University of California Berkeley's basketball coach Mike Montgomery has coached for more than 30 years and is highly regarded, but he's under fire for shoving a student athlete at a game Sunday and initially suggesting it was OK.

On the UCB campus Monday, it appeared there was a mood of forgiveness for the coach among students and administrators.

But a UCB alumnus and state Sen. Leland Yee was calling for the coach to be suspended.

Montgomery said he let his emotions get away from him when he shoved star player Allen Crabbe during a game at the Haas Pavilion Sunday.

Crabbe appeared upset and was led away.

"There needs to be a very clear statement that a one game suspension hopefully is enough to wake him up," Yee said. "That this is not the way to teach anybody anything."

Yee said university representatives need to control their emotions and refrain from physical altercations with students.

Crabbe has said there are no hard feelings.

The shove may have been a turning point in the game, because Crabbe led the Bears to a comeback and an eventual win against the University of Southern California.

After the game, the 65-year-old Montgomery was unapologetic saying the shove "worked, didn't it?

Later he said in a statement: "While my intent was to motivate our student athletes, my behavior was inappropriate and I apologize for my actions."

Cal students who spoke with KTVU gave the coach the benefit of the doubt.

"People make mistakes," said Auburn Schmidt, a UCB student. "You try to correct them and move on."

The Pac-12 conference reprimanded Montgomery on Monday, but so far there's been no punishment from UCB.

Cal's Athletic Director Sandy Barbour said in a statement, "it is unacceptable for our coaches to have physical contact with student athletes regardless of the circumstances."

There are reports coach Montgomery shoved another player a few weeks ago and some sports writers have said this time the coach should be punished.