The University of Arizona has apologized for a derogatory chant made by its fans towards Brigham Young University (BYU) during their 96-95 upset win in Tucson on Saturday night. The chant, which included an expletive and the term “Mormons”, was directed at BYU players as they exited the floor.
Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois issued a statement apologizing to BYU, its student-athletes, coaches, and fans, stating that the chant is not reflective of who Arizona is. The incident capped a chaotic game marked by controversy over foul calls and heated emotions from both teams’ coaches and players.
The game was marred by a disputed foul call with 12.5 seconds remaining, which led to BYU’s Richie Saunders making two free throws and securing the win for his team. Despite criticizing the call, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd acknowledged that it was a bad one, but maintained that it wasn’t the reason for their loss.
The incident highlights the need for fans and players to maintain respect and sportsmanship in competitive environments. Arizona’s apology is seen as an important step in promoting positive behavior and fostering greater unity among rival teams.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43980544/arizona-apologizes-fans-derogatory-chant-aimed-byu