In the midst of a rivalry game in Provo during the first week of September, BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum, desperate to gain yards, scrambled through the middle of the field before sliding and giving himself up.
Adrenaline-fueled Utah senior linebacker Sunia Tauteoli closed in and didn’t put the brakes on fast enough. Tauteoli dropped his head and made contact with Mangum as he slid, causing the crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium to erupt in outrage.
Mangum, his helmet having come off, looked at officials, arms outstretched imploring them to throw a penalty flag. The officials obliged, and Tauteoli became the first Utes player ejected for “targeting” this season.