Mitchell: High Profile Or Not Criticism ‘Cuts You To Your Soul’
Oct 16, 2019, 4:27 PM | Updated: 4:33 pm
Brigham Young University Athletic Director Tom Holme, (L) listens to BYU's new head football coach, Kalani Sitake, (R), at a press conference on December 21, 2015 in Provo, Utah. Stake who played for BYU in the 90's will become BYU's 13 head coach. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU head coach Kalani Sitake is in a tough spot with the Cougar football team struggling at 2-4 and fans are letting him have it. A former NFL quarterback cautioned fans against being too harsh.
Supporters are frustrated that the season is not going as planned and it could get worse before it gets better with injuries to quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Jaren Hall.
KSL’s UnRivaled hosts Alex Kirry and Scott Mitchell differ on if, how, or when criticize a head coach. Mitchell was in the NFL for 12 years and has heard it all when he was not playing well as a starting quarterback.
Kirry is on the other side – if you are in a high-profile position then it is fair game to critique the job performance.
It’s time. Holmoe needs to fire Sitake then retire. We are two miracles away from being winless. Tuiaki is terrible. Kalani was a gamble and it didn’t pay off. The ship is sinking fast . Make #BYUFOOTBALL great again . Andy Reid come on!!
— Jason P (@jasonpbyu) October 12, 2019
“I think that people who don’t do well at a really, really high paid position like a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a quarterback of an NFL, or a head coach of a college football team,” Kirry said on KSL’s UnRivaled. “The criticism is part of the job description.”
There is a responsibility to be had when the person at the top isn’t getting the job done. There is going to have to be someone to blame and ultimately it goes to the face of the organization nearly every single time and in this case, it is Sitake.
“I Have Lived It And It Is Awful”
Being a starting quarterback in the NFL has its perks like fans, fame and fortune. Those three things are only there when the team and players are performing well, but fans will turn on you instantly if things start to go downhill, Mitchell told.
This is something Mitchell has first-hand experience with when he was a quarterback in the NFL.
Midseason #BYU football report card is in and … well, there's work to be done. https://t.co/xO7lmcV016
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 16, 2019
“I have been in that situation and I want to sit here and say, ‘it never bothered me and I know it’s part of the deal and accept that responsibility,'” Mitchell said. “I have heard [USC head coach] Clay Helton say, ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than here.’ I get it and am with him.”
Those times are bad and can lead to feeling hurt and a lack of self-worth. It doesn’t matter how big your house is or what fancy cars you have, because none of that can fix people hating you – and saying it out loud.
“I am going to tell you, it is not fun at all for a minute and I don’t care how much money you make or don’t make. When people say, ‘you are terrible, we want you gone.’ It cuts you to your soul and I have lived it and it is awful.”
Mitchell had this very thing happen to him when he was with the Detriot Lions.
Here it is! My #TOP5 @NFL quarterbacks for the 2019 season… @TomBrady didn't make the list 😲https://t.co/TVir2IB5zv
— Helmets Off Podcast (@helmetsoffshow) June 8, 2019
“I got so paranoid about going out in public,” Mitchell said about some of his time in Detroit. “I got used to not making contact with anyone, if I am in a public place it is a very quick visit and I head straight to the exit and do not stop or talk. People will catch your eye and know ‘I know who you are.’ All the time I had people come up to me ‘you are horrendous.'”
More KSL UnRivaled:
- Kalani Sitake’s Mood, Body Language Is Mirroring 2017
- Forget Stats, Just Enjoy Your Favorite Sport
- Subscribe To The Podcast
Imagine that being your life. If you mess up or have a bad couple of weeks or even a season – on top of knowing you are not performing well – you have people tell you how horrible it is.
“It is absolutely the worst thing in the world, where it is sports or any type of career, it is not a fun feeling to know that pretty much everyone publicly knows who you are and think you should be gone.”
So, maybe the next time your favorite player, team or coach is struggling don’t be so harsh, Mitchell reminded. Remember these guys are human and no matter the amount of money someone makes that type of criticism, specifically mean and hurtful, can have a real negative effect on them.
Tune into KSL Unrivaled every Monday through Friday, 7-9 p.m., or download the KSL NewsRadio app to subscribe to the podcast.
