Notre Dame files targeting complaint after repeated hits with golden plates
Replay booth rules contact “incidental scripture”; Freeman insists this is an equipment question.
PROVO, Utah — Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman filed a formal equipment complaint following the Irish’s 28–24 loss to BYU, alleging that repeated contact with golden plates had been incorrectly classified as part of the home team’s spiritual identity.
“I respect their beliefs,” Freeman said, placing a bent facemask beside a stack of metal pages. “I don’t think they should be allowed to hit our quarterback with them.”
Officials initially reviewed the complaint for targeting before announcing that the replay booth was not qualified to interpret scripture.
The ruling on the field therefore stood.
A very old equipment exemption
A BYU equipment representative insisted the plates were grandfathered in.
“They predate the rulebook,” he said. “We checked.”
Notre Dame countered that this was not how equipment approval worked and demanded to know whether any other ancient objects had been cleared for third-down situations.
The officials’ report described the disputed contact as “incidental scripture” and noted that the defender had made a reasonable effort to lead with the less pointy portion of the revelation.
“We prepared for the spread,” Freeman said. “Nobody told us they meant the gospel.”
A referee who examined the plates said he found no manufacturer’s certification, but did find enough material to keep the review going well into the fourth quarter.
The booth needs more evidence
The conference’s review panel requested a second camera angle. BYU said the incident had been witnessed by several people who were willing to sign a statement.
“There was insufficient evidence to overturn the ruling,” the replay official announced. “You have to take some things on faith.”
Notre Dame’s chaplain attempted to intervene on Freeman’s behalf but was informed he could address spiritual jurisdiction only after the equipment manager exhausted his challenge.
Freeman then asked whether the Irish could bring a ceremonial object of comparable weight to their next game.
“That would be an unsportsmanlike response,” an official said.
At press time, Notre Dame had updated its scouting report to instruct defenders to keep their heads on a swivel and avoid being caught between chapters.
