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EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Oregon student section is apologizing after an offensive chant was repeated about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Ducks' blowout victory Saturday afternoon over BYU.
Video obtained by KSL.com shows an incident during the 25th-ranked Ducks' 41-20 win over No. 12 BYU of several Oregon students repeatedly using a derogatory term directed at "the Mormons," referring to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which sponsors the university. Several similar videos have appeared on social media since the game ended.
The fan who contacted KSL.com via email said the chant was used at least 3-5 times before she complained to "an Oregon alumni" sitting near her that told her to "be kind to them; they're freshmen" in reference to the students.
When the BYU fan tried to get the attention of Autzen Stadium event staff, the fan's concerns with the chant were dismissed, she wrote in an email to KSL.com.
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
After the game, the Twitter account of the Oregon Pit Crew student section apologized for the actions of students in a statement released on social media directed to "all BYU football fans in attendance at (Saturday's) game."
"We would like to apologize for the actions of the students in attendance," the statement read. "We do not condone or support any hateful speech directed towards one's religion and are ashamed of those who participated."
The university likewise apologized in a similar statement released Sunday afternoon on Twitter.
"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," the statement read. "These types 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."
The game drew an announced-sellout crowd of 54,463, including several thousand royal blue-clad BYU fans that made the trip to Autzen Stadium. The Cougars received $1.1 million to play the game, according to a copy of the game contract obtained by the Extra Points FOIA database, and will not be returned to Provo in later years.
The chant also drew a rebuke from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who is a practicing Latter-day Saint, saying, "Religious bigotry alive and celebrated in Oregon."
We recognize that this isolated behavior does not reflect the values of the University of Oregon.
— BYU (@BYU) September 19, 2022
As we all work together to address incidents that seek to divide us, we are grateful for those who are willing to come together to build bridges of understanding. 2/2
Oregon has several players from the state of Utah — some of whom are Latter-day Saints or grew up in the faith — on the roster, including former Orem High standout Noah Sewell and linebacker Mase Funa, who played his freshman season at Spanish Fork before graduating from Mater Dei High in Southern California.
The Ducks' coaching staff also has at least one member of the church in recruiting director JR Moala, who reached out to several recruits by Sunday about the incident, including local prospect T.C. Manumaleuna, a quarterback from North Salem, Oregon, and member of the church who was in attendance for Saturday's game.
Manumaleuna, who also has offers from Florida State, Miami and Louisville, per 247Sports, said he doesn't hold any ill will towards the university or its coaching staff for the chant in an interview with the Eugene Register Guard. But it was something that made him feel uncomfortable enough to leave with his family at halftime.
"Definitely felt uncomfortable because I was with my parents and sisters," he said. "You kind of don't know what to say or how you feel about it at that time. We left at halftime. My dad said, 'Let's get out of here.'"
It's not the first time opposing fan bases have used similar derogatory chants directed at members of the church during games against BYU. USC apologized for an "offensive chant" used by its student section that was audible on the ESPN broadcast during November's game between the Trojans and Cougars.
Some Oregon fans, too, have been known for high-profile incidents of profane chants. During a basketball game in 2008, some Ducks fans were called out for greeting former UCLA star Kevin Love — whose father, Stan, played basketball at Oregon — with homophobic chants and profane signs, according to Sports Illustrated.
