Off to their worst start to a season since 2005, BYU will now have to overcome the loss of arguably their best defensive player if they hope to turn their 1-3 record around.
Junior nose tackle Romney Fuga suffered what turned out to be a torn ACL on a questionable block in the second quarter of the Cougars’ 27-13 loss to Nevada Saturday. A press release announced that Fuga would miss the remainder of the 2010 season, but should return to health in time for summer camp next year.
Head coach Bronco Mendenhall was not happy with the play on which Fuga was injured following the game. The lineman appeared to be clipped by Nevada lineman John Bender on the play, but no penalty was called.
“I thought it was not a positive football play,” he said. “It was away from the play and it was below the waist and to me it looked like it was from behind.”
WAC commissioner Karl Benson and director of officials Jim Blackwood were reviewing a tape of the play Monday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. A decision on whether Bender will be sanctioned could come either later today or tomorrow.
Mendenhall added that he has not been contacted by anyone at Nevada regarding the injury, or about some of Wolf Pack head coach Chris Ault‘s players reportedly “egging on the crowd” as Fuga was sprawled on the turf in pain.
