Big 12 fines UCF $100,000 for anti-LDS chants vs. BYU

UCF's big upset of No. 2 BYU now comes with a $100,000 bill. The fine itself is only half of the news. The other half is the new rule that came with it.

Chris Vannini

@ChrisVannini

News: The Big 12 has fined UCF $100,000 for anti-LDS chants during the BYU game. The conference has also updated its policy on discriminatory conduct, including: "A second confirmed incident during the same game will result in an in-game competitive penalty."

Under the updated policy, a confirmed first incident in a game is an automatic minimum $100,000 fine, followed by a formal warning so the school can deal with it on the spot. If it happens a second time in the same game, the team on the field pays for it: a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in football, or a 2-shot unsportsmanlike technical in basketball. That's a big change. Up to now a student section could chant whatever it wanted and the bill went to the athletic department weeks later. Now the chanting can cost their own team field position in a 1-score game.

The league also gave UCF credit for what it did. The Big 12 pointed to UCF's pregame protocols and to the in-game response, which included removing some of the people responsible. It said the fine money goes to student education programs. It still came down at $100,000, which tells you how fed up the conference is. Colorado and Oklahoma State were each fined $50,000 for anti-Mormon chants aimed at BYU, and commissioner Brett Yormark said in the summer that the league would have 'zero tolerance.' Doubling the price and adding a competitive penalty is the league admitting the old fines weren't working.

UCF's corner of the internet thinks the school did everything it could and got fined anyway, and that's the uncomfortable part of this ruling.

Andrew Cherico

@Andrew_Cherico

To my understanding, especially with this video from @UCFSports UCF did everything they can. Along with multiple announced warnings during the game. UCF avoids the field-storming fine but gets hit with this.

Brandon Helwig

@UCFSports

UCF did everything possible to combat this. I was there in that end zone when a couple dozen drunk students did chant it briefly. UCF had staffers ready to spot and eject those who were doing it, and the PA made an announcement at least 5 times (here's video, the yellow shirts were looking for chanters). BYU folks commented that UCF did more than any other school. When you make a big deal about it, this will virtually guarantee this continues to happen elsewhere. Everybody knows this is wrong. We don't need fines or press releases to understand that. Issue guidelines for schools to follow, similar to how UCF handled it. Eventually, drunk students will forget. This just perpetuates a never-ending loop of chants at every school BYU visits.

That's the catch: the same school won its argument over the field storm. UCF AD Terry Mohajir said the school sent the Big 12 thorough documentation of its safety preparations, including coordinated escorts for visiting players, coaches and officials, and UCF wasn't fined for fans rushing the field. Cincinnati got the same result for its own field storm after upsetting Texas Tech.

Scott Springer

@sspringersports

Per @Cunningham_UC 👀 The Big 12 has notified us that we will not be fined following Saturday’s field rush, as our safety protocols were successfully implemented and allowed the visiting team and game officials to safely exit the field following our victory over Texas Tech.
 I want to thank our staff for their tremendous preparation and execution of our safety plan, as well as our fans for respecting our opponent while celebrating an unforgettable victory at Nippert Stadium.
 As we prepare to welcome another Top 10 opponent to Nippert Stadium this Saturday, let's keep bringing the incredible energy and passion that make this place so special, while always respecting our opponents and prioritizing the safety of everyone involved.

So the Big 12 now has 2 clear rules running side by side. Storm the field all you want if the visitors and the officials get off safely. Chant at BYU about its religion and you pay 6 figures, and do it twice in one night and your team gets flagged. Cincinnati has another Top 10 opponent coming to Nippert this Saturday. Every student section in the league is about to find out whether the conference will actually throw that 15-yard flag the first time it gets a chance.