This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
First things first, Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake isn't leaving Utah to go to Hawaii with Norm Chow. This is how rumors get started. There was a big group of media members at Utah's football practice today waiting to talk to Chow and several asked to speak with Sitake who also had applied for the Hawaii job but wasn't granted an interview. Sitake took off right after practice to pick up his kids so he could be on time for a team bowling event and didn't talk to media members. His quick departure, plus coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledging that yes, there is a possibility that he could lose both coordinators this year, apparently caused some to leap to the conclusion that Sitake could be headed to Hawaii with Chow. (Whittingham also said there is the possibility Chow could stay, emphasizing that anything can happen in college athletics, which was his main point in acknowledging that sure, Sitake might get hired away too). Sitake, who didn't even know he was the main figure in a college coaching rumor mill, now is reaching out to media members assuring everyone he is not leaving the Utes for Hawaii. As Whittingham said, there always is the possibility that Sitake could be on a school's radar, after all he is a respected defensive coordinator. However, worries that he could be leaving with Chow currently are unfounded. Now, have you heard the one about Jon Bon Jovi... - Lya Wodraska