Utah AD Mark Harlan apologizes for his Holy War tirade: “I reacted emotionally.”
The University of Utah’s athletic director regrets his actions following the Utes’ recent loss to BYU.
On a frosty November 9th football evening, with the clock winding to zero on the 2024 BYU-Utah rivalry game, one unresolved matter remained—a yellow flag near the sideline.
The call: unsportsmanlike conduct. The offender: Utah’s athletic director.
Mark Harlan, storming from the press box to the field, had prematurely entered the turf—not to celebrate, but to confront the officiating crew. A controversial penalty against Utah’s defense had rescued BYU’s seemingly doomed drive, sparking outrage among fans and players. Despite initial objections, subsequent reviews confirmed the officiating was accurate.
The heated atmosphere left no room for reason that night on Utah’s sideline.
Fuming, Harlan delivered an emotional tirade from the press podium, condemning the officiating and expressing frustration with Utah’s new Big 12 affiliation after the 22-21 loss.
.“This game was absolutely stolen from us,” Harlan declared to reporters. “We were excited to be in the Big 12, but tonight I’m not. We won this game, and it was taken from us. I’m disgusted by the officiating and will address it with (Brett Yormark) the commissioner.”
Six months and a $40,000 fine later, Harlan addressed the controversy in an interview with Deseret News.
“I regret taking away from BYU’s victory and the efforts of their student-athletes,” Harlan admitted. “Criticizing our Big 12 participation was inappropriate. We’re proud and honored to compete in this conference. My actions didn’t reflect that.”
Harlan’s apology mirrors running back Jaylon Glover’s earlier public retraction of a poorly framed comment. Both illustrate how high-pressure moments shouldn’t define legacies.
“You learn and grow, as I ask our athletes and staff to do,” Harlan said. “I wasn’t a great example then, but I’ve learned and look forward to continuing this rivalry in the right spirit.”
The inaugural Big 12 Holy War delivered a thrilling game but was marred by a moment of poor judgment.