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Provo • After a bone-jarring collision, BYU linebacker Butch Pau'u extends a hand to the prone UCLA running back and helps him to his feet. Defensive back Michael Davis apologizes to a Michigan State receiver after committing a pass-interference penalty. Jamaal Williams says "good job" to an MSU defensive back who gets in his face and wants to make sure the Cougar running back knows he just got caught from behind.
Who are these guys? And what happened to those BYU players from last year who were roundly criticized for taking it too far past the edge of aggressive, clean play, perhaps even getting a little dirty after the whistle?
Welcome to the kinder, gentler and more sportsmanlike BYU football program, courtesy of new head coach Kalani Sitake, who just happened to turn 41 on Monday and was celebrated by his adoring players after practice with a rousing rendition of the Happy Birthday song and presented with a birthday cake and other goodies.
Defensive end Sae Tautu said Sitake "asked us to be respectful and represent BYU" when he took over last winter, and so far the players have been able to do just that. Although three players, including Tautu, have been ejected for targeting — controversial calls that Sitake has vowed to clean up, when necessary — charges of questionable late hits or borderline cheap shots have lessened considerably after the Cougars were dogged by them last year against Nebraska, Boise State and Utah State, most notably.
"I mean, we've made an effort, but it is not anything big we've done," Tautu said Monday as the Cougars met the media to talk about Saturday's 31-14 win over Michigan State and look ahead to Friday's matchup with Mississippi State at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
"Coach Kalani and his staff asked us to be respectful and represent BYU," Tautu continued. "They've shown us so much love, that as players, we will listen to them and do what they ask. When [opposing] players say stuff to us, it is easy to not say something back, because of the respect we have for our coaching staff."
Perception is reality in many instances, and whether BYU supporters want to believe it, or not, perception that the Cougars were a renegade outfit that pushed the envelope too far — fueled by the brawl with Memphis after the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014 — was gaining steam in 2015, not dwindling.
Sitake said Monday that there has not been a conscious effort to change that perception, and this behavior has "nothing to do" with what happened in previous years under coach Bronco Mendenhall. He praised the former coach for establishing the foundation of sportsmanship and said he just wants to continue building on it.
"That's just what I believe we should do," Sitake said. "I don't believe in playing the game in anger, or with hate, and so we are going to … knock guys down, but we are going to help them up, and if they don't want help, that's fine. … We believe in great sportsmanship, and respecting the game, and what it is all about."
Pau'u, who has missed the past two games with a sprained knee and will be a game-time decision again this week against the 2-3 Bulldogs, started helping opponents up in the opener against Arizona because, he says, he was taught to do that by his parents and youth coaches. Now, other players are doing the same thing.
"Sometimes I help people up, sometimes I don't," said offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch. "We like to keep it aggressive. We like to keep it tough. We haven't fought this year. It is good. We want to keep it that way — clean team, but aggressive and mean. So clean and mean, right? Yeah."
Before last Saturday's game, BYU placed bouquets of roses on the 3- and 6-yard lines to recognize the recent deaths of former Michigan State players Mike Sadler and Mylan Hicks. BYU captains gave the roses to MSU's captains before the coin toss.
The gesture was applauded by the ABC broadcasting crew, and several websites, including ESPN.com and SI.com, praised the classy move throughout the day. MSU fans expressed appreciation on social media. Sitake said his coaching staff and BYU administrators, including Chad Lewis, hatched the idea to honor the fallen players and their families as a gesture of goodwill.
"We thought it would be good for us to support them, and their loss, and give our condolences," he said.
Quarterback Taysom Hill, who had to mourn the loss of his own brother, Dexter Hill, last spring, said it was a positive way to recognize a great program such as MSU, "show a deep sense of loss," and help players and fans everywhere realize there is more to life than football.
"I don't know what the public perception [of BYU] is," Hill said. "I know there has been the fight and whatever has happened in the past. But I think what you guys have seen of us helping people up is BYU football. We have had a few mistakes. We are not perfect. We are not claiming to be perfect by any means, but it is a high-character program. We have great kids on this team, and we will continue to work hard and help people up when they are down."
In more ways than one.
Twitter: @drewjay —
Mississippi St. at BYU
P Friday, 8:15 p.m.
TV • ESPN