Eye on the Y: Kalani Sitake tells a story from BYU's 2020 loss to Coastal Carolina, and in doing so BYU introduces itself to the Big 12 in a significant way.
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake takes the field before football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Baylor Bears at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.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.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?“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.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dolphins stranded in Louisiana pond during 2021’s Hurricane Ida rescued, returned to oceanThe dolphins were presumed out-of-habitat due to storm surge and coastal flooding from Ida.
Read more »
Delta flight with 96 passengers aboard screeches across runway in North Carolina emergency landingIt was a Boeing belly flop.
Read more »
Judge considering blocking parts of North Carolina abortion law won't halt broader 12-week banA federal judge says she won’t block temporarily a large swath of North Carolina’s abortion law taking effect this weekend that includes a near-ban after 12 weeks of pregnancy
Read more »
North Carolina Man Celebrates 100th Birthday in the CockpitIt’s a bird! It’s a plane! Close. It’s John Hartness -- “Uncle John” from North Carolina -- in the cockpit celebrating his 100 birthday.
Read more »
Man faces felony charges for 'unprovoked' attack on dog in North Carolina park, police sayThe dog's owner had been playing pickleball when a man approached and 'eviscerated' her dog, Asheville police said.
Read more »