The Associated Press

HONOLULU - Cincinnati athletic director Bob Goin denounced Hawaii officials for creating what he described as an unsafe atmosphere during Saturday night's game, which ended with the two teams in a free-for-all on the field.

"In my 40-year career, it's the worst game management that I have ever seen," he said Sunday. "It was terrible, and the University of Hawaii needs to clean it up."

Goin said UC fans, cheerleaders, coaches and players were harassed and threatened the entire game by Hawaii fans, in the stands and on the sideline.

"My wife was in the stands, and I feared for her," he said.

Goin said even Hawaii's mascot, The Warrior, was "totally out of control" and assaulted Cincinnati's mascot.

"Who's in control?" Goin said. "It was sad and disappointing."

Hawaii's athletic department issued a statement responding to Goin's criticism.

"It's unfortunate that a good football game has to be tarnished by the events that occurred on the field after the game," spokeswoman Lois Manin said. "There are a lot of reasons that led up to it. I think the most important was that emotions were running high and that it was a close game and unfortunately those things happen when emotions run high."