Provo » New Mexico basketball coach Steve Alford has been reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference for calling BYU forward Jonathan Tavenari an "a--hole" after the Lobos beat the Cougars 83-81 on Saturday at the Marriott Center.
Alford "has been issued a public reprimand for his unduly provocative language toward an opposing student-athlete following the Feb. 27, 2010, New Mexico at BYU men's basketball contest," the league said in a news release, noting the coach was in violation of the league's sportsmanship rule.
In Monday's MWC coaches teleconference, Alford said neither he, his assistant coaches nor Tavernari should be reprimanded over the heated exchange of angry and derogatory words that took place in the handshake line after the game.
"It was unfortunate," Alford said. "It happened in a competitive nature. I don't think there is any harm done, and [Tavernari] will move on, and he will continue to compete, and we will do the same thing."
In videos posted on YouTube, Alford clearly ends the confrontation by calling Tavernari an "a--hole," and New Mexico assistant coach Wyking Jones repeatedly taunts Tavernari by saying, "What are you going to do about it?"
Neither Jones, Tavernari nor New Mexico assistant Craig Neal, who was also involved in the exchange, were reprimanded.
Tavernari brushed off questions about the incident after Monday's practice, saying that he and Alford had "worked it out" when asked if the coach ever apologized.
"What happened happened. It is over. And it was an emotional game, an emotional game for all of us. It was an emotional game for him," Tavernari said.
He added later "it was just a misunderstanding, and as soon as I had a chance, I rushed up there [with BYU athletic director] Tom Holmoe. I just wanted to apologize to him and let him know he did a good job here."
Alford said he called BYU coach Dave Rose, "just to apologize from my end, and things that I had to be involved with. It was just heat of the moment, fierce competitors."
Asked Monday what Alford said in the handshake line that set him off, Tavernari declined to be specific.
"Like I said, when it is over, it is over, and we got to move on. The only time we live in the past is when we go to check out things in museums, so we are good about that."
Alford repeated Monday what he told reporters after the game: He wanted to congratulate Tavernari on a fantastic college basketball career, but that Tavernari didn't want to hear it.
A senior from Sao Bernardo, Brazil, Tavernari has been a part of more wins, 99, than any player in BYU history.
"Then we just exchanged words. It was unfortunate," Alford said.
BYU's Rose acknowledged Alford apologized to him Sunday during a telephone call.
"We will move on," Rose said. "I have actually talked to Steve, and he just thought it was a situation where they are both fine. Probably something that shouldn't have happened, but I didn't see what happened. But I think everything is good."
Bad blood was brewing between Tavernari and New Mexico's Darington Hobson most of the game. It heightened with 52 seconds remaining when Darington threw an elbow at Tavernari just after a timeout was called. Tavernari bumped back, then was visibly upset that nothing was called by officials.
After reviewing video of the incident, lead referee Randy McCall declined to call a foul on either player. When the two players returned to the court after the timeout, Hobson offered to shake Tavernari's hand, but the gesture was ignored.
