Gordon Monson: A sound solution to anti-Latter-day Saint chants at BYU games comes from a Utah man
sltrib.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The recurring "F-the-Mormons" chants at BYU sporting events have persisted despite apologies and fines, which have proven ineffective in curbing the behavior.
- The Big 12's new "Respect the Game" campaign aims to promote sportsmanship, but its impact on reducing such offensive chants remains uncertain.
- Chris Hill, former Utah athletic director, proposes imposing automatic penalties—such as yardage penalties in football or technical fouls in basketball—on teams whose fans engage in these chants to discourage the behavior more effectively.
- This approach would incentivize coaches to discourage such chants among their fans, potentially leading to quicker and more meaningful change than educational campaigns alone.
- The article highlights a troubling shift from traditional sportsmanship to hostile, religion-targeted insults, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement to maintain respectful competition.
