The Massive 12 has fined Utah athletic director Mark Harlan $40,000 after he blasted Massive 12 officers for a controversial defensive holding name within the Utes’ 22-21 loss to rival No. 9 BYU, the league introduced Sunday.
“Mark’s feedback irresponsibly challenged the professionalism of our officers and the integrity of the Massive 12 Convention,” Massive 12 commissioner Brett Yormark mentioned. “There’s a proper approach and a mistaken option to voice considerations. Sadly, Mark selected the mistaken approach. Accordingly, this violation warrants a public reprimand and monetary penalty. The Massive 12 Convention prioritizes professionalism, integrity, and equity, and can proceed to take action.”
The decision occurred on what seemed to be a game-clinching fourth-down sack for the Utes with 1:30 to go within the sport.
“This sport completely was stolen from us,” Harlan mentioned after the sport. “We had been enthusiastic about being within the Massive 12, however tonight I am not. We received this sport, another person stole it from us. Very disenchanted, I’ll discuss with the commissioner. This isn’t honest to our crew. I am disgusted by the professionalism of the officiating crew tonight.”
Harlan apologized for his feedback on Sunday after the Massive 12 levied its positive.
“Final evening following our sport towards BYU, I made clear my emotions associated to the sport officiating. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that there are extra applicable instances and avenues to precise these considerations, and I settle for the implications of my determination,” Harlan mentioned in a press release. “My feedback got here after having simply left our crew locker room the place our student-athletes had been hurting and upset. The College of Utah is proud to be a member of the Massive 12 Convention and we stay up for working with our friends to proceed to boost the league. BYU, Coach Kalani Sitake and their coaches and student-athletes are having a terrific season and we want them the perfect.”
Utah led 22-21 when Junior Tafuna and Karene Reid sacked BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff on a fourth-and-10, however officers flagged Utes defensive again Zemaiah Vaughn for a holding name that gave the Cougars a primary down.
The decision gave BYU a first-and-10 on the 19-yard line. Retzlaff related on passes of 30 and 12 yards to assist arrange Will Ferrin’s game-winning 44-yard subject purpose with three seconds remaining. The win pushed BYU to 9-0 and 6-0 in Massive 12 play.
It was a crushing loss for a Utah crew that got here into the season because the Massive 12 favourite. The Utes had an opportunity to complicate their chief rival’s CFP case and doubtlessly knock them out of the highest 10 with a victory. They might even have given themselves an opportunity to make a bowl sport heading right into a brutal closing stretch that features No. 20 Colorado and No. 17 Iowa State.
The Utes made a quarterback change, beginning sophomore Brandon Rose. He performed nicely, throwing two touchdowns within the first half. Nevertheless, Utah was outscored 12-0 within the closing half-hour.
The win was vital for BYU because the Cougars attempt to make their first Massive 12 Championship Sport and Faculty Soccer Playoff. Two groups forward of BYU misplaced — No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Miami.
