Late last night, the New Mexico State Aggies lost in overtime to the San Diego State Aztecs. Instead of getting to go home to the hotel and rest before flying home Friday, the NCAA forced them to get on a plane after the loss in a game that was delayed and started an hour late.
New Mexico associate athletic director Steve Macy live tweeted the situation.
NCAA forcing Aggies to fly home tonight. Game starts an hour late, play overtime, now board a plane.
— Steve Macy (@SteveMacy) March 21, 2014
Finally taking off. Proud of the Aggie effort tonight. #AggieUp
— Steve Macy (@SteveMacy) March 21, 2014
The NCAA mistreatment of @NMSUAggieSports continues. Only one bus to get the whole group home.
— Steve Macy (@SteveMacy) March 21, 2014
The bus will have to make a complete round trip and then pick up the rest of the group in a couple of hours.
— Steve Macy (@SteveMacy) March 21, 2014
New Mexico got support from San Diego State coach Steve Fisher, who also criticized the decision.
Steve Fisher cited billions of dollars NCAA Tournament generates and said it is "disgraceful" to make the losing team fly home right away.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) March 21, 2014
“We can say we want to do all these things for the benefit of the student athletes, but you play a game like we did tonight and you get to the airport at 1 in the morning? Come on, come on,” Fisher said, via U-T San Diego. “I would like to have (an NCAA administrator) at every site and say, ‘You’re going to ride home with that losing team.’ And see what it’s like to get home at 5 in the morning.”
I imagine they wouldn’t like that very much, but with the insane amount of money they make they could’ve kept New Mexico an extra night or gotten the right amount of buses at least.