UTEP fan’s clash with Jacksonville State players under review

The University of Texas-El Paso, Jacksonville State and Conference USA will look into an altercation that appears to involve a UTEP fan grabbing a chair during a heated exchange with Jacksonville State players on Saturday.

Jacksonville State had just won its regular season finale at UTEP thanks to a buzzer-beater from Mostapha El Moutaouakkil when a fan in the stands grabbed a chair, shook it at the Jacksonville State players and staff and yelled at them while they were in the postgame handshake line. Jacksonville State players had to be restrained by staff after the fan grabbed the chair.

Conference USA spokesman Josh Yonis said CUSA was studying the consequences of the game.

“We are looking into the incident in conjunction with both [athletic directors]but we don’t have a statement at the moment,” he told ESPN.

UTEP athletic director Jim Senter also said the school is investigating the incident.

“We will review the video when we get there,” he said in a statement. “We will take appropriate action if necessary.”

Jacksonville State told ESPN it would “defer” to Conference USA for comment.

Jacksonville State staff and local police intervened in the dust as the fan with the chair continued to yell at the players. Other videos also showed other UTEP fans appearing to go back and forth with Jacksonville State players after the victory.

It wasn’t the first time in recent weeks that UTEP was at the center of a dramatic finale involving a handshake.

After a loss at New Mexico State on Feb. 21, UTEP head coach Joe Golding came face to face with NMSU head coach Jason Hooten in the handshake line, patted Hooten’s chest and pushed him to the side before the two teams converged and a fight nearly ensued.

On Saturday, UTEP arena security formed a line after the game to create a boundary between rowdy UTEP fans and Jacksonville State players and staff. At one point, UTEP staff members and players sent their team back to its locker room, and Jacksonville State staff members did the same to their team.

According to the broadcast, exchanges between UTEP and Jacksonville State fans took place throughout the game.