What Kalani Sitake said about BYU, West Virginia
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake spoke to the media on Monday as his team turned the page from the Colorado game and shifted focus to this week’s home matchup against West Virginia.
Breaking down Colorado game
Sitake said the Cougars didn’t play within themselves early, particularly on defense, and credited Colorado’s schemes for putting pressure on his team. He acknowledged too many mistakes but emphasized that it was a valuable moment for the program to battle through adversity and still secure the win.
“I thought Colorado did a great job in their game plan and strategy. We made a lot of mistakes, but we found a way to get a win. I feel good about where we’re at right now and what we can fix moving forward,” Sitake said.
Respect for Rich Rodriguez and WVU
Sitake spoke highly of West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez, calling him innovative and creative, and praised his long-standing impact on the game. He noted the Mountaineers’ injuries but expects them to be ready.
“Anybody that knows anything about college football saw what Rich Rod was doing back in the day. He ran a great program and just innovative offense that a lot of programs started to use,” Sitake said.
He also recalled competing against Rodriguez during his time coaching out west and said he anticipates a difficult test.
Showing respect with state flags
Sitake was asked about BYU’s tradition of carrying the opposing state’s flag onto the field. He explained it was a gesture of respect that dates back to lessons he learned under legendary coach Lavell Edwards.
“When we decide to run out the state flag of our opponents, it’s usually just to show them we respect them and that we realize that they’re much like us,” he said.
Preparing for WVU’s quarterback situation
With West Virginia using multiple quarterbacks this season, Sitake said BYU will prepare for all options.
“They’ve used a bunch of quarterbacks. They’re all athletic, they can run, they could throw and they know the system,” Sitake said.
Other personnel notes
Sitake said he’s confident in BYU’s depth at running back despite some injuries.
“We got guys that can run the ball. There’s a lot of guys that we feel good about in that room and they’re probably just not common names,” he said.
He also pointed to linebacker Max Alford, the son of the late Aaron Alford, and praised defensive lineman Bodie Schoonover.
“We’ve always known that Bodie has a talent to disrupt and do some really good things for us on the D-line. He’s so big and he’s so fast that he could play D-end and can also play inside,” Sitake said.
Facing West Virginia
Sitake closed by noting that while his past experience against Rodriguez provides some familiarity, the WVU head coach is constantly evolving.
“He’s an innovator. He knows how to put points on the board and we’ve got to figure out a way to make it difficult for him and his offense,” Sitake said.
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