MWC TOURNAMENT:

Wife of BYU’s Cummard shows up for tourney without hesitation

Sarah Cummard would have stayed behind at hotel had Rebels and Cougars met in semis

Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:13 p.m.

Cougars Hold Off Falcons

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After a surprising opening round win, Air Force gave BYU all it had, eventually falling to the top-seed 80-69 in Thursday's quarterfinal of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Justin M. Bowen

Sarah Cummard, wife of BYU star guard Lee Cummard, points during second half action of the Cougars' 80-69 semifinal victory over Air Force earlier this year in the Mountain West Conference tournament semifinals. Cummard made the trip to Vegas to support her husband despite an alleged incident between her and some UNLV fans during last year's tournament title game.

BYU survives Air Force

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Expanded coverage of the Mountain West Conference tournament

Sarah Cummard didn't come to the Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday afternoon wearing the heavyweight title belt that her husband -- BYU star guard Lee Cummard -- alluded to last month.

Instead, she sat in a front row aisle seat for the Cougars' 80-69 quarterfinal victory over Air Force, donning a black top, flowing blonde hair and a warm smile.

She even maintained positive spirits when the Air Force student section of about 50 kids across the arena began chanting 'Psycho Sarah.'

"No comment," Lee said, when asked about the chant after the game, before deciding to offer up his opinion. "That took me by surprise."

The chant, of course, stems back from an alleged incident during last year's Mountain West Conference tournament championship game between BYU and UNLV, when Cummard was rumored to have thrown punches toward hostile Rebels fans.

The UNLV fans used the chant at will when Cummard went to the free throw line during the Rebels' 75-74 win on Feb. 21.

The Falcon faithful busted it out twice on Thursday.

When asked about it, Sarah responded in simple fashion. She was friendly when approached regarding the chant, but was apparently reluctant to delve to deep into her thoughts on it.

"I love coming here," she said during a media timeout late in the second half. "It's Lee's senior year, I wouldn't miss it."

At the time, however, the real question was whether she'd show up if the Cougars were to face UNLV in Friday's semifinals. She was as supportive as ever against Air Force, standing, cheering and yelling as the Cougars eclipsed a 3-point halftime deficit.

Of course, any possibility of that UNLV-BYU matchup went by the wayside when the Rebels dropped a 71-57 decision to San Diego State a couple of hours later.

Cummard said she had no reservations about showing up with thousands of UNLV fans present.

Lee, however, said she would not have come had BYU and UNLV done battle for the third time this season.

"I don't think she'll come if that's the case," he said prior to the UNLV-SDSU tip-off. "She'll go get a massage or something."

That response was followed up with a reporter asking 'Won't that cost you money, though.'

"Yes," he said with a grin. "That's unfortunate."

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By Jeff

3/12/09 at 9:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

Please let this be the last mention of Sarah Cummard ever. Why has this continued to be a story?
By Lenny_V

3/13/09 at 2:14 a.m.

Suggest removal

It wasn't an alleged incident, Greene. I witnessed her assaulting this one kid. She was trying to drag him back into the stands. I thought she was his gf the way she was going off on him.

And I'm with Jeff. Forget Cummard and his dumb wife. They'll be living in Europe after he gets cut from whatever team drafts him.

Maybe the SDS fans will take the lead and continue the chants tomorrow. Haha

PS. BYU are picking up her hotel room as well as any room charges, massage etc.
BYU, cheat? They're not Memphis or USC but I'm sure they hook it up.
By azsk8fan

3/14/09 at 10:29 a.m.

Suggest removal

Was she 'keeping sweet'. What # wife is she?