Northwestern’s win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl last month was marred by a controversial ejection of top Wildcats playmaker Benny Snell in the early going, but some fans apparently took their outrage a bit too far.
According to a report by Kyle Bonagura of ESPN on Tuesday, Pac-12 referee Chris Coyte and his crew, who worked the bowl game on Dec. 29, have been the target of threats and harassment by fans because of the incident.
Per Bonagura:
In the days following the game, Coyte received a barrage of threatening calls to his cell and office phones, sources said, as did the commercial real estate association he belongs to.
The officiating crew received an escort leaving the stadium and getting to the airport from a security consultant, but further security protection wasn’t necessary upon leaving Nashville, according to the Pac-12.
Bonagura also adds that the threatening calls started up again last week when a letter by Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart to Pac-12 vice president of officials David Coleman was made public by the Lexington Herald-Leader. In the letter, Barnhart was openly critical of Coyte and his crew.
If you recall, Snell was tossed from the game in the second quarter for making contact with Coyte after being tackled for a loss in Northwestern territory (even though Coyte appeared to be the one who initiated the contact).
Hi hello THIS is the play that got Benny Snell ejected. That is all. pic.twitter.com/IllCwIOXQw
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 30, 2017
The Wildcats never quite recovered after losing their leading rusher, and a failed two-point conversion following a touchdown in the final minute of the game sealed their fate. The explanation Coyte gave for why he ejected Snell was pretty weak too, but it sounds like Kentucky, both the administration and especially their fans, crossed something of a line here nevertheless.
