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SALT LAKE CITY — Every football head coach at the college level bears a multiple amount of responsibility that extends well beyond the playing field.
Besides specializing in the X's and O's of football, the lead man also plays the roles of counselor, big brother and father, among others. This season, add the title of cheerleader.
In the new normal, which hopefully ceases not too far in the future, college football games are being played in mostly empty stadiums devoid of any energy emanating from the stands. As such, it’s up to the teams to generate their own emotion and enthusiasm.
Perhaps no coach in the nation is more animated than BYU's Kalani Sitake. And for sure, as we saw often in his team's impressive victory over Navy in Maryland, nobody can claim to dance as well or as much than the fifth-year coach.
"I do love it," said former BYU and NFL linebacker David Nixon, now an analyst for BYUtv. "They’ve got to create the energy somehow when you have no fans in the stadium to root you on and create that. You’ve got to create it yourselves, and Kalani was doing just that."
Expect a repeat performance for BYU’s first two home games of the season, both of which will be played without fans.
Admittedly, it does look a little odd for a head coach to shake it on the sidelines during a game. After all, it’s hard to imagine the always-serious Nick Saban doing the jitterbug or Bronco Mendenhall stepping out in the middle of games.
But these are unusual times, devoid of boisterous students and crazy fans in the stand. As silly as it may appear, watching Sitake boogie meshes with his personality.
He always did play with emotion during his time as a bruising fullback at BYU, often keeping things loose during practices. Now a few pounds above his playing weight, Sitake is not exactly a tiny dancer but it does work.
"He mentioned on our BYUtv postgame show the players asked him to do that," Nixon said. "The players asked him to be amped up and kind of go crazy. So, he said, listen, the players asked me to do it so I’m going to do it. I think that just shows you the respect between Kalani and the players and vice versa.
"I think it was awesome. Yeah, maybe it gets a little out of control and optically maybe it looks bad because the head coach is supposed to be more stoic and more serious on the sidelines. But I love the fact that he’s out there celebrating with his guys and getting pumped up. It just a different approach."
Considering the circumstances and what’s at stake for the Cougars, Sitake’s display of emotion is great strategy. Coming off of two disappointing 7-6 campaigns, during which his team often was flat during games it had no business losing, Sitake needs a strong season to generate positive momentum.
And especially now, with the revamped schedule that includes games against several lesser programs, BYU has to roll up the wins. No better method than to start the game at a fever pitch with the boss leading the way.
"More than anything we’re just excited to play the game," Sitake said. "I don’t know if I need to generate it or do any of that stuff. I just told the players I was going to have fun. I’m going hang out with them; they’re a veteran group.
"I’ve been really pleased with the way they’ve handled themselves throughout this whole thing since March when spring ball was cut short. I’ve been really impressed, and I just really wanted to get out there and celebrate but so did they. It’s not like the coach was the one who set the tone. The players set the tone. I followed. It was just a fun thing to be there with them."
Coronavirus permitting, Sitake’s first homecoming dance will be against Troy on Saturday night.
