BYU Coach Kevin Young Addresses Oklahoma State Fans’ Offensive Chant

During a recent basketball game at Gallagher-Iba Arena, Oklahoma State University (OSU) fans directed an offensive chant at Brigham Young University (BYU) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The chant, which reiterated hateful slurs, caught attention and was audible on the FS1 broadcast.

Coach Kevin Young Responds to Offensive Chant

BYU coach Kevin Young addressed the chant in his postgame press conference. He acknowledged the incident, stating, “There were some ‘F the Mormons’ chants tonight by the student section that I heard.” He further expressed that while he recognized OSU’s victory, a display of class from the fans would have been appreciated.

Personal Impact of Hate Speech

Young shared how the chants affected him personally, noting, “I got four small kids at home. You know, I’m a Mormon.” He voiced concerns about explaining such incidents to his children, highlighting the need for respectful interactions in sports.

Recurring Issues with Hateful Chants

Offensive chants have plagued BYU athletic events outside Utah in recent years. Schools such as USC (2021), Oregon (2022), Providence (2024), and Cincinnati (2025) have issued apologies for similar incidents. Young lamented, “There’s just too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that,” underscoring the need for compassion and understanding.

Promoting Unity in Sports

Young emphasized the role of sports in unifying people rather than creating division. He expressed hope that the negative aspects of the chant could prompt a societal shift towards unity. His plea called for the media and community to amplify messages of togetherness, saying, “Together as a society, we can just help the world kind of move forward and not divide each other with pain.”

Efforts to promote respect and understanding across all sporting events remain crucial. As moments like these occur, they inspire dialogues on the importance of compassion in competitive environments.