Fan behavior resulted in ejections, arrests at UNLV

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Scores of fans were cited, ejected or arrested during Friday's football game between Hawai'i and host University of Nevada-Las Vegas in what Las Vegas police are calling one of the worst fan behavior incidents in recent memory.

The University Police Department at UNLV and the Metro Police Department of Clark County responded to more than a dozen fight calls, ejected more than 10 people, handed out numerous citations and arrested three fans, one of whom had Hawai'i ties, said Lt. Jeff Green, of the University Police Department at UNLV, who was in charge of Friday's game.

"We had the third-largest crowd in Sam Boyd Stadium history (34,287), and with that in mind, we did have a high number of fights for this past football game with Hawai'i," said Green, who has been with the department since 1997. "In terms of a UNLV college football game, this is one of the worst. We had the XFL here and that was, believe me, even worse."

One fan required hospitalization after he was punched and suffered a gash over his left eye and lost consciousness for "10 to 15 seconds," and another was cited for allegedly striking a police horse that was being used to help monitor crowd control, Green said.

Green said alcohol abuse, bad sportsmanship, inappropriate seating arrangements between UNLV and UH fans, and a shortage of police officers likely inflamed the situation. The game, won by UNLV, 33-22, was televised on ESPN2, but commentators and cameras did not focus on the fights.

Several UH fans said they felt uncomfortable by the rowdy behavior, but said they didn't feel threatened because the fights were far from them. Ed Chang, 65, of Moanalua, said the incidents wouldn't prevent him from attending another game at UNLV.

Green said to minimize future incidents, police are working closely with UNLV administrators to develop solutions.

"We absolutely have to address it," said UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick, who was quoted in the Las Vegas Sun about stadium security. "When I come in Monday morning, I make a list of issues that need to be addressed. This week, stadium security is No. 1 on my list."

Green said some possible solutions include adding more distance between the UNLV student section and where opposing fans sit, adding more police, and revising alcohol guidelines in the stadium and outside during tailgates.

Stadium concessions stop selling alcohol at the end of the third quarter, but it might be beneficial to stop at halftime, Green said.

Officials are also looking into controlling the tailgating area by initiating ID wristbands for fans older than 21 who can drink, closing the tailgating area 30 minutes prior to the start of the game, and policing the area more closely.

Green said police based their staffing numbers on UNLV's first game against Toledo and expected "between 18,000 to 22,000" fans, despite published reports that the game would draw more than 30,000 to the 36,800-seat stadium. There were 35 to 40 officers working Friday's game, but 13 were either working traffic or parking duty, Green said.

"This crowd was 12,000 more than we expected," Green said. "That in itself caught us by surprise."

Green said both Hawai'i and UNLV fans instigated the confrontations. He called some of the fans' behavior "immature and ridiculous."

"It was a mixture of both (parties)," Green said. "I sincerely believe our fans have to learn to be gracious winners and we haven't learned that yet. I understand supporting your team, but not at the expense of criticizing and just being downright nasty to the opposing team."

Hawai'i fan Fran Kirk said she felt uncomfortable when a fight broke out about 10 to 12 rows away from their group.

"There were a lot of fights," Kirk said. "We did see disturbances in the stands, a lot of fights. I've been going to UH football for a few years, and I've never seen so many fights. Security was just running everywhere trying to keep up with whatever was happening. It was kind of uncomfortable in a way because some of the fans were not very nice."

Chang added that he said he saw two fights in the fourth quarter and another fight later under the bleachers.

"It was getting pretty wild," said Chang, who has gone on UH football road trips since 1978. "We just got the hell out of there because if that thing gets out of hand, they'll turn around and start going after fans. You don't want to be there."

Chang said a big fight in the stands broke out at the last meeting between the teams in Las Vegas six years ago.

Green said police and school administrators are taking the matter seriously and said changes will be made.

"If there's a future Hawai'i-UNLV game here in Las Vegas, I would love the Hawaiian people who back the university football team to feel comfortable and secure enough to come to UNLV and enjoy themselves," he said.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458