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BYU quarterback Jaren Hall poses for a photo with Cosmo and fans after the 35-31 Cougar win over USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU fans celebrate after the 35-31 Cougar win over USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU football players take the field before the 35-31 Cougar win over USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU sophomore wide receiver Puka Nacua celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the 35-31 Cougar win over USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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The best part of being part of college athletics is having the support of students and alumni.

But the passion of fans can be a two-edged sword, as the BYU football team saw during its 35-31 win at USC on Saturday.

First, the good.

When asked after the victory about the fact that no Cougar teams (football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball) lost a head-to-head contest in what is being called “No-Loss November,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake told Cougar Sports Network that the credit goes to those who support Cougar athletics.

“It’s awesome,” Sitake said. “As I said earlier, that’s the fans. The fans can will us to win. That’s every sport, every activity. It doesn’t matter what it is. The fans are amazing and we felt it tonight. We felt it all year long at home games and at away games. I speak for all the student athletes when I say that they feel it. Their coaches feel it.”

His message to Cougar Nation was a request to continue with the great support.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Sitake told the Cougar Sports Network. “Man, you’re awesome. We love you guys and hope you enjoyed your November. Let’s make November more common in all the other months as well.”

But while BYU has impressed observers across the country with the dedication and commitment of its supporters, both in Provo and wherever the team plays, there have also been some ugly moments.

Video captured items being thrown at Cougar players late in a win at Utah State (as well as athletes responding in inappropriate ways) and Sitake said that someone on the BYU sideline was hit by a burrito during the 34-17 win at Georgia Southern last week.

While those situations can be dangerous, things at USC deteriorated into what could be construed as hate speech since it was directed at a group’s religious beliefs.

At some point during the game, individuals in the Trojan student section reportedly started chanting, “F— the Mormons!” a reference to the historical nickname of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns BYU.

The chant resulted in USC issuing a public apology on Sunday on its @USC_Athletics Twitter account: “The offensive chant from our student section directed towards BYU during the football game last night does not align with our Trojan values.

“It was distasteful and we apologize to the BYU program.”

Part of the irony of the chant is that there are both Trojan athletes, including starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, and members of the USC coaching staff who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Vic So’oto, Trojan defensive line coach and a former Cougar athlete, added his apologies via his @Coach_Sooto Twitter account: “I did not hear the chant but I know it does not reflect the Trojan family that I’ve come to know and love. Sincere apologies from an alum @BYU @BYUfootball @kalanifsitake @TomHolmoe

“All love. Hard fought game.

“Fight On✌”

The reality is that a small percentage of individuals at football games say and/or do things that can be hurtful and offensive — and BYU isn’t exempt. Utah and Utah State fans have frequently reported have negative experiences when they have come to LaVell Edwards Stadium.

While it is virtually impossible to eliminate such actions, universities and fans have made efforts to minimize poor sportsmanship and hateful language, which in turn makes games more enjoyable for supporters of both teams.

Coming from behind

BYU recorded its second win of the season when trailing in the fourth quarter.

“I was really proud of the guys,” Sitake said. “You look at the stats and we were down a bunch of guys on defense. We had to rely on our depth. We knew that we were going to get USC’s best shot. This is their Senior Night and credit to their coaches and credit to their players for stepping up and being really competitive. I’m glad that we’re able to fight back and get this win because it was looking pretty bad. But once we regained our composure I thought the guys rallied back and we felt really positive about getting this win.”

BYU also beat Virginia after trailing 49-45 going into the 4th. BYU trailed USC 31-28 in the 4th quarter.

Wins, wins, wins

BYU won 10 games for the second consecutive season for the first time since the 2008 and 2009 seasons. It is the 18th season where the Cougars have had at least 10 wins.

BYU also set a program record by winning six games against Power 5 competitions. In addition to a home win over Virginia, the Cougars went 5-0 against the Pac-12 this season, beating Arizona, Utah, Arizona State, Washington State and USC.

Extra points

BYU won the toss and deferred their decision to the second half. USC got a big return on the opening kickoff to set up a field goal, but the Cougars responded with a TD drive on the first possession of the third quarter … Alumni flags were carried by former wide receiver Aleva Hifo, former running back Curtis Brown and former defensive back Tim McTyer … the BYU team flags were carried by Talmage Gunther, Tyler Batty, Maguire Anderson, Sione Finau and Tyler Little … the announced attendance at the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was 55,926.

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