Big 12 vows to defend BYU, and everybody else

It was a no-brainer when the Big 12 called and invited BYU to join the conference in 2021. Texas and Oklahoma were leaving for the SEC, and the Big 12 needed an anchor tenant to replace them when they departed in 2024.

BYU instantly brought the conference a massive fanbase, iconic venues and a global television network. They also brought a bunch of athletes committed to be contenders for conference and national championships, and they have come a long way in a short period of time.

For another week, the Cougars remain the only athletic department in the country with every fall sport ranked in the top 20 — women’s cross country (No. 1), men’s cross country (No. 5), football (No. 8), women’s volleyball (No. 9) and women’s soccer (No. 16).

In football, not only have the Cougars gone 29-5 since the Sooners and Longhorns left, but they routinely fill their opponents’ stadiums with thousands of homegrown fans like they did last week in Orlando.

BYU has undoubtedly brought athletic value to the Big 12, and now the Big 12 is ready to defend the other values the Cougars cling to as an extension of their sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After another round of opposing fans made derogatory chants about the church, its followers and its school, and even after the Big 12’s recent push for better sportsmanship, the conference has finally seen and heard enough.

The new and aggressive response of fining a school $100,000 for a confirmed “first offense” raised an eyebrow, and penalizing the host team 15 yards for a “second offense” lifted the other one. Both are getting plenty of attention, with some calling the 15-yard penalty “unenforceable” by NCAA rules.

Either way, BYU finally has someone who has their back. It’s nice — and long overdue.

For many, including this writer, it has been a strange study of human hypocrisy where groups in public can attack one religion in the most vile way, while other religions, races or creeds remain passionately “off-limits.”

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is done with that. His is a quest to defend decency for Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State, BYU and everybody else under his watch. Give him credit.

I’m not sure if it will work, but at least the conference is offended enough and bold enough to take a stand. The alternative of doing nothing just keeps it going.

BYU values the Big 12, and the Big 12 values BYU’s values. It’s nice to have a partner who is willing to act like one.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” shouldn’t have to be a parent’s pregame pep talk to their kids as their team takes the field.

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.