Sanders suggested the chants came from young, intoxicated fans and were not representative of the university.
The Big 12 Conference fined Colorado $50,000 for the hateful and discriminatory language.
The incidents occurred at Colorado’s 24-21 home loss to Brigham Young University.
Colorado football coach Deion Sanders issued an apology Tuesday to Brigham Young University for the profane anti-Mormon chants during last week’s game in Boulder and said they probably came from “young kids” who were probably “intoxicated and high simultaneously.”
The chants also drew a public reprimand and $50,000 fine Tuesday from the Big 12 Conference.
Sanders made the comments at his weekly news conference in Boulder after his team lost to BYU 24-21. Colorado officials on Sunday condemned the chants that came from the stands at Folsom Field Saturday, which included a chant that said, “(Expletive) the Mormons.”
After the game late Saturday, Sanders wasn’t aware of any chants. He commented on them for the first time Tuesday.
“On behalf of CU, on behalf of our athletic department, we would like to apologize to our opponents from a week ago for whatever derogatory statements were made by our fans,” Sanders said. “That’s not indicative of who we are. Our student body, our kids are phenomenal. So don’t indict us just based on a group of young kids that probably was intoxicated and high simultaneously. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that as well. But the truth gonna make you free. But BYU, we love you, we appreciate you, and we support you. God bless.”
The Big 12 issued a statement from commissioner Brett Yormark announcing the fine.
‘Hateful and discriminatory language has no home in the Big 12 Conference,’ the statement said. ‘While we appreciate Colorado apologizing for the chants that occurred in the stands during Saturday’s game, the Big 12 maintains zero tolerance for such behavior. Colorado will receive a $50,000 fine in accordance with our Conference policies.’
The chants also drew the attention of Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, who said on social media site X it “was hours upon hours of religious slurs and bigotry.”
Colorado is 2-3 season and next plays Saturday at TCU. No. 23 BYU is 4-0 and hosts West Virginia on Friday.
BYU is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com