UCF got hit with a $100,000 fine from the Big 12 League. This isn’t for some on-field drama or a player going rogue, either. This is all because of a viral, vulgar chant some students let rip during last week’s football game against Brigham Young University. The Big 12 isn’t messing around when it comes to fan conduct, and this fine sends a huge signal.
The Chant That Blew Up Online and Got Security Involved
Students could be heard yelling “F the Mormons” loud and clear. This wasn’t just a one-off, either. It started before kickoff and kept going well into the third quarter. Trevor Lawson, a senior at UCF, was in the middle section of the stadium, not even in the student area, and he confirmed you could hear it. He even mentioned that campus security had to remove several students from the stadium after the chants continued. There were like six announcements asking them to stop, so clearly, it was a persistent issue that just wouldn’t die down.
And of course, in today’s world, it went viral. A clip of the chant got posted on X, and it racked up over 200,000 views since Saturday. When something blows up like that, the league has to take notice, and clearly, they did.
The Big 12 Drops the Hammer, UCF Reviews Options
The message from the Big 12 League is pretty stark: “The Big 12 remains committed to providing a respectful environment for student athletes, coaches and fans. Discriminatory conduct will not be tolerated.” That’s a zero-tolerance stance right there, and a $100,000 fine backs it up. Logan Hartsom, a junior at UCF, nailed it when he said, “I think it’s unacceptable. I don’t think it is okay to be calling out, especially the Mormon church, anything religiously affiliated.” That’s the bottom line, right?
Now, UCF’s athletic department spokesman said the school is “reviewing its options” in the wake of the fine. You have to wonder what those options even are. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist. It’s a huge statement from the Big 12 about what they expect from their fan bases. This whole situation is going to set a serious precedent for how fan behavior, especially anything discriminatory, is handled across college sports. We’ll be watching to see how UCF responds to this kind of pressure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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