Longtime ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale voiced his support for BYU basketball and head coach Kevin Young after offensive chants broke out in Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma State.
In Wednesday’s loss in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the Cowboys’ student section chanted “(expletive) the Mormons,” as the Deseret News reported. The chants were heard on the FS1 broadcast of the game.
On Thursday, Vitale took to X to express his support for Young and to condemn the chants.
“I don’t blame @BYUMBB Coach Young being upset over the negative chants about Mormons he is hearing at games. — too much hate in our world — more LOVE is needed,” he wrote.
I don’t blame @BYUMBB Coach Young being upset over the negative chants about Mormons he is hearing at games. – too much hate in our world – more LOVE is needed. https://t.co/aDla5T3By8
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 5, 2026
Kevin Young responds to offensive BYU chants
After the loss, Young addressed the chants in his postgame press conference, as the Deseret News previously reported. While Oklahoma State “fans should be proud” of their team’s win, Young said, “it would be great if, you know, some class was (shown) in there as well.”
“You know, I got four small kids at home. You know, I’m a Mormon. When I go home, they’re going to ask me about (the chants) the same way they asked me about it last year at Arizona.”
Young was referring to the same chant used by the University of Arizona student section in February 2025. Arizona vice president and director of athletics Desireé Reed-Francois called it “an unacceptable chant,” the Deseret News previously reported.
The chant has also been heard at road football and basketball games against USC, Oregon, Providence, Colorado and Cincinnati.
Kevin Young ended his postgame press conference by addressing the “F*** the Mormons” chants during the game from Oklahoma State students pic.twitter.com/QIZqs6whLS
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) February 5, 2026
“There’s just too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that. We got enough problems in our world without going at people’s religion and beliefs,” Young said. “… We only have probably four or five guys … who are even Mormon on the team. I understand what we represent, but even for a guy like AJ (Dybantsa), you know, that stuff is unwarranted.”
Young said he wants his players to use their basketball platforms to be good examples.
“And like I said, I try to talk to our guys about being examples in the world. We can use basketball to really just bring people together and not tear people apart or something. We talk about (that) a lot, and it’s just disappointing,” he said. “I hope someone prints that. I hope it’s in bold on someone’s publication. Together as a society, we can just help the world kind of move forward and not divide each other with pain and things that are really nonsensical.”
What the Big 12 said about the chants
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark issued a statement Thursday, announcing an investigation into the chants.
“The Big 12 Conference is aware of and is investigating reports of inappropriate chants that occurred during last night’s BYU-Oklahoma State men’s basketball game,” Yormark said, per CBS Sports. “All parties have been notified. The conference has zero tolerance for behavior of this nature and will address the matter in accordance with Big 12 sportsmanship policies.”
The league fined the University of Colorado $50,000 for the same chants in September.
What Oklahoma State said about offensive BYU chants
In a statement, Oklahoma State president Jim Hess said the university “will address any violations of our standards of conduct appropriately,” per ESPN.
“The Cowboy Code calls us to treat others with respect and dignity, and we are reviewing what occurred and will address any violations of our standards of conduct appropriately,” Hess said. “Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects their community and their faith. I have reached out to BYU leadership directly to express our commitment to upholding the standards we expect from our community. We will continue to work with our students and fans to ensure that the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family.”
