Wac Cracks Down On Abusive Crowds

Brigham Young coach Roger Reid is applauding WAC commissioner Karl Benson’s action aimed at curbing spectators at basketball games who shout racial or religious slurs.

“I like what the commissioner is doing,” Reid said. “He’s made a stand, and hopefully this will do some good. Crowds should be vocal and supportive of their team, but when people come to the arena to abuse people personally, they have no business being in the arena.”

Reid, a Mormon, complained of an offensive remark he heard at Colorado State last week.

Benson sent a memorandum to all 10 WAC schools Friday, saying coaches and players should not be forced to tolerate racial or religious taunts. He ordered schools to add extra control behind visiting team benches.

Reid’s memo came after Wyoming coach Joby Wright, who is black, complained of racial epithets from a fan at Texas-El Paso.

The proximity to the fans was a big part of the problem at UTEP, Wright said.