Big 12 Fines UCF One Hundred Thousand Dollars Over Anti Mormon Chants

Clear Facts

• UCF fans chanted an anti Mormon slur at BYU players before a game in Orlando.
• The Big 12 Conference fined the University of Central Florida one hundred thousand dollars for discriminatory conduct.
• Future violations will carry automatic fines, on field penalties, and possible bans from athletic events.

The Big 12 Conference acted swiftly after video showed UCF Knights fans chanting an offensive slogan that singled out the religious identity of Brigham Young University. The conference labeled the behavior discriminatory and announced a new set of escalating penalties that will apply across all member schools.

Security removed some fans during the contest, yet the conference deemed that response insufficient. The one hundred thousand dollar fine will fund student education programs rather than return to conference coffers.

“While the Conference recognizes the pregame protocols followed by UCF and immediate actions taken during the game, including removal of some individuals responsible for the conduct, discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12,” the statement read.

The updated policy sets clear lines. A first offense now triggers an automatic minimum one hundred thousand dollar fine and a formal warning. A second confirmed incident inside the same game can result in a fifteen yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in football or an unsportsmanlike technical foul in basketball.

Any fan ejected for similar conduct faces an immediate ban from all athletic events for the remainder of the academic year in addition to university discipline.

Traditional college rivalries thrive on spirited competition and good natured banter. Crossing into open hostility toward a school’s religious heritage crosses the line and undermines the values that built American sportsmanship.

UCF will host Baylor on Friday night while BYU welcomes Arizona State on Halloween in Provo. Observers expect both crowds to stay within acceptable bounds.

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