UNLV officials said Monday they will abide by the recommendations of Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell concerning the altercations that took place at the football game Saturday in Reno.

"Big West officials currently are investigating the incident and will be making a recommendation sometime in the next several days," UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro said Monday.

"After I receive their report, I will discuss my recommendations on the matter with President Harter, and then take the appropriate action," Cavagnaro said.

UNLV President Carol Harter, who attended Saturday's game in Reno, said, "I do not condone violence of any kind at a sporting event and we as a university will not tolerate it."

"I was appalled by the violence at the game, but I cannot ascribe blame. I just didn't have a clear enough view of what took place," Harter said.

"Now I'm waiting for a recommendation from Charlie Cavagnaro on any action we may need to take," she said. "He will be basing his recommendation largely on the report from Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell who is an objective third party in this matter."

President Harter said she and UNR President Joseph Crowley have discussed the situation and share a deep concern. They have agreed that they will work together to ensure that what should be a wholesome rivalry remains so.

Cavagnaro said that regardless of the findings by the Big West Conference, officials at both UNLV and UNR need to begin looking for ways to guarantee similar incidents do not occur in the future.

"Clearly, both schools need to take a close look at game management for the future," Cavagnaro said. "The traditional rivalry between our two schools generates high emotions, but those emotions must not be allowed to escalate into violence."

One of the preventative actions that should be considered at both UNLV and UNR is covering the entrances that players and coaches use to reach the field, he said. Instituting a formal presentation of the Fremont Cannon to the winning team at the conclusion of the game also should be considered, he said.