Providence’s athletic director apologizes for offensive chants directed at BYU during the game

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (KUTV) – Providence College’s vice president and athletic director apologized to Brigham Young University’s men’s basketball team for “unacceptable chants from our student body.”

The offensive chants were directed at members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a game against BYU on Tuesday night.

Steven Napolillo said the incident does not represent what Providence stands for.

“When this was brought to my attention, I went to the student body and made them stop,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “This does not reflect who Providence College is and what we stand for. We’re sorry.”

Providence defeated BYU 83-64 in the Big 12-Big East battle, their first win over BYU in three tries.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened to BYU.

In September 2022, the interim president of the University of Oregon released a letter condemning intolerance after a group of fans were filmed shouting offensive chants aimed at BYU at a football game.

The BYU athletic department accepted the school’s apology in a statement to 2News from associate athletic director for communications and media strategy Jon McBride.

“We recognize that this isolated behavior does not reflect the values ​​of the University of Oregon. As we all work together to address incidents that divide us, we are grateful for those who are willing to come together to build bridges of understanding,” he said.

In November 2021, USC Athletics apologized to BYU on Twitter after an offensive chant rang out from the Trojans’ student section during a football game.

“Our student section’s offensive chant directed at BYU during last night’s football game is not consistent with our Trojan values,” USC said. “It was in poor taste and we apologize to the BYU program.”

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