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PROVO — When BYU opens its home slate Saturday night against UCLA, the Cougars will be without a key defensive force.
Defensive backs Kai Nacua and Austin McChesney will be suspended for the first half after each received a targeting penalty and subsequent ejection in last Saturday’s 20-19 loss at rival Utah.
When head coach Kalani Sitake tried to appeal the decision to the national coordinator of officials, he was told that the in-game booth review was the final word and no appeal is possible.
“The rule is if there is no replay available, then they will review,” Sitake told reporters Monday. “In this one, there was a replay official available and they made that decision. It was set in concrete Saturday night. That’s just the way protocol is.”
The protocol goes beyond initiating helmet-to-helmet contact, according to the NCAA rulebook.
“No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder,” Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6 state. “This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting. When in question it is a foul.”
The NCAA lists indicators as launching or leaving a player’s feet to attack an opponent; crouching to attack with forcible contact; leading with the helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow; or lowering the head to lead with the crown of the helmet.
Nacua, a starter and defensive captain in his senior year, will be with the team during pregame ceremonies and his emotional self on the sidelines — he hasn’t been banned from the pregame coin toss, Sitake joked.
Nacua has been a staple on BYU’s defense for four years, and he has the most career interceptions since 2000 after pulling down his 11th pick Saturday. He has three picks, eight tackles and a fumble recovered in two games in 2016.
But when the ball kicks off against quarterback Josh Rosen and the Bruins (1-1), the Las Vegas native won’t be allowed on the field for two quarters.
“Someone will fill in, just like they did in the second half,” Sitake said. “We’re looking for someone to step up and take advantage of the opportunity.”
The first-year head coach mentioned Nacua’s backups in Matt Hadley and Zayne Anderson to replace the veteran, and also added Eric Takenaka and Tanner Jacobson could slide over from strong safety to fill in the run-stopping role.
Linebacker Francis Bernard, who had an athletic one-handed interception against the Utes, hinted that Hadley is likely to start. He also said that while Nacua’s emotional enthusiasm is difficult to replace, the Cougars have options there, as well.
“We have Micah Hannemann who does that, and replacing (Kai) will be Matt Hadley,” Bernard said. “He plays just as well against the run, and moves well in space.”
Still, Nacua’s absence will be felt — and the Cougars will be glad to get him back once the second half kicks off in LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“He’s a captain for our team. He’s not only a playmaker for our defense, but he’s a leader for our team,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “That’ll be tough to have him out for the first half. But that also pulls us together. We need to play for him and protect the ball.”
