Big 12 fines Colorado $50K for ‘inappropriate chants’ at BYU game

The University of Colorado was fined Tuesday after students chanted derogatory language at the BYU Cougars several times during Saturday's football game. (Photo by Zachary Giesenschlag/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Big 12 publicly reprimanded and fined the University of Colorado Boulder on Tuesday for a derogatory chant from fans at Saturday's football game against Brigham Young University. The $50,000 fine comes after campus leaders and head coach Deion Sanders apologized for the fans' behavior.

In a media release, the Big 12 said the actions were taken to enforce the conference's principles and standards of sportsmanship. Throughout the game, fans chanted “F— the Mormons.” BYU is a religious university sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nearly 98% of the student body identifies as members of the church. 

On Sunday, CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz and Athletic Director Rick George issued a joint statement strongly condemning the use of expletives and religious slurs by individuals in the stands. The chants largely echoed from the student section. 

“Such behavior is deeply disappointing and does not reflect the values of respect, inclusion and integrity we expect of our campus community,” the two said. 

In his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sanders directly apologized to BYU and its fans on behalf of the university and athletic department. 

“That’s not indicative of who we are, Sanders said. Our student body, our kids, are phenomenal. So don’t indict us, just based on a group of young kids that probably was intoxicated and high simultaneously. BYU, we love you, we appreciate, and we support you.” 

The Provo, Utah, university has repeatedly been the subject of religious slurs at sporting events. Similar expletives have been hurled at the school's players and fans during events at the Universities of Arizona and Oregon in recent years. 

"While we appreciate Colorado apologizing for the chants that occurred in the stands during Saturday's game, the Big 12 maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in the conference's release.

George released another statement Tuesday afternoon following the decision by the conference. In addition to extending an apology to the entire Latter-day Saints community, he said that CU Athletics is currently reviewing its policies for fan behavior.

“When we implement those changes, we will communicate them publicly. Any patron who is found to have violated our Fan Code of Conduct, including engaging in derogatory chants, will face a series of consequences up to and including a ban from future home games,” George said.