Utah kicker Dillon Curtis fanned the flames of the Holy War ahead of the Utes’ rivalry clash against Brigham Young University on Saturday.
The Utes traveled to LaVell Edwards Stadium to face the BYU Cougars in one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, dubbed the ‘Holy War.’
Yet, before the matchup even kicked off, Curtis sparked tensions when he was accused of religious disrespect.
Ahead of every game, BYU, a Mormon school, leads a prayer in the stadium. On Saturday, almost the entirety of the crowd and players from both sides showed respect for the moment in reflection.
Most bowed their heads in prayer, while others at least momentarily stopped what they were doing to observe the blessing.
However, there was one notable person who didn’t pause to recognize the moment of prayer – Curtis.
Utah kicker Dillon Curtis sparked religious fury ahead of the Utes’ clash against BYU
Curtis was captured continuing to warmup during the Cougars’ pregame prayer
Despite the silence and stillness that blanketed LaVell Edwards Stadium, the Utah kicker continued to get his pregame reps in.
Curtis was captured in a video practicing his kicks as the clip panned around the stands showing the attendees with their heads bowed.
His refusal to pause sparked fury among BYU fans online who accused him of poor sportsmanship and disrespect.
‘That was trashy…I sit down by the visitor section and they were yacking it up during the prayer as well. It was very intentional,’ one fan claimed, responding to the video of Curtis’s warmups. ‘They are the only fan base that does this. Even Stanford fans had enough respect to be quite during the prayer.’
‘Probably explains why Coach Whittingham wouldn’t let him kick during the game. How disrespectful & not to byu but god,’ another complained. ‘His coach claims to be a member but allowed this?’
‘That’s extremely disrespectful,’ a third social media user fumed.
There is no evidence to suggest that Curtis, who is originally from Murray, Utah, is a member of the Latter Day Saints.
It is also likely that as a kicker Curtis was assigned a certain time to warmup on the field ahead of the game.
BYU, a Mormon school, traditionally leads a prayer before games at LaVell Edwards Stadium
Furious fans hit pout at the kicker on social media, accusing him of unsportsmanlike behavior
The Cougars went on to clinch a 24-21 win over the Utes to remain unbeaten and beat their Holy War rivals for a third straight time.
BYU has won three straight in the rivalry series for the first time since winning four straight from 1989 to 1992.
And some disgruntled Cougars fans claimed that Curtis’s ‘disrespect’ was the reason behind their defeat.
‘One reason why they lost,’ one social media user claimed responding to the video, while another agreed posting: ‘That’s exactly why they loss (sic).’
‘This is why [Coach Whittingham] didn’t let him kick the three field goals on 4th down – he knew it was a bad omen!,’ another alleged, referring to Utah’s head coach.
‘So that’s who cursed the Utes’, quipped another, while one asked: ‘Is this why they kept going for it on 4th down?’
