BYU Coach Addresses Fan Behavior After Defeat
During a postgame press conference following a heart-wrenching 99-92 defeat to Oklahoma State on February 4, BYU men’s basketball coach Kevin Young took a stand against the derogatory behavior of some fans. The No. 14 ranked Cougars faced an unexpected upset, and Young voiced his concerns regarding the anti-Mormon chants that were reportedly heard coming from sections of the crowd.
“I heard chants of ‘F The Mormons’ coming from the student section tonight,”
expressing both disappointment and a call for decency. He added,
“While Oklahoma State should celebrate their victory, it would be nice to see more respect shown by the fans.”
Young, who is a practicing Mormon, reflected on the impact of such chants on his family, saying,
“I have four young children at home who will ask me about this incident, much like they did after last year’s game against Arizona.”
Ongoing Issues with Fan Conduct
This episode marks the latest occurrence in a troubling trend, as reports from ESPN indicate that this is at least the fourth time in recent months that Mormons have been targeted with negative chants during games involving BYU. Previously, Arizona publicly apologized after a similar incident during a game last season, and other occurrences included confrontations at matches against Colorado and Cincinnati. The Big 12 even penalized Colorado, issuing a fine of $50,000 for their fans’ behavior.
“There’s far too much hate in our world today for this type of language. There’s already so much going on; we should not add to the divisiveness by attacking people’s faiths and beliefs. It’s just disheartening.”
Young emphasized the need for more empathy.
Game Highlights
In terms of the game itself, standout AJ Dybantsa delivered an impressive performance, scoring 36 points and grabbing seven rebounds. However, the loss marked the third straight defeat for the Cougars, who faced a raucous crowd that celebrated aggressively post-game.
This incident sheds light on ongoing concerns about sportsmanship and respect among fans, especially when differing beliefs are involved. Young’s remarks serve as a timely reminder of the importance of maintaining decorum in athletics.
