Colorado ‘Strongly Condemns’ Fans’ Use of ‘Religious Slurs’ Toward BYU CFB Team

The Colorado Buffaloes athletic department issued a statement condemning the behavior of its fans at Folsom Field during Saturday’s 24-21 football loss to BYU.

“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,” athletic director Rick George and chancellor Justin Schwartz said in a joint statement, per David Ubben of The Athletic. “Such behavior is deeply disappointing and does not reflect the values of respect, inclusion and integrity we expect of our campus community.”

Ubben noted fans chanted “an expletive and ‘the Mormons'” during the game.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sponsors BYU, which is a private flagship university. According to Ubben, approximately 98 percent of the school’s student body identifies as followers of the church.

This is not the first time such chants have been used by fans during games against the Cougars.

Following a men’s basketball game in February, Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois issued an apology to BYU after similar chants were used by Wildcats fans:

Ubben noted Oregon fans and USC fans have also directed such chants and slurs toward BYU players and fans in the past.

As for the game itself, BYU earned a 24-21 comeback win over Colorado despite falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Cody Hagen’s 32-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference.

The Cougars are 4-0 on the campaign, while Colorado fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play.

BYU also defeated Colorado in the Alamo Bowl last season.

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