Kevin Young Addresses Offensive Chants After BYU Loss at Oklahoma State
STILLWATER - BYU head coach Kevin Young didn’t shy away from addressing what happened off the court following his team’s 99-92 loss at Oklahoma State. While the Cowboys pulled off a hard-fought upset in front of a raucous home crowd, it was the behavior from a portion of the student section that drew Young’s attention postgame.
“There were some ‘F Them Mormons’ chants tonight,” Young said. “It was a great win for Oklahoma State University. I think their fans should be proud, but it would be great if some class was warranted.”
Young’s comments struck a personal chord. He’s not just a coach - he’s also a father of four and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His concern wasn’t just about the moment in the arena, but about the conversations waiting for him at home. “I have four small kids at home, I’m a Mormon, and when I go home, they’re gonna ask me about it, the same way they asked me about it last year at Arizona.”
This isn’t the first time Young has had to address religious taunts directed at his team. And while only a handful of his players - four or five, by his count - are members of the LDS Church, he understands that BYU carries a larger identity tied to its faith-based mission. That association, fair or not, often becomes a target.
“There’s too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that,” Young said. “We’ve got enough problems in our world without going for people’s religion and beliefs. … This stuff is unwarranted.”
Young’s message was clear: spirited competition is part of the game, but there’s a line - and it was crossed. In a season where BYU is trying to make noise on the court, the hope is that the conversation stays there, not in the stands.