SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah athletic director Mark Harlan was publicly reprimanded and fined $40,000 by the Big 12 on Sunday after blasting a conference officiating crew following BYU’s 22-21 win over the Utes for controversial calls on the Cougars’ winning drive. Harlan took the podium shortly before Utah players and coach Kyle Whittingham arrived to address the media late Saturday night. “This game was absolutely stolen from us,” Harlan said.
“We were excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not. We won this game. Someone else stole it from us.
Very disappointed. I will talk to the commissioner. This was not fair to our team.
I’m disgusted by the professionalism of the officiating crew tonight.” Utah appeared to have stopped BYU twice on fourth down on the final drive. A defensive holding penalty was called on one of those plays, and officials ruled BYU had called timeout before the snap on the other one.
The Cougars, who moved up two spots to No. 7 in the latest AP poll Sunday , remained undefeated after kicking a field goal with four seconds remaining. The Big 12 issued its penalties Sunday, in accordance with the league's sportsmanship policies.
“Mark’s comments irresponsibly challenged the professionalism of our officials and the integrity of the Big 12 Conference,” Commissioner Brett Yormark said. “There is a right way and a wrong way to voice concerns. Unfortunately, Mark chose the wrong way.
Accordingly, this violation warrants a pub.
