Wren Baker addresses incorrect penalty enforcement vs. Pitt
West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker released a statement Monday acknowledging that officials misapplied the rules on the late-hit unsportsmanlike penalty called on Pittsburgh at the end of the first half of Saturday’s Backyard Brawl.
Baker confirmed that officials got it wrong in how the penalty was applied. He said WVU has been told the enforcement was incorrect and stressed that while player safety is always the priority, fouls like that can’t happen without consequences.
He added that NCAA officials have since been given guidance to make sure situations like this are handled the right way moving forward.
The call at the end of the half left WVU fans frustrated, and Baker’s message makes it clear the error has been acknowledged and addressed.
Full statement from Wren Baker
“At the end of the first half of the football game with Pitt, an unsportsmanlike penalty (late hit) was called against the Panthers. It has been confirmed to our staff that the rules relating to the interpretation and application of that penalty were incorrect.
In an effort to preserve player safety, players cannot and should not be able to commit unsportsmanlike penalties with no consequences. Player safety should always be at the forefront of our minds. It is my understanding that all NCAA football officials were sent information this week on how the penalty should have been enforced.”
— Wren Baker, WVU Director of Athletics
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