all that."
The season finale of "Hard Knocks" airs Tuesday, September 8 at 9 p.m. CT on HBO.
View behind the scenes photos from the upcoming episode of Hard Knocks.
