BYU Assistant Calls Kalani Sitake The ‘Ted Lasso Of College Football’
Oct 4, 2021, 12:55 AM
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake and the rest of the BYU sideline begin to celebrate as they defeat Utah in an NCAA football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. BYU won 26-17, ending a nine-game losing streak to the Utes. (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Who knew BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake was the gridiron version of everyone’s favorite TV character Ted Lasso?
That’s according to BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. Roderick drew that comparison with Yahoo’s Pete Thamel.
“The Western team w/ the best shot to reach the CFP is BYU…overcoming injuries and figuring out ways to beat Arizona, ASU and Utah.
‘It all comes back to Kalani Sitake,’ said BYU OC Aaron Roderick. ‘He’s like the Ted Lasso of college football coaches.’” https://t.co/NROPf4JFKu
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) October 3, 2021
“It all comes back to Kalani Sitake,” said Roderick to Yahoo! on how BYU is overcoming injuries starting 5-0. “He’s like the Ted Lasso of college football coaches. He’s so positive all the time. Our players love playing for him and coming in the building every day. Practice is fun and meetings are fun. He’s created such a fun environment to play and coach in.”
What Sitake has done during his time at BYU has been impressive. But, of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Just two years ago, pockets of the fan base were ready to part ways with the former Cougar fullback. But once he got his recruiting classes in and experienced coaches on his staff, the success has made BYU a national storyline.
Kalani Sitake makes BYU football fans “Believe”
To take a page from Ted Lasso, BYU fans suddenly “believe” the program can reach the highest levels in the sport. Something they haven’t felt since LaVell Edwards was roaming the sidelines.
I believe in believe.
— Ted Lasso (@TedLasso) January 15, 2021
Going back to the start of the 2020 season, BYU has posted a record of 16-1. The one loss was against an undefeated Coastal Carolina team that BYU scheduled 48 hours prior, and they were one yard short from a victory.
Only the defending National Champions, Alabama Crimson Tide, have a better record than Sitake’s BYU program in that stretch. That’s cause for a tasty pink box of Lasso biscuits if you ask me.
BYU now sits at No. 10 in both the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls. With notable games against Boise State, Baylor, Virginia, and USC remaining on the schedule, BYU could make a memorable run like AFC Richmond.
BYU plays confident and loose under Sitake, and the players want to run through a wall for the man. What other school can maintain a talent like Baylor Romney as a backup quarterback? Sitake’s program can do that, and it’s leading to one of the best stories this season again in college football.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
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