Groth upset with fans
Groth felt unsafe, says she won’t go back to Las Cruces
Nevada Director of Athletics Cary Groth rarely gets headaches.But while sitting courtside at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, Groth said the Aggies fans screaming behind her forced her to plug her ears for nearly the entire second half.
“I would have done a great Exedrin commercial,” she said Monday. “That was the worst experience I’ve ever had in my 20-plus years as an AD. I hate going there and I hope I never have to go back under those circumstances.”
Groth said the environment at the tournament was hostile and unsafe. She said that New Mexico State fans were acting in a way that didn’t represent themselves well.
“They were spitting on our fans, yelling bad things about Nevada and it just wasn’t cool,” Groth said. “I would be embarrassed if our fans behaved that way. It was pathetic.”
When Nevada freshman guard Armon Johnson was accidentally hit in the throat by an Aggies player, he dropped to the ground in pain. While being assisted off the court, the fans booed him.
The fans also booed the cheerleaders, Groth said.
Groth said that New Mexico State athletic department officials need to get more involved to make the arena a better fan environment.
She said that every home team has a right to be loud and cheer for their team, but the New Mexico State fans crossed the line.
“There were youngsters behind us yelling awful things,” Groth said. “When the crowd would cheer ‘Nevada,’ the kids would say ‘sucks.’”
Groth was directly behind Nevada’s bench and said that the people in 10 seats given to the department stood up during timeouts to buffer the noise and insults directed at the team. She said some fans screamed at her to sit down.
About 100 Nevada fans bought tickets for the tournament, which was down from 400 last year. She said Nevada brought the most fans from all visiting teams.
Groth said the decrease was because Nevada fans didn’t want to go to Las Cruces’ environment.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson said “there were some warnings issued and some intervention that occurred with the fans.”
He had no further comment.
New Mexico State Director of Athletics McKinley Boston said that he had no complaints from anyone and Groth’s comment were “news to me,” he said.
“I’m aware that there were two incidents where fan behavior was unacceptable,” he said. “And they were taken care of.”
Boston said that the amount security during the game fell under WAC guidelines and that extra security guards were on duty during the Nevada-New Mexico State matchup because the rivalry has grown. There were also extra protection for Nevada coach Mark Fox.
Fox said during a press conference Monday that he doesn’t pay attention to crowds.
“I’m not very popular in Las Cruces,” he said.
He said that sometimes his assistants ask Fox if he heard some of the things said because he doesn’t listen.
Groth said that if the tournament is held in Las Cruces again that certain steps should be taken to make sure there’s a better fan environment.
“It starts at the top,” she said.
The University of Nevada, Reno will host the 2009 and 2010 WAC basketball tournaments.
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March 19th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Yeah Groth. Leadership starts at the top. So you are why UNR is under NCAA investigation. Quit whining about fans yelling and do your job here. You are killing the programs and you have us under ugly scrutiny.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Cary Groth stop being a baby. You are just pissed that we kicked your teams ass. You are pissed that we took the WAC Tourney away from Nevada for the past two years Grow up lady, because you are the worst AD in the WAC. Also, The Pan Am fans are some of the greatest fans in the WAC, and if you don’t like it then you shouldn’t be going to college basketball games. Why don’t you go to Duke, and other big time college basketball games where the fans are worst. You are suppose to yell, and scream, and do all that at basketball games you stupid idiot. Crap, I thought you knew basketball.The WAC Tourney will return to Las Cruces one of these days, and there is nothing you can do about it lady. Just get over it. GO AGGIES
March 20th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Hey cary groth sucks, go back to your hell hole called Las Cruses. Your team got lucky. Come talk to us when your team is actually worth something.
M Thomas- we’re overall the best school in the WAC. It’s not Groth’s fault that UNR is under NCAA investigation. Schools like Indiana, Arkansas, Duke were under investigation in the last year. That’s all the NCAA does is investigate, they are probably investigating over 100 schools right now. You know nothing, get over yourself.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Are you really serious? UNR is under investigation because of alleged improprieties. The ncaa does not just randomly investigate schools. Groth is responsible for the department. If there are no-no’s going on it is her fault more than anyone else’s. Leadership starts at the top. It is her job to keep UNR clean. Indiana got in serious trouble. Arkansas is in the process of getting in trouble. I don’t know anything about Duke situation. But I know a heck of a lot more than you obviously. The ncaa investigates programs it has concerns about.
How do you say UNR is best in the WAC. Name one program that finished higher than 4th place in this crappy conference this year (besides swimming). Men’s basketball finished in the top 4 with a big tie. Not really a 1st place finish. Every other team stunk this year. Research that before you spout off.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
The WAC tourney did not belong in Las Cruces. It is far for some of the western teams (Hawaii, Boise St, Idaho) and lacks an airport. Fans have to fly to El Paso, TX then travel about 40 miles more on road just to get to Las Cruces. There were complaints about this from fans. Reno makes more sense because it is closer for some fans and has more attractions than Las Cruces, and it draws a bigger crowd. Even with the complaints from Cary Groth, Las Cruces may never get the tournament again. It might be in Salt Lake City in 2011.