The University of Cincinnati was in the national spotlight Saturday, Nov. 22 from the Fox Big Noon Kickoff at 10 a.m. to their first night game of the season at Nippert Stadium against the No. 11 BYU Cougars.
Fireworks and a grand entrance celebrated the evening, which would take a dark turn later. In addition to the Bearcats letting the game slip away, blowing multiple scoring opportunities, an unwelcome, unnecessary chant came from the student section.
It’s something BYU fans have had to endure at other venues. A brief “F the Mormons” broke out, long enough to be captured on video and posted on social media by a Salt Lake City-area talk show host.
UC’s game staff tried to drown out the chant via the band, and in-stadium music and a public address announcement was made to cease the derogatory language.
BYU fans had given back to Cincinnati community before game
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had donated over 27,000 pounds of food to the on-campus Bearcats Food Pantry for students facing “food insecurity”. It was the largest single donation in the pantry’s history. Also at the BYU pre-game tailgate at UC’s Gettler Stadium soccer field, over 600 coats were donated by Cougars fans to the NAACP coat drive.
BYU disrespect has happened elsewhere
Colorado was fined $50,000 and reprimanded by the Big 12 when their student section broke out the same inflammatory chant.
Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders also apologized in that week’s press conference in Boulder.
“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.”
Arizona and USC are other schools that have also engaged in the same chant and behavior. As of Monday morning, Nov. 24 UC had not yet heard from the Big 12.
The Enquirer has contacted the Big 12 and the University of Cincinnati and is awaiting a response. This article will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will UC face fine after anti-Mormon chant at BYU game?
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
