I would have been like Herriman! All the press is there for a run around the block and to top it off not one but three famous former Enterprise greats are sitting on his bridge. It's not surprising he acted like he did and to top it off the Enterprise wasn't ready for active service.
Give him some credit, to prevent losing his new ship and crew he did signal the closest starship, imagine what a PR disaster it would have been had the entire ship and company been lost by a fool hardy captain.
Then when he had to get stuck in he did attempt to free the ships, then in front of everyone he had to swallow his pride and ask Kirk for help.