It’s “Big Week” at BYU, a weeklong series of events leading up to the Cougars officially starting their Big 12 era on July 1.
And Kalani Sitake kicked things off in a fashion true to the university’s ethos.
The head football coach stood up to the dais inside the Marriott Center on Sunday night, a stage set up for a devotional, and spoke on faith.
It isn’t uncommon for BYU’s head football coach to speak in a religious setting. Sitake often gives fireside chats — a speech in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broadcast to members and non-members carrying a faith-based message.
But this speech, and the timing of it, felt significant. Because for a while, some outsiders debated how BYU would present itself when it entered a Power Five conference. Would it have to change at all?
This felt like BYU answering that it wouldn’t.
“For us, we started talking about this six months ago,” senior athletic director David Almodova said when asked how BYU wanted to highlight itself in its introduction to the league. “Our goal was we wanted to connect with [fans].”
“For those fans that have been there lifetime, or just starting out, we just wanted to make sure they felt a part of this. ... We started on Friday night at Miller Park and at the stadium with movie night. Obviously we wanted to focus our attention [Sunday] on the Savior. Using our student-athletes to speak and [Kalani] Sitake.”
Each new Big 12 member will have the chance this week to showcase different aspects of their school in the lead up to July 1. BYU will host an event each day, headlined by a party on the football practice fields on Saturday when it officially joins the Big 12.
But it started this week with having four athletes — including wide receiver Chase Roberts and defensive end Tyler Batty — speaking in a religious setting.
Sitake rounded it off, telling a story about BYU’s infamous loss to Coastal Carolina in 2020. He spoke about how he called his wife after the game and she was happy. He didn’t understand why. She told him to watch linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi’s post-game interview and hung up the phone.
“Watch it and call me back,” Sitake recalled her saying.
Sitake said he saw the power of faith in Kaufusi’s interview as his captain cried and talked about his church.
“We’ll get better from this,” Kaufusi said. “But I’m just proud of our team. Our backs were against the wall, but we wanted this. This is what we signed up for.”
Quick Hits
• As June winds down, how does BYU’s 2024 recruiting class look? Plus, a look at why QB Maealiuaki Smith is the name everyone should be watching.
• Kedon Slovis is ranked in the middle of the pack for Big 12 quarterbacks going into next year. Why that feels about right and where the QB landscape is in the Big 12.
Around the Big 12
Baylor — Former Baylor coach Matt Rhule says Nebraska is at a “better jumping off point” than the Bears were when he arrived in Waco.
UCF — Will be waiting until July to hear from a handful of top recruits.
Cincinnati — Where do the Bearcats fall in the new Big 12 hierarchy?
Houston — Got its first four-star recruit of the 2024 class, a win for Big 12 recruiting.
Iowa State — Stole a legacy recruit away from Oklahoma.
Kansas — Just had some new renovations to Memorial Stadium leaked.
Kansas State — Just had a former offensive lineman go viral for a summer video.
Oklahoma — Will a defensive improvement in 2023 hinge on the defensive line?
Oklahoma State — Where does BYU rank among the new schools OSU will see this year?
TCU — An NFL alum talks state of the Horned Frogs.
Texas — After a slow start to the 2024 class, the Longhorns are finding their footing.
Texas Tech — The basketball program is hosting a West Virginia transfer after Bob Huggins’ departure.
West Virginia — Why Huggins needed to go.
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