During the heated November 9 matchup between BYU and the University of Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium, BYU cheerleading coach Jocelyn Allan suffered injuries after being struck by a water bottle thrown from the stands. The impact rendered Allan unconscious on the sidelines, leading to a concussion and other physical issues that will require weeks of recovery.
William Gardner, 18, from North Salt Lake, has been charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony. University of Utah police and witnesses, along with surveillance footage, identified Gardner as the individual responsible. Gardner later admitted to throwing the bottle out of frustration after the game’s dramatic conclusion.
Witnesses at the stadium reported seeing a bottle, later identified as half-full, flying through the air before hitting Allan on the head. Charging documents reveal that Allan briefly lost consciousness and awoke disoriented, asking those around her what had occurred. She was escorted for medical evaluation shortly after the game, where symptoms of a concussion, neck pain, and vision issues were noted.
The incident occurred after BYU secured a narrow 22-21 victory over Utah in the long-standing “Holy War” rivalry game, with a last-second field goal sealing the win. Gardner, who was reportedly seated in a suite, admitted to police that his emotions led him to throw the bottle toward the field. He claimed he later saw news coverage of the incident and realized he had been the cause.
