Utah governor calls out UO fans' chants against Mormons during BYU game
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The Utah governor took to Twitter Saturday night to call out the behavior of University of Oregon fans during the game at Autzen Stadium against Brigham Young University.
UO's student section, The Pit Crew, has since issued a public apology, as have university officials.
In a video posted to Twitter, which has garnered nearly half a million views as of Sunday morning, Oregon fans in the school’s student section can be seen chanting “F--- the Mormons.” BYU is a private university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox retweeted the video, calling it “religious bigotry alive and celebrated in Oregon.”
Religious bigotry alive and celebrated in Oregon. https://t.co/l8BdsSJWu2
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 18, 2022
Other videos and photos of attendees who also allegedly participated in the chanting were posted on Twitter.
The Pit Crew on Twitter issued an apology Saturday night, saying they "do not condone or support any hateful speech directed towards one's religion and are ashamed of those who participated."
To all @BYUfootball fans in attendance at todays game we would like to apologize for the actions of the students in attendance. We do not condone or support any hateful speech directed towards one’s religion and are ashamed of those who participated.
— Oregon Pit Crew (@OregonPitCrew) September 18, 2022
The university in its emailed statement said, "The University of Oregon sincerely apologizes for an offensive and disgraceful chant coming from the student section during yesterday’s game against Brigham Young University. These type of actions go against everything the university stands for, and it goes against the spirit of competition. We can and will do better as a campus community that has no place for hate, bias or bigotry."
In contrast, BYU kicked off the game by honoring former Oregon tight end Spencer Webb before the game, running onto the field with a flag bearing Webb's No. 18.
Webb, who would've been a junior this season, died in July during an outing at Triangle Lake.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Utah governor calls out UO fans' chants against Mormons in BYU game