BYU football handled business on the second leg of their road trip this past weekend, with a taste of Big 12 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder.
Kalani Sitake had his team prepared for a hostile environment. In the Big 12 Conference, passionate fan bases make the league stand out -- tradition, festivity, excitement, and the college aspect of the game make college football distinct and individual in the larger realm of sport. But as crowds get louder, BYU fans have grown all too accustomed to chants mocking the university's sponsor religion.
"F the Mormons".
Not a unique chant, nor a clever one, but one that tends to get stirred up and follow the school from town to town. These days, it's rare to have a season go by in a major sport without an opposing student body uniting its voices to shout this same phrase. Basketball against Providence lifted the curtain on the issue for much of the nation, as the issue was brought into the mainstream.
To Colorado's credit, the university released a statement on Monday morning condemning the behavior and disavowing any derogatory chants or cheers from its students. Such apologies are becoming time-honored traditions for BYU athletics.
The University of Colorado Boulder strongly condemns the use of expletives and religious slurs by individuals in the stands during the recent football game against BYU. (1/7)
— CU Boulder 🦬 (@CUBoulder) September 29, 2025
"Attending sporting events at CU Boulder is a privilege," the university's chancellor and athletic director declared in an official statement. "And with that comes the responsibility to uphold our Fan Code of Conduct. The university and CU Athletics have a strict policy when it comes to abusive behavior, and those found to have engaged in conduct that is not consistent with our values are held accountable.
"CU Boulder is committed to fostering an environment where all individuals—students, staff, faculty, alumni, opposing fans and other visitors—feel welcome and safe. Discriminatory language and hostile conduct have no place at our athletic events or anywhere on our campus."
According to the statement, action will be taken against those found to be involved in the public bigotry. During a very challenging time for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one can only hope that the piling challenges can shift the sentiment surrounding hatred's pollution of what should be energizing and optimistic environments.