Colorado Athletic Director and Chancellor issue a forceful statement regarding derogatory fan chants at BYU

The bruises from Saturday night’s loss to BYU haven’t healed yet. And now it gets even worse.

In the hours following the 24–21 defeat, the University of Colorado issued a sharp condemnation of chants heard in the stands — “F--- the Mormons,” among them — during the game. A sense of disappointment and accountability echoed through the statement.

The University emphasized that attending CU sporting events is a privilege that is tied to responsibility, and that anyone found guilty of violating the Fan Code of Conduct would be held accountable.

Multiple reports and social media clips confirmed that a group of fans chanted the religious slurs in the stands.

The night wasn't easy for Buffs fans. Colorado fell to 2–3 overall and 0–2 in Big 12 play after Saturday’s loss. Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw his first interception as a Buff in the final minute, sealing the Cougars’ win.

Head coach Deion Sanders addressed his team’s play afterward, noting missed opportunities and an inability to rise to the occasion.

“Sometimes it felt like the moment was just too big for some of our athletes,” Sanders said. “We have to be better as a staff, as a team, and I have to do better. We had opportunities, we just didn’t make it happen.”

The chants drew swift criticism on social media, and the university’s response comes amid a history of similar incidents involving BYU. In 2022, the University of Oregon apologized for offensive chants directed at the Cougars, while USC fans were also reported chanting the same phrase during a 2021 matchup.

CU officials closed their statement by thanking the majority of fans who continue to support the Buffaloes “with enthusiasm and respect,” and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment at athletic events.

However, this isn’t the first time CU has faced issues with religious disrespect. Back in the Coach McCartney years of the 1990s, tensions around faith often bubbled up around the program. And as recently as last November, antisemitic graffiti appeared on several campus buildings.

So Saturday night wasn’t an isolated slip. It’s part of a bigger pattern we can’t ignore.

Just because BYU fans have heard this chant before at Oregon, USC, Arizona, and now Boulder, doesn’t make it any less wrong. CU’s statement was the right response.

Here’s the truth: we’re better than this. Colorado football is supposed to be about pride, tradition, and the kind of energy that unites a stadium, not divides it. When you stand in Folsom when Ralphie runs, you know that electricity is unmatched.

That’s the spirit people should feel when they leave our stadium — not hatred echoing in their ears. This isn't Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Buffs already have enough to fix on the field. With the blown leads, quarterback inconsistency, and an 0-2 Big 12 start, the last thing this program needs is headlines about fans that have nothing to do with football.

Passion is part of the game but disrespect doesn’t have to be. If we want to build the kind of culture Coach Prime preaches, it has to include the fans in the stands as much as it does in the locker room.

— Want more stories like this? Follow us on X for all things Colorado football and Basketball..