BYU football: Kalani Sitake takes firm stand on schedule difficulty

BYU Football Head Coach Kalani Sitake stood firm when asked about the Cougars’ difficult schedules. He know’s it’s the only way to move forward.

On Monday, Kalani Sitake made his opinion clear on the difficulty of BYU football’s future schedules. When asked about it, the head coach was direct and to the point.

He stated, “I’m really just trying to get the program ready and trying to get it to a place where we can have a lot of success. That means we have to play the best and I’m glad Tom (Holmoe) is getting a bunch of games ready for us.”

It’s evident that the commitment to this model of scheduling exists. Both the athletic director and the head coach are driving this action.

Whether it’s the right decision or not, it shows an incredible amount of courage on the part of Kalani Sitake. He deserves praise for the stance. Nobody knows better than him what happens if this turns sour.

Now fans have a choice placed before them: embrace and support this approach by giving it a chance, or bicker and complain about how it’s impossible to gain success through it.

The latter is better. This pessimistic attitude only hurts the hope of those involved and further cements the program’s perpetual mediocrity.

Done Before

Cougar Nation can take pride and have faith in their team and the possibility that this will work. It isn’t like no other programs have been made such a transition in the past. One only needs to look back eight years to when TCU and Utah left the Mountain West for their respective Power 5 Conferences.

The first few seasons they stumbled through their schedules, but with time they were able to position themselves as equals in their respective leagues. As much as BYU football fans hate to admit it, the Utes proved that what the Cougar program is trying to do can be done.

Sitake commented, “I would just go back to my time when we moved (from) the Mountain West into the PAC 12 when I was at Utah. You couldn’t do anything about the schedule and you just had to prepare for it. It just forces you to be ready.”

Who better to lead the charge than someone who has already made the transition. Although this may be unfamiliar territory for most, recognize that it isn’t for Kalani Sitake. As the defensive coordinator, he was an integral part of their advancement.

Growing pains are unavoidable. Even if the Cougars were added to a Power 5 league, they would still go through this process. Present and future BYU football schedules are no more difficult than what they would be in the Big 12 or PAC 12.

Many are failing to see the vision of Sitake and Holmoe. These individuals assume that to be a Power 5 program, the university must be in a Power 5 Conference. That notion was put to bed by Notre Dame, which belongs to no conference but is a Power 5 program.

BYU is not Notre Dame. We all know that, but that’s not the point. The Irish blazed the trail and proved that the path can lead to this end.

Can the Cougars do it…. why not? Instead of complaining about scheduling, supporters might focus on determining the deficiencies that prevent this desired development.

Forward, Not Back

The Boise State approach to schedules served the Cougars well the 80’s and 90’s, but it’s best to leave the philosophy behind. Insisting on a return to this style is only damaging the program and its commitment to the direction it is going.

The moment has arrived where Cougar Nation should accept the possibility that it might never receive a Power 5 invite. And though it might happen, going forward as if it won’t is the sensible thing to do. Just like Sitake says, “… if you talk about wanting to be in a Power 5, you should probably get a schedule that matches that.”

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Are there risks? Absolutely, but it’s a gamble Sitake is willing to take. And why would he take it?Because he believes they can do it.

It is time for the program to make the next step of progression, instead of taking a step back. It’s the difference between catching up with those they’ve been behind and getting left behind by those who they’ve been equal with.

Change is imminent, and waiting with crossed fingers for a Power 5 invite is not the answer. Neither is dumbing down a schedule in hopes of securing a few New Year’s Six appearances. They’ve done that before, and just ask Boise State how that is working for them now.

Concerning this matter, Sitake said, “Traditionally I think that we’ve had easier schedules and I think you can accomplish more (when) you know where you sit.” Later he continued, “I think you can get a lot more from playing somebody that can beat you than knowing you can win in a game.”

Returning to the glory the same way as yesteryear is impossible, because that landscape no longer exists. Another cold hard fact – it wouldn’t be enough to put them on the same level as the University of Utah. The one way BYU football can do this is by succeeding at the method that’s presently in use.

If you are content with being Utah’s little brother for eternity, but winning a few big games and occasionally being ranked, than yes, ease up the schedule.

If your aspirations are to gain the status of the Utes and other power programs, then stay the course.

This is why Tom Holmoe and Kalani Sitake adopted this philosophy. There is no other way, and the schedule is a deliberate result of this.

So here comes an invitation to join the band wagon. It could take you to the bottom of a canyon, but it’s that glimmer of hope of reaching unimaginable heights that keeps you on this train. Give your support and faith to the cause, and hold judgement until after the endeavor.

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