Utah AD Fined $40,000 by Big 12 for Criticizing Officials After BYU 'Holy War' Loss

Nov 10, 2024, 07:20 PM

Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan publicly criticized the Big 12 officiating crew following the University of Utah's 24-21 loss to BYU in the "Holy War" rivalry game, which culminated with a last-second field goal by BYU. A controversial holding call on Utah during BYU's final drive extended the possession, leading to the game-winning score. Harlan expressed his frustration, stating, "This game was absolutely stolen from us. We won this game. Someone else stole it from us." He added that he was "disgusted by the professionalism of the officiating crew" and intended to speak with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. Harlan was also seen visibly berating an official after the game. In response, the Big 12 Conference fined Harlan $40,000 and issued a public reprimand for his comments and conduct. Commissioner Yormark stated that Harlan's comments "irresponsibly challenged the professionalism of our officials and the integrity of the Big 12 Conference," warning that repeated behavior would result in more serious penalties. Despite the sanctions, Harlan acknowledged his actions in a subsequent statement, accepting the consequences and recognizing that there are more appropriate avenues to express concerns. He mentioned that his comments were made after leaving the team locker room where student-athletes were "hurting and upset."