The stage is set for a historic Holy War. After a dramatic overtime win against Arizona propelled them to a 6-0 start, Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars are preparing to host their rivals, the Utah Utes, this weekend.
However, there is a storyline running in the background of this weekend’s Holy War clash, with the BYU head coach having a connection to both Utah and its head coach, Kyle Whittingham.
What Is Kalani Sitake’s Connection To Kyle Whittingham And The Utah Utes?
Ahead of this weekend’s game, Sitake sent a clear message to Whittingham and the Utes ahead of the latest chapter in the fierce rivalry. When the two teams last met, BYU secured a 22-21 victory with a 44-yard field goal in the final second.
“I think the competition has always been there, and the intensity can be there. There’s nothing wrong with the intensity being there. Personally, I would like to see it be with tons of respect. Whether we want to admit it or not, we actually need each other,” Sitake said.
This respectful message stems back to the relationship between Sitake and the Utah head coach. Sitake served as a defensive coordinator for Whittingham at Utah from 2009 to 2014. The two have also been long-standing close friends.
After serving as a member of Whittingham’s coaching staff for ten years, Sitake ultimately made the tough decision to depart Utah. The BYU head coach joined Gary Anderson at Oregon State.
While Sitake has not revealed why he decided to leave Utah, the most obvious answer is career advancement. After a year at Oregon State, BYU named Sitake the team’s new head coach following Bronco Mendenhall’s departure.
Despite his decision to leave Whittingham and Utah to join Oregon State, the two head coaches have remained close friends over the years. During a post-game press conference, Sitake shared a heartfelt message about his close friendship with the Utah head coach.
“I worked 10 years with him, I learned a lot from him, and watched him grow in the industry and in his position,” Sitake explained. “I watched him and saw the transition he made from a coordinator to a head coach.”
“Kalani is a good friend of mine. That’s no secret,” Whittingham said. “He’s become an outstanding head coach.” The Utah head coach also revealed his respect for Sitake ahead of this weekend’s clash.
The two head coaches are currently setting history at their respective programs. The Utes joined BYU in the Associated Press Top 25 this week after a dominant 42-10 victory over No. 21 Arizona State.
This sets up the first ranked-versus-ranked Holy War since 2009, with the Cougars entering as the No. 15 team in the nation. This rendition of the Holy War is one of the biggest in recent memory.
“I’m not trying to tell fans how to do it, but it’s got to be a lot more fun when you can actually have and talk about the respect that you have for each other.” Despite that, Sitake has also called for fans to echo the respect the two head coaches have for each other.
The Cougars and Utes are slated for a Big Noon kickoff this weekend on Fox. With both sides still in the running for the conference championship game, the stakes couldn’t be higher. According to the PFN CFB Playoff Meter, BYU has a 42% chance of reaching the title game.
