BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake joined a panel of five other head coaches along with Brian Griese as the moderator in “The Film Room” on ESPNews during Monday’s national championship game between Alabama and Clemson. The Tigers went on to win the game in a classic come-from-behind victory.
During the broadcast, Sitake found himself defending his players and the school after Syracuse head coach Dino Babers started talking some mission smack.
This isn’t anything new to BYU fans, players, and coaches as analysts and opposing coaches have been bringing the missionary topic up for decades. This past season, ESPN’s Desmond Howard made waves when he said BYU’s missionary program gives the Cougars an unfair advantage because of the age difference and maturity of players which is generally two years older than the average college football player.
Leading up to the season opener, Arizona head football coach Rich Rodriguez had this to say during his weekly press conference before playing BYU:
“They’re (BYU) grown men. We’re going to have 18-year-old kids — some of our guys haven’t shaved yet — and we’re going up against some guys who got families and kids; they got to get day care stuff. It’s going to be a different challenge for us.”
This time it was Babers who threw the first jab saying, “It’s a lot easier to protect (your quarterback) when the O-line is a little bit older than everyone else,” as he started laughing along with a couple of other coaches.
But Sitake quickly put them in their place saying:
“Hey, they didn’t go on a mission to Gold’s Gym I can tell you that. Those guys are riding bicycles and eating ramen noodles for two years. … If it was a great system to develop athletes, Alabama would be doing it. And not one of their guys is going on a mission. Case closed.”
Below is the full video posted by KSL sports reporter Jeremiah Jensen.
It only took 3 hours for the age of BYU players to come up in the ESPN Film Room. Kalani Sitake handled it perfectly. #BYU #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/yFg6Atoe7b
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) January 10, 2017
Of course, Twitter had some great reactions as well as it all unfolded.
You are assigned to serve in the Gold's Gym, South Mission for a period of 24 months. You will prepare to preach the gospel in bro code.
— Mark Durrant (@DurrantMark) January 10, 2017
Kalani is so classy and tactful, perfect ambassador for #byu. Shut dino down real quick, love you coach!! pic.twitter.com/hBjdhDhiCc
— Jordan Michael Hall (@Jordanhall2323) January 10, 2017
Kalani Sitake is awesome… need him to give me some of that sideline energy in studio
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 10, 2017
Coach Sitake's response about missionaries & age difference shows exactly why we want to play for him. He will fight for us. I love that.
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) January 10, 2017
Want to know why Kalani Sitake's players lover him? After he defends LDS missions tonight he finishes w/ "those are my guys." #BYU
— Jake Hatch (@JacobCHatch) January 10, 2017
There were plenty of fun moments too over the four-hour broadcast.
Film-room coaches discussing conferences' bowl records, league supremacy…Kalani: "The independents are 2-0."
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) January 10, 2017
The BYU coach hasn't said anything in the Coaches Room but he was the first one out of his seat when the snacks showed up. Respect that, bro
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) January 10, 2017
Watching Film Room.
Kalani Sitake after the Clemson punt:
"He should've faked it."— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) January 10, 2017
Kalani, after Clemson punt, to other 5 coaches in film room: "If we play any of you guys, just know that I'm going to fake it every time."
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) January 10, 2017
Sitake even highlighted a connection with Alabama Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian who was a former BYU quarterback. Sarkisian led the Cougars to a 14-1 record and a 19-15 win over No. 14 Kansas State in the 1996 Cotton Bowl to become the only FBS team (at that time) to win more than 13 games in a season.
Kalani Sitake on Coaches' Film Room: "The best thing about Sark is that he played QB at BYU."
Homer. #CFBChampionship
— Sean Walker (@RealDSean) January 10, 2017
