Big 12 fines, reprimands CU Buffs for religious slurs by fans during BYU game

The Big 12 Conference on Tuesday issued a public reprimand and fine to the University of Colorado for chants made by fans during the Buffaloes’ football game against Brigham Young University on Saturday at Folsom Field.

CU has been fined $50,000 “in accordance with the Big 12 Conference Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship,” per a press release from the conference.

Fans in the student section repeatedly chanted “F– BYU!” and “F– the Mormons!” during the game, which BYU won, 24-21. BYU is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Hateful and discriminatory language has no home in the Big 12 Conference,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in the press release. “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. Colorado will receive a $50,000 fine in accordance with our Conference policies.”

On Monday, CU released a statement from chancellor Justin Schwartz and athletic director Rick George condemning the fans’ use of the religious slurs and expletives.

George issued a new statement on Tuesday in response to the Big 12 fine, apologizing for fan behavior and vowing to make changes to ensure a welcoming environment at Folsom Field.

“CU Athletics was notified by the Big 12 Conference of its decision to issue a fine to the University of Colorado for the actions of some CU fans at last Saturday’s game,” George said. “We respect the conference’s decision, and we take responsibility for the behavior exhibited at the game. On behalf of our athletic department and the university, I want to apologize to BYU and the entire Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community. Chancellor Schwartz and I also apologized personally to our counterparts at BYU on Saturday night and again on Sunday.

“The behavior by those fans who chanted was appalling, is unacceptable, and is not indicative of the values we strive for at CU. We must do better and we will. In collaboration with our campus stakeholders, we are currently reviewing our policies with respect to fan behavior to ensure that Folsom Field is a welcoming place for every fan and that those who do not live up to our standards are held accountable. 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.”

At the conclusion of his weekly press conference on Tuesday, CU head coach Deion Sanders also addressed the situation.

“On behalf of CU, on behalf of our athletic department, we would like to apologize to our opponents from a week ago for whatever derogatory statements were made by our fans,” Sanders said. “That’s not indicative of who we are. Our student body, our kids are phenomenal. Don’t indict just based on a group of young kids that probably was intoxicated and high simultaneously. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, as well, but it’s truth that will make you free. But BYU, we love you, we appreciate you, and we support you. God bless.”

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