BYU operator needs to get the message

As BYU readies for its final rounds as a member of the Mountain West Conference, a maverick scoreboard operator gave all opponents — inside and outside the MWC — a reason to dislike the Cougars.

Following BYU’s 78-72 Wednesday win over Utah State, the phrase “Dear UT St. Enjoy the LOSS! Love, Your Big Brother BYU” was flashed on the message screen.

The taunt, reportedly written by a student employee who works with the university IT department, offended Aggie fans and prompted an apology from BYU’s publicity department. The student was reportedly a substitute operator.

As hard as BYU president Cecil Samuelson and A.D. Tom Holmoe have worked toward civility in athletics, this sort of thing doesn’t help. In fact, it’s one reason there has been so much criticism of the Cougars going independent in football, and leaving the MWC for the West Coast Conference in basketball- — the perception of arrogance.

THE SCOREBOARD, NOT JIMMER FREDETTE, DID THE TAUNTING

One thing that has heightened the BYU-Utah animosity is the sides calling one another “Little Brother.” The inference is that one school is inferior and unworthy.

At most schools, it would be considered mere prank, though I don’t recall ever seeing such an occurrence anywhere else. It’s one thing to have fans go over the top with signs or catcalls. But it’s a different thing to do so on the message screen. That implies an endorsed by the university.

That’s too bad. When I was at Notre Dame, last week, I had the director of ushers tell me how wonderfully he felt the Irish had been treated by BYU and its fans. I’ve heard that from a number of schools. But I’m not sure Aggie fans can concur.

People are used to posting funny, rude or provocative messages on Facebook, Twitter or Internet message boards. But what might be acceptable there is unacceptable on the message screen of a major basketball program. If the university doesn’t fire the offending operator, it should at least take away the controls. Forever.

He can send the message to his heart’s content on Twitter.