Watch: Kalani Sitake's best moments on ESPN's 'Film Room'


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PROVO — No BYU player was involved in the College Football Playoff national championship Monday night.

But first-year BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was busy.

Sitake was one of three coaches who took part in ESPN’s “Coaches’ Film Room” as part of the multi-tiered “Megacast” of the final game of the 2017 season. The former BYU fullback joined Baylor’s Matt Rhule, Syracuse’s Dino Babers, Boston College’s Steve Addazio, North Carolina State’s Dave Doeren and Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre to break down the live game on ESPNNews.

Sitake’s “drop the mic” moment may have come when Babers ribbed him for the “older BYU players” who step away from football for two years to serve missions for the LDS Church.

“They don’t go on a mission to Gold’s Gym, I’ll tell you that,” said Sitake, who served in Oakland, California in 1995-96. “Those guys are riding bicycles and eating Ramen noodles for two years.”

Considered a national treasure by college football fans since ESPN introduced the alternate viewing, the 2016 film room was a success on social media but its viewership is not measured as a result of it being on ESPNNews. ESPN’s main broadcast of the national championship garnered a 15.3 overnight rating, according to numbers released Tuesday morning by ESPN.

Sitake was a late addition to the conversation, replacing Minnesota coach PJ Fleck. Fleck was assigned when he coached at Western Michigan, but complications around his move to the Golden Gophers forced him out of the room and prompted a call to Sitake.

ESPN’s Brian Griese opened the Megacast option with an array of preview questions, including asking each member how different Alabama would be under new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Sitake used the moment to remind the room of Sark’s heritage.

“I have to say the best thing about Sark is that he actually played quarterback for BYU,” he joked as chants of “homer” rained down on the room.

When Clemson’s offense struggled in the first half against the vaunted Tide defense, Sitake used his self-deprecating humor when the Tigers punted.

“Should’ve faked it,” he said, to which the room erupted in laughter. You may remember BYU’s fake punt when Jonny Linehan ran the ball on 4th-and-19 out of his own end zone.

The coaches agreed to laugh at the game film, such as when Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne flattened Clemson center Jay Guillermo.

It was bound to happen to Guillermo, who is listed as 28 pounds lighter than Payne. But it was pretty funny.

In addition to the traditional game broadcast on ESPN, the Megacast also featured a “Homers” edition featuring former Clemson quarterback Tahj Boyd and ex-Alabama center Barrett Jones, an “ESPN Voices” film room featuring non-football TV personalities, among other options.

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