Providence AD ​​apologizes to BYU for offensive singing

PROVO, Utah — BYU basketball fell victim to an offensive chant during Tuesday night’s game in Providence.

Providence’s student section chanted a message about people belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU’s ownership group is the Church of Latter-day Saints.

A BYU fan was in attendance at the game captured video of the offensive chanting from Providence’s student section and shared it on social media (warning: explicit language).

I would like to apologize @BYUMBBtheir coaches and their institution for unacceptable chants from our student body this evening. When this was brought to my attention, I went to the student body and made them stop. This does not reflect who Providence College is and what we stand for. We’re sorry.

— Steven Napolillo (@nap16) December 4, 2024

Providence athletic director Steven Napolillo apologized to BYU.

“I would like to apologize to @BYUMBB, their coaches and their institution for the unacceptable chants from our student body this evening. When this was brought to my attention, I went to the student body and made them stop. This does not reflect who Providence College is and what we stand for. We’re sorry,” Napolillo wrote on X.

Providence College is a private, faith-based Catholic university in Providence, Rhode Island.

BYU was making its first trip to Providence since the 1981 NCAA Tournament. They had never faced the brothers on their home field before. Providence won the game 83-64. The matchup was part of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle.

This is the first time in recent years that BYU basketball has received offensive applause against them.

BYU football was the subject of similar calls at USC in 2021 and at Oregon in 2022. Both institutions apologized the following day following the shoutouts.

BYU Basketball doesn’t have another road game until next month when they face nationally ranked Houston in Big 12 play on Jan. 4.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12-3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

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