BYU judgment call

The camera never lies.

It just doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Prior to the Utah-BYU game in Provo, Feb. 28, a Ute fan was ushered from his seat in the BYU student section for wearing a Utah tee shirt.

BYU has a policy that fans wearing gear from the opposing team can’t sit in the lower bowl student section. The reason, BYU officials say, is to avoid an incident similar to the fight at the MWC tourney last year.

BYU spokesman Duff Tittle said fans are ushered from the student section every game. A half dozen or so other fans were moved from their seats that same day, he said. This one just happened to be caught by a cell camera and transferred to YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AJ1YWsmz6Q).

In all cases, they’re sitting in a section reserved for holders of BYU’s all-sports cards, so they’re moved to upper bowl seats, farther from the court.

That’s BYU’s choice. It might look bad, but the school feels it’s better than a fight.

At the same time, as BYU fans chanted “Kick him out!” an events staffer high-fived and hugged the crowd after the fan was removed.

That wasn’t smart.

It could have caused a fight.

It’s one thing to move people for safety, it’s another for the ushers or security personnel to celebrate.