Kalani Sitake shares how BYU can establish identity after losing Jake Retzlaff

BYU is a different team than they were previously projected to be with the outcome of the offseason storyline involving QB Jake Retzlaff. That said, the Cougars are still the same based on the core of who they are and how their leaders are going to help them to be this fall.

Kalani Sitake addressed what his team’s identity would be now without Retzlaff anymore while at Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday in Frisco. He said that’s still to be determined for Brigham Young as his players, namely his captains, help one another work through that and decide who they are in the aftermath of the news regarding their now former starting quarterback.

“I think the identity is still a work in progress,” said Sitake. “I think you have to have a foundation that’s set on some principles and you have to have a mission that you want, or your program, to follow through with. So we have all those in place but I think there’s room for flexibility for our team to find their own identity. That’s usually done with the leaders of the team itself. I would love for me to speak for them but you have five young men that can do that.”

“I think, as we go throughout the year, we’ll start to establish our identity not only on the field but off the field,” Sitake said. “I’m looking forward to the leadership. There’s so much excitement and energy around our program and that’s a big part of the players and how they conduct themselves.”

To recap, Retzlaff, a team captain and their starter last season, was accused of sexual assault in civil suit back at the end of May. That civil suit has since reportedly been withdrawn by the woman who originally filed it. However, while that took away some of his legal issues, his recounting of what happened still violated the honor code set at BYU. That was to lead to a seven-game suspension per reports, with Retzlaff instead apparently deciding to eventually leave the school by transferring out with that portal process yet to begin to take place. Still, at some point, the expectation is that Retzlaff will no longer be in Provo.

Retzlaff spent the past two seasons at BYU. That includes last season where he posted 57.9% completion for 2,947 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in passing, while also rushing for 417 yards and six touchdowns, in leading a Top-40 offense for the Cougars as the team finished at 11-2 while being in contention for the Big 12 Championship and the CFP.

Now, without him, other players will have to take his place. That’s obviously so at quarterback but also in the case of leadership roles for the roster with several key returners set to be back from last year’s team that was one of the best in school history.