A tug-of-war contest for eighth-row MUSS seats ended in controversy Friday at Crimson Nights.
Team “Swoop” initially appeared to snatch the victory from team “Tow Trucks” in the final match of the tug-of-war tournament, sponsored by the Student Alumni Association. But members of Tow Trucks were incensed when they discovered that Swoop won with 12 members, two more than the allowable limit.
“It was bull crap,” said Nano Tonga, a student and former Utah football player who was on Tow Trucks. “It was unjust and ridiculously organized.”
Tow Trucks also protested the fact that several members of Swoop had switched among multiple teams and were not Utah students, another set of rule violations.
Although Tow Trucks cited Swoop’s infringements as grounds for disqualification, Swoop members countered, pointing out that Tow Trucks employed the help of U athletes, including Tonga, Halie Sawyer, Mandy Munns, Iwalani Rodrigues and a current football player who requested anonymity because of fear of reprisal from his coaches.
Myles Carrera transferred from team “Get Some” to team Swoop after Get Some’s defeat. He felt that the presence of U athletes on team Tow Trucks was an inequity.
“If we did the work to win with these guys, that’s like half the battle,” Carrera said.
Still, despite the argument, MUSS officials were able to resolve the problem.
“There won’t be a rematch,” said Jonathan Bowen, the football MUSS vice president. Instead, all U students on both teams will receive the eighth row season tickets, he said.
Erik DaenitzTeam Get Some battles during the MUSS tug-of-war contest at Crimson Nights on Friday. Get Some was defeated but team member Myles Carrera, right, was eventually victorious after joining team Swoop.