Latest news with #MarkHarlan
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Big 12 Official Makes Final Decision on Controversial Penalty From BYU-Utah
Big 12 Official Makes Final Decision on Controversial Penalty From BYU-Utah originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Utah athletic director Mark Harlan showed his passionate side during last year's Holy War matchup. After storming the field and declaring his displeasure with the Big 12 in the postgame press conference, he was given a definitive answer on a controversial fourth down penalty. Advertisement Big 12 officials coordinator Greg Burks said the holding call that extended BYU's game-winning drive against Utah was the correct call, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. BYU was down by two points and faced a 4th and 10 at their own 9 with 1:30 to go. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff was sacked on the play, but it was negated due to a holding penalty with receiver JoJo Phillips on the ground. The Big 12 officials called a holding penalty on Utah's Zemaiah Vaughn for pulling Phillips down. The call extended the drive, allowing Will Ferrin to boot a 44-yard field goal as time expired. Harlan said the contest was 'stolen' from Utah. He was later fined $40K by the Big 12. The Avalanche-Journal obtained a copy of the Big 12's response to the University of Utah through an open records request and published it on Friday. In total, Utah questioned six calls from the game. The one most scrutinized was the holding call. Advertisement Related: Lil Wayne Turns Heads With Shout Out to Former BYU Star in Tha Carter VI '(Retzlaff) looks to (Phillips) immediately after the snap, as the receiver moves to go around the defender, the defender grabs the receiver and prevents him from running his route. Correct call,' Burks said in response to Utah's questioning of the call, according to The Avalanche-Journal. Related: BYU Officials Send Clear Message About Jake Retzlaff's Future in Provo The report helps put to bed the controversy between the Cougars and Utes. This year's edition of the Holy War will shift to Provo on Oct. 18. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Utah dropping beach volleyball and cites its change in conferences as a factor
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has decided to drop beach volleyball as a varsity sport after eight years in part because of conference realignment. Utah introduced beach volleyball — an Olympic sport since 1996 — in 2017, when the Utes competed in the Pac-12 Conference. The Pac-12 had nine beach volleyball programs at the time but most of those schools have since left for the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Advertisement Utah is now in the Big 12, which has just three other beach volleyball programs and no automatic qualifying spot for the NCAA Tournament for its league champion. 'This was an extremely difficult decision," athletics director Mark Harlan said this week. 'We looked at the landscape of intercollegiate beach volleyball and the future opportunities of our student-athletes." Calling beach volleyball's growth at the college level 'stunted,' Harlan noted that just 12 power conference schools sponsor such teams 'with little evidence of the sport expanding at this time.' Harlan said the Utah athletic department would 'work closely with each of our impacted student-athletes to provide them with all of the support they need' and honor the scholarships of those who decide to complete their education at Utah. Advertisement 'Should a current or incoming student-athlete elect to pursue their sport at another school, Utah will do all that it can to facilitate the process,' Harlan said, adding that scholarship funds which had been dedicated to the beach volleyball program will be redirected to our other women's sports. Utah will now sponsor 19 intercollegiate sport programs in the coming academic year. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Utah dropping beach volleyball and cites its change in conferences as a factor
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has decided to drop beach volleyball as a varsity sport after eight years in part because of conference realignment. Utah introduced beach volleyball — an Olympic sport since 1996 — in 2017, when the Utes competed in the Pac-12 Conference. The Pac-12 had nine beach volleyball programs at the time but most of those schools have since left for the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Utah is now in the Big 12, which has just three other beach volleyball programs and no automatic qualifying spot for the NCAA Tournament for its league champion. 'This was an extremely difficult decision,' athletics director Mark Harlan said this week. 'We looked at the landscape of intercollegiate beach volleyball and the future opportunities of our student-athletes.' Calling beach volleyball's growth at the college level 'stunted,' Harlan noted that just 12 power conference schools sponsor such teams 'with little evidence of the sport expanding at this time.' Harlan said the Utah athletic department would 'work closely with each of our impacted student-athletes to provide them with all of the support they need' and honor the scholarships of those who decide to complete their education at Utah. 'Should a current or incoming student-athlete elect to pursue their sport at another school, Utah will do all that it can to facilitate the process,' Harlan said, adding that scholarship funds which had been dedicated to the beach volleyball program will be redirected to our other women's sports. Utah will now sponsor 19 intercollegiate sport programs in the coming academic year. ___ AP sports:
