BYU is the flagship Mormon university in the United States. They are no stranger to vulgar commentary from opposing fans when their teams play on the road. Following the Cougars’ 99-92 loss on Wednesday night in Stillwater, “F– the Mormons” chants rang out throughout Gallagher-Iba Arena.
BYU Head Coach Speaks On Improper Chants From OSU Crowd
According To Reports, Here’s What Happened
The chants, which rang out as Rob Wright III sank the team’s final two free throws, drew the attention of head coach Kevin Young. He raised concerns for both his players and other BYU fans in attendance.
After the game, Young addressed the behavior of the crowd, calling for sports to be a way to bring people together rather than tear them apart.
“It’s a great win for Oklahoma State University. Their fans should be proud,” Young said. “It would be great if some class was warranted in there as well.”
Young, a father of four, mentioned how the comments made by fans impact more than just the athletes on the court.
“I’ve got four small kids at home.” Young said. “I’m a Mormon. When I go home, they’re going to ask me about it, same way as they asked me about it last year at Arizona.”
BYU faced similar incidents in recent years, first against Colorado last fall, in which the Big 12 reportedly fined the Buffaloes $50,000. A similar instance took place again that same season in a road contest against Cincinnati.
Young also reported similar chants towards the team in last year’s aforementioned matchup on the road against Arizona. Following that game in Stillwater, fans stormed the court in celebration of BYU’s first win over an AP Top-25 opponent that season.
Steve Lutz Praises AJ Dybantsa’s Leadership And Character
Thursday’s loss wasn’t all gloom for the Cougars.
In Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz’s press conference, he praised true freshman and top prospect AJ Dybantsa for his actions as the two programs shook hands. According to a report by Yahoo Sports, Dybantsa reportedly followed another teammate in line. Dybantsa told his teammate to shake Lutz’s hand after bypassing him.
“We’re going through the handshake line after the game and one of their players, and I don’t think he did it intentionally, but he bypassed me,” Lutz said. “AJ grabbed that kid and he made him shake my hand.”
Beyond that, Dybantsa scored 36 points, also recording seven rebounds. Even with the chants echoing, he showcased why he’s considered one of the nation’s top prospects.
“That’s impressive to me, guys; 36 points is impressive and seven rebounds is impressive,” Lutz said. “What he did in that handshake line speaks volume about the young man’s character, in my opinion.”
Dybantsa looked better on Wednesday than he did in BYU’s loss to Kansas. He scored 17 first-half points and kept the Cougars in the game. He demonstrated a level of composure that was a clear step in the right direction.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next For Both Programs
The Cougars return home for a game against Houston on Saturday, eyeing their second win against a ranked opponent.
Oklahoma State travels to Tucson for a game against top-ranked Arizona on Saturday, riding the momentum from its first win over a ranked opponent in conference play.
Featured Image: William Purnell-Imagn Images
