Watch this YouTube video, assuming it stays around, showing New Mexico coach Steve Alford in a "heated exchange" with BYU player Jonathan Tavernari after Alford's Lobo's beat the Cougars in Provo, 84-82. The word "asshole" can be heard coming from Alford's mouth.
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Alford reportedly was congratulating Tavernari for his career at BYU, but Tavernari was not happy after the loss and didn't accept Alford's overture. At least, that's what Alford says. But Tavernari, who has a history of trash talking, apologized for the incident profusely afterwards, so there's little doubt that he started the exchange.
But Alford is supposed to be a coach, and be in control. A player can be excused for being hot-headed after a game, but a coach has no business calling an opposing player an asshole. Back off, let it go, be a man (like Mike Gundy). Don't escalate it, which is what Alford did. He looked like he wanted the kid to take a swing, something we might have expected from Alford's mentor, Bobby Knight.
Alford's season at New Mexico has been a great success, with the Lobos now 27-3 and winning the regular season in a strong Mountain West conference. But his actions are what you might expect more from the coach of a struggling team. Earlier in the season he displayed the prominent chip on his shoulder by asserting that New Mexico gave Texas A&M a "Christmas gift" by spotting them a 2-0 lead. That was after a win, too.
The Lobos are riding high and hoping for a very good seed in the NCAA tournament. If Alford is this out of control (some would say "emotional") after big wins, what will he be like if New Mexico goes on a deep tournament run? It could get interesting.
Alford was reprimanded by the league for the incident. Interestingly, Alford said that the reprimand "wasn't required" because it was just something that happened in the heat of the moment. Being cool under pressure is something that every coach should aspire to, and Alford certainly failed on that score. All the same, being hotheaded didn't prevent quite a few coaches from having great success.
These days, however, antics like Alford's are less tolerated than ever before. Ask Mike Leach how forgiving the current environment is! Though presently riding high, should Alford ever be on the "outs" with his school he might be wise to tone it down a bit.
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