Shut ties in BYU-Utah rivalry ‘makes it much more enjoyable’ for coaches, participant

PROVO — At BYU and Utah, the 2 sometimes-estranged and often-strained brothers who’ve the identical institutional founder in Brigham Young, the similarities are sometimes nearer than the variations.

The Twenty third-ranked Utes (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) are led by a former BYU and All-WAC linebacker in Kyle Whittingham, who when confronted with the selection of retirement or turning round an ailing offense following a 5-7 first yr within the Big 12 turned to New Mexico offensive coordinator and former BYU quarterback Jason Beck.

No. 15 BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) is led by Kalani Sitake, who performed fullback at BYU underneath the identical legendary coach as Whittingham in LaVell Edwards, however lower his enamel as a coach in Salt Lake City.

Sitake met each of his coordinators in his time on the U. in former BYU huge receiver and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and defensive coordinator Jay Hill, a one-time Utah cornerback from Lehi who coached operating backs, tight ends and particular groups earlier than an eight-year tenure as head coach at Weber State.

“There are a lot of coaches down there that were here,” Whittingham mentioned. “I’m grateful for everything they gave us; they were all outstanding for us and did an excellent job.”

Sitake has mentioned he’ll always remember the influence Whittingham had on his profession, calling him a mentor and a buddy whom he nonetheless calls and texts most weeks (besides the present one) after working with him for 10 years.

“I watched him and saw the transition that he made from going from coordinator to head coach, from the Mountain West to the Pac-12,” mentioned Sitake, who not too long ago celebrated his fiftieth birthday, “and I had a front-row seat to all of it.

“There are a number of issues that he is helped me with as a coach and in a career, and I do know that he is had a huge effect on our employees, too,” he added. “I’ll at all times have a number of love and admiration for Kyle … but additionally the connection I’ve for that college. I used to be in a position to make some unbelievable buddies that I take into account household, and meet some great folks.”

For Sitake, the myriad connections between the two programs — which extend to Justin Ena and Sione Po’uha at BYU, and BYU alums Mark Atuaia, Micah Simon and Koy Detmer Jr. at Utah, among others — is an extension of the state that both represent.

Every rivalry game, which has returned to its annual cadence and national esteem under the Big 12 banner, splits communities, neighborhoods and even some homes Saturday night — and then reunites them Sunday morning, oftentimes at church meetinghouses across the Wasatch Front.

“There will at all times be a connection there, and I’m glad that different individuals are experiencing it themselves,” said Sitake, who currently has a niece on the university’s color guard. “I’ve a number of household which have graduated from there, and I’m no completely different than lots of people within the state. It’s going to be a enjoyable rivalry sport, and we’re wanting ahead to the matchup.”

But Saturday’s game isn’t about the coaches, both program leaders agreed. It’s about the players, who join a long line of thousands of alums who have etched their names in the history of the Beehive Boot (or whatever current and former trophy is or isn’t up for grabs).

Many of them have even suited up on both sides — like John Henry Daley, the former BYU transfer out of Lone Peak High who currently leads the Big 12 with 6.5 sacks, and Keanu Tanuvasa, who started 19 of 24 games at defensive tackle for the Utes before transferring to BYU, where he has 10 tackles and a sack in six games for the Cougars.

“I believe I’m simply extraordinarily excited to have the ability to take the sector with so many people who’ve impacted my profession, each on the University of Utah and now right here at BYU,” Tanuvasa said. “Obviously, I can really feel that it is not (simply one other sport), however I’ve by no means had simply this sport circled; I’ve at all times believed that each sport deserved my full consideration.

“Now this game is circled now that it’s game week, but prior to, it’s been other-focused.”

In a rivalry so intense that the 2 colleges cannot even agree on the variety of instances it has been performed — Utah claims six video games (three wins, three losses) within the sequence when its rival was referred to as Brigham Young Academy — it is necessary to recollect the ties that bind each packages collectively.

“This is a fun game,” Sitake mentioned. “The fact that there are connections, that we’re familiar with them and they’re familiar with us, makes it even more fun.

“I believe we’re all professionals,” he added, “and when all is claimed and completed, the blokes on the sector are those making performs. I wish to suppose that we’re all skilled about it.”