COLUMN: Poor behavior from BYU student body, no apology?
Back in November, the Utah State men’s basketball team faced Brigham Young University and came away with a win in the first game of the season. The game is remembered, not because it was a great win for the Aggies but because of the aftermath.
USU issued a formal apology to BYU and to the community for the misbehavior of USU fans.
Fast forward two months, and a similar event is unfolding in Utah County involving the same school who received that apology.
On Saturday, students from Brigham Young were assessed a technical foul for misbehavior during its game against St. Mary’s College. Numerous spectators engaged in throwing garbage and other objects onto the court during and after the game, which St. Mary’s won 80-66.
At the conclusion of the game, more boos showered officials and hundreds of objects were thrown by spectators.
BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe issued a statement Monday via email to encourage fans to show better sportsmanship, but no formal apology has been issued.
Let me get this straight. Fans act so badly at an event that their team is penalized for their actions, and the organization in charge slaps them on the hand and says, “Don’t do it again,” and that’s it?
With little time remaining in the first half, St. Mary’s led BYU by 10 when an offensive foul was called against the Cougars. Several objects were thrown, and officials issued a warning via the PA system: “Any more objects thrown on the floor will result in a technical foul.”
Four seconds into the second half, officials issued a technical foul after more objects were thrown.
That’s right, four seconds.
Fans were upset with a foul called against BYU, and showed their disgust by booing and throwing objects. By rule, St. Mary’s was awarded two free throws and given the ball back because of the technical.
St. Mary’s hit both free throws, and on the ensuing possession the Gaels hit a 3-pointer and turned what had been a 12-point halftime lead into a 17-point advantage. BYU was penalized five points because of its students.
BYU students contractually promise to “respect others” and “use clean language,” then act the opposite, and no one has to apologize?
It’s a perfect example of casting the mote out of your brother’s eye when you’ve got a beam in your own eye.
USU students heckled players, and the university issued a formal apology for its students’ actions. Consider the mote cast out of the eye. BYU students physically attack officials, and the university emailed its student body and stated, “We cannot engage in poor sportsmanship.”
The other thing that doesn’t add up is BYU fans’ mentality that officiating prevented the Cougars from winning. Double-digit leads are a product of one team outplaying another. The game was over as soon as fans started throwing things. It sent the message to BYU players that the fans knew there was no chance for a win.
It doesn’t matter what sport or level of competition, referees do not decide who wins a game. Officials simply enforce the penalties attached to the violation of a rule.
Granted, not all BYU affiliates have a beam in their eye, but to reprimand the guilty persons via email has little-to-no effect. At the very least, the West Coast Conference officials who refereed the game deserve an apology, as does the St Mary’s basketball team.
BYU Administration would be wise to go as far as issuing a formal apology to the Utah community at large. It would certainly show a level of class on its part to do so.
– Curtis Lundstrom is a sophomore majoring in print journalism. His life ambission is to bowl a perfect game, and officiate high school or college basketball.