Hold or Not? BYU-Utah Late Game Call Rocks Nation

Everything that happened after BYU bested Utah 22-21 on a late field goal can be traced back to one thing.

The blame on the officiating crew, the disappointment in the Big 12 conference, an unchecked athletic director, the awkward post game meetups, the bewildered Ute fans and gloating BYU fans are all byproducts of one play.

I mean of course this play being the holding penalty issued against Utah with 1:35 left in the 4^th quarter.

With the Utes holding a late lead they had forced BYU into a corner and could taste victory.

With the Cougars on their very own 9 yard line and the Utes defense feeling confident on a 4^th down and ten, Utah seemed to have this one in the bag.

Here’s how the next play unfolded.

A sack, cheering, celebrating, jubilation all undone in the blink of an eye as the officials declared that BYU receiver, Jojo Phillips was held by Utes Cornerback, Zemaiah Vaughn, resulting in a ten yard penalty and an automatic first down.

BYU would take that new life down field en route to a 44 yard game winning field goal off the foot of Will Ferrin.

Without the hold, Utah wins.

With the hold, BYU remains undefeated and in the driver’s seat of the Big 12 conference.

Without the hold, Utes Athletic Director, Mark Harlan likely doesn’t berate the officiating crew or the Big 12 conference.

With the hold, he clearly does as such.

As one can see, the “holding” call had a lot to do with the wackiness that ensued after this contest between long time rivals, and when such wackiness occurs, one has to determine whether it was warranted or not.

Thus, the sports world has been in hot pursuit on determining if the call that saved the Cougars perfect season was justified.

The great thing about any argument, especially in sports, is that one can find a person that supports their way of thinking.

So take a gander down below and see who lines up with the Utes and who lines up with the Cougars as the football world debates if Utah was robbed of if BYU took advantage of a clear mistake from Utah.

PRO UTES:

Here’s Joel Klatt saying that the call may have been right and may have been wrong but was inconsistent and never established prior to that moment and thus should have never been made.

Here’s people saying that you don’t throw that flag in a game defining moment, at least not for something seemingly so minimal, including a word from former NFL and Arizona Wildcats running back, Mike Bell.

Here's a good "breakdown" per someone in favor of Utah:

PRO COUGARS:

The Cougars get a vote of confidence from Head Coach Kalani Sitake, which doesn’t seem too shocking:

So how about from Terry McAulay. A three time Super Bowl referee and the Rules Analyst for NBC Sports?

He thinks it was a hold.

And was, to go against Klatt’s point, consistent:

Here’s Mark Harlan’s distraught comments set to multiple angles of the controversial call.

So, with some evidence on both sides, what’s your call?