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BYU football’s Kalani Sitake getting support from Andy Reid

By Nathan Cunningham

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs is seen before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs is seen before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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BYU football is a lowly  1-6 on the season. While these are troubled waters for second-year head coach Kalani Sitake, he’s getting help.

One of the cool things about BYU football is the history of great players and coaches. LaVell Edwards’ coaching tree is a giant sequoia.

And one of those branches – current Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid – has apparently been supporting Kalani Sitake as he navigates through this down season.

Sitake told Jeff Call of the Deseret News:

“Andy Reid’s been a good mentor to me since LaVell’s passing. He’s kind of filled that role a bit.”

Of course, the legendary Edwards passed away last December. And Sitake was always very open about what his former coach meant to him on and off the field.

After all, everyone needs a mentor. Someone to offer support and guidance.

And for Sitake, it appears that Reid has taken on that role.

I know that some people have been pretty vocal about Sitake’s struggles. Some have suggested it was a massive mistake for BYU football to let Bronco Mendenhall walk away.

But from my perspective, I think this is refreshing.

Next: BYU's Best And Worst At Mid-Season

You could argue that Mendenhall didn’t need any outside encouragement because his team was often winning. On the flipside, one could say that he never had any interest in embracing Edwards and the history of BYU football.

You could argue that Mendenhall wouldn’t be 1-6 this season. On the flipside, you could argue that he never really had a murderer’s row of LSU, Wisconsin and Utah.

Regardless, this is the conclusion I’ve reached: Both are good coaches, and they just go about things different.

But, I like that Sitake is getting this kind of advice. Because that means there are other coaches that really care for him as a man.

Sitake also mentioned that Kyle Whittingham, Gary Andersen and Norm Chow had also reached out.

Just because people are offering advice, it doesn’t always mean you should (or can) take it. However, I think that Sitake’s ability to be a sponge will only help him. After all, he’s only been a head coach for about 20 months. The wins will come.

Listening to an NFL coach with 178 career wins can’t hurt.

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