Cincinnati Football Issues an Apology to BYU for Harmful Language

Cunningham said the language didn’t represent the university or the athletic department and emphasized the need to create an environment where all visiting teams are respected. That’s great, but BYU’s probably tired of hearing this song and dance.

This isn’t the first time it’s happened. BYU’s been on the receiving end of this kind of stuff more than once just this season. It’s like some fans think the team’s religious background is an open invitation for garbage behavior. Whether it’s chants from the stands or online trolls, the Cougars seem to draw more of this than most, and it’s gotten old.

Say what you want about BYU on the field, but there’s no reason for them to keep getting this kind of treatment. The fanbases that pull this stuff just end up making their own schools look bad, and at some point, athletic departments have to do more than just release statements. Maybe identify people, revoke tickets, do something that shows it’s more than just a PR move.

Props to Cunningham for at least acknowledging it, but if this is going to stop, it’s going to take more than a postgame apology and a few sentences about “not representing our values.”

At the end of the day, BYU deserves to play football without having to deal with this crap. Simple as that.