In a stunning turn of events, the Big 12 Conference has come down hard on University of Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan, slapping him with a whopping $40,000 fine and a public reprimand. Harlan’s offense? His blistering criticism of the officiating crew following Utah’s heart-wrenching loss to Brigham Young University (BYU) this past Saturday.
“Absolutely Stolen”: Harlan’s Heated Post-Game Comments
In the wake of the Utes’ devastating defeat, Harlan didn’t mince words. He boldly declared that the game was “absolutely stolen” from his team, expressing his utter “disgust” with the “professionalism” (or lack thereof) displayed by the Big 12 refs. In an unusual move for an AD, Harlan commandeered the post-game press conference podium to air his grievances about the officiating.
“We were excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not. We won this game.”
Mark Harlan, Utah Athletic Director
The most contentious call of the night came with just 1:29 left on the clock – a holding penalty against Utah’s Zemaiah Vaughn that negated what would have been a game-sealing fourth-down sack. Instead, the call gave BYU new life, setting the stage for their improbable game-winning drive capped off by a clutch 44-yard field goal from Will Ferrin.
Big 12 Commissioner Fires Back
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark didn’t take kindly to Harlan’s public outburst. In announcing the hefty fine and reprimand, Yormark asserted that Harlan had “irresponsibly challenged” not only the professionalism of the officiating crew, but the very integrity of the Big 12 Conference itself.
“There is a right way and a wrong way to voice concerns. Unfortunately, Mark chose the wrong way. Accordingly, this violation warrants a public reprimand and financial penalty.”
Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner
The substantial $40,000 price tag on Harlan’s tantrum is notably higher than previous fines handed down by the Big 12 for similar ref-bashing episodes, which have typically been in the $25,000 range.
Salt in the Wound for Struggling Utes
For Utah, the penalty only adds insult to injury in what’s shaping up to be a massively disappointing debut season in the Big 12. The pre-season conference favorites have stumbled to a dismal 4-5 record overall and a 1-5 mark in league play.
The program has already seen an in-season coaching shakeup with the stepping down of offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig in October. The Utes have also cycled through three different starting quarterbacks in their first nine games.
Precedent for Punishing Ref Criticism
While the severity of Harlan’s punishment may have raised some eyebrows, the Big 12 does have a history of cracking down on conference leaders who publicly question the integrity of its officiating:
- In 2014, Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard was fined $25,000 and reprimanded for criticizing football officials.
- Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt also received a $25,000 fine in 2019 for lambasting the work of Big 12 football zebras.
- Just last season, Baylor AD Mack Rhoades was hit with a $25,000 penalty after taking issue with the ejection of Bears basketball coach Scott Drew.
As Utah attempts to regroup from this latest setback in a season that’s gone sideways, Mark Harlan’s emotional outburst and the Big 12’s forceful response are sure to fuel the already raging debate around the quality and consistency of officiating in the high-stakes world of college football. Time will tell if this incident sparks any tangible reforms in how the conference handles the inevitable clashes between its officials and the teams they oversee.
