The Holy War never disappoints, but the spotlight on Saturday nights contest has focused in on the ominous holding call that came on BYU’s final drive of the game. In so much that Utah AD Mark Harlan took matters into his own hands to voice his displeasure with the referees. Harlan was one of the first people out on the field from the Utah sideline following the game and was seen airing his grievances on the TV broadcast:
Here’s Utah AD Mark Harlan after the game giving a piece of his mind to the refspic.twitter.com/szMzhEdO7u https://t.co/Sd7Cz8iQRG
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 10, 2024
In a very surprising move, Harlan was also the first person to the postgame press conference following the loss. Athletic Directors rarely speak to the media in general much less following highly emotional rivalry matchups. Which made the decision to go to the podium to speak to the media incredibly puzzling to start with. What Harlan proceeded to say immediately etched another viral moment into Holy War lore.
Utah AD Mark Harlan immediately following the game.
I don’t think I have ever seen an AD first to the podium for a postgame presser.
— Brice Larson (@LarsonSports) November 10, 2024
You be the judge of the call and if the outburst from Harlan following the game was justified.
Social Media Reacts to BYU’s 22-21 Win at Utah
Best view of the controversial holding call that I’ve seen.
This looks like the correct call to me.
pic.twitter.com/ZoJ8RLBc3t— Casey Lundquist (@casey_lundquist) November 10, 2024
Of all the calls for an AD to go nuclear about, the defensive holding wasn’t particularly controversial.
But it will play well with the base.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 10, 2024
trash rains down on BYU players as they storm the field following a shocking win over utah in salt lake. pic.twitter.com/623XyCpG6J
— locked on big 12, america’s conference. (@LOBig12) November 10, 2024
It’s totally reasonable to be mad at a call. I thought it was a little ticky tack! I probably wouldn’t have called it!
Also, questioning the integrity of the officials and the sport based off just being mad that your team lost is just wildly unserious and disrespectful.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) November 10, 2024
The last image of Kyle Whittingham in the Holy War?
— Brice Larson (@LarsonSports) November 10, 2024
I have never seen anything like this, every game there is bad calls. But this is outlandish because as an AD you rep the conference school and university you support the team but you don’t speak for them. Someone needs to take the mic. https://t.co/6warZ5BGIy
— Moose Bingham (@MooseB90) November 10, 2024
Going scorched earth on the conference that tossed you a lifeline is certainly a choice! https://t.co/v7xAI11oP6
— Jacob Nielson (@Jacobnielson12) November 10, 2024
Hard to not be biased when your team wins, but was the game really stolen? Harlan’s comments seem insane to me. The game was officiated poorly but to say it was given to BYU is silly imo. The face mask was an actual missed call. The hold wasn’t. #HolyWar https://t.co/tZBaqGlYsu
— TNiel3 (@t_niel3) November 10, 2024
Again, Utah’s AD went ballistic over a fairly obvious correct call. https://t.co/YqaiMMQTWG
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 10, 2024
And then there’s our good friends John Canzano & John Wilner with their takes following the game…
Lmfao at this guy at it again. Yeah, the Boise wins over…UNLV? really stack up against a road win at SMU and beating K-State by 29. https://t.co/LYevtI3KUZ pic.twitter.com/IMdBf77Fte
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) November 10, 2024
Utah holds. That should do it. BYU no longer undefeated.
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 10, 2024
