BYU-Baylor football notes: Cougars showcase confident mentality through adversity at Baylor
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- BYU head coach Kalani Sitake disputes a call during the Big 12 game against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU players sing the fight song with their fans after the Big 12 game against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU junior Crew Wakley celebrates getting a sack during the Big 12 game against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU junior John Taumoepeau tries to sack Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson during the Big 12 game at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU players prepare to take the field before the Big 12 game against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU fans cheer on their team during the Big 12 game against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) celebrates with fans after a win over Baylor in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Waco, Texas.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake admitted in the postgame press conference after Saturday’s 34-28 win over Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, that there were times coming down the stretch he got a little riled up.
One of those moments was when his Cougars got flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the fourth quarter, one that prevented BYU from being able to run out the clock.
When asked what explanation he got from the officials, he said he was “probably too busy yelling” to listen.
“I thought it was an obvious flop,” Sitake said. “We teach our guys to be smart in that situation. I lost it. I just don’t think you can call that call right there in that situation, especially when we’re trying to grind the clock out.”
He said that while he disagreed with the call, he recognized that the officials are human, just like he is.
“I’m sorry that I lost my cool but I think they understood it,” Sitake said. “But we shouldn’t put ourselves into that situation. I can’t blame the refs. Our players have to be smart in that situation and just get away from any kind of dangerous moment.”
As the lead shrank and the intensity ratcheted up, Sitake found himself tensing up. Fortunately, he said, he had good support around him.
“I was a little nervous when we’re up by six in that situation, but the players made me feel at ease,” Sitake said. “While I was getting a little tight, the players are all talking positive and convincing me. After I got done with my yelling, it was like, alright, let’s see what’s going on in this game. And we made plays and got the win.”
He said in some ways it reminded him why he loves the game of football.
“In that tense moment, I had guys behind me just having so much fun with it,” Sitake said. “It just took me back to playing the game when I was a little kid. Hats off to our players for just being good examples to me.”
Not panicking or getting carried away has become a hallmark of the 2024 Cougars.
BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty was asked to describe what it was like for the Cougar defense on the sideline as Baylor got three chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter, and he said his guys were focused and ready.
“I’m really proud of our guys and the way they went to work there in the fourth quarter,” Batty said. “We definitely had some ups and downs throughout the game and didn’t play as great as we would have liked to. But we have guys who love football.
“There in the fourth quarter it was just, hey, look, it’s on us. They don’t score and we win this game. The guys went out there and let it loose. They just left it all out there. And sure enough, they didn’t score, and we won the game.”
The final stanza was another showcase of the maturity and cohesion of this BYU team.
“It’s leadership,” Sitake said. “This is a different team than last year’s team, but the guys from last year’s team spent a lot of time getting this culture rolling. These guys on the team currently are the ones who stepped up and took to heart everything that they learned, and then had the sense of urgency to work out and get better.
“I just like the feel, the vibe from the team. It’s a fun team to coach, and I freaking love these guys, man. We’re having a lot of fun.”
Cougar senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter credited that chemistry and focus to the athletes buying in to the system.
“The game just shows that all the hard work that we put in from winter all the way up to now is paying off,” Lassiter said. “We probably didn’t see how it was going to end up coming out, like being 5-0, but we trusted the process of our strength staff, nutritionists, everybody that was just pushing us to be better this whole winter, this summer and everything like that. You kind of just see everything that’s falling into place like they said they would.”
Back to 5-0
With the win, BYU moved to 5-0 and 2-0 in Big 12 play. The 5-0 start is just the eighth 5-0 start in program history and third under Kalani Sitake.
Sitake’s three matches LaVell Edwards for the most 5-0 starts in school history. The Cougars started 5-0 in 2020 and 2021 under Sitake.
BYU’s 2-0 start in league games also matches 2023’s win total in conference play.
On the road again
BYU picked up its first road win in Big 12 games at Baylor. The Cougars went 0-5 last season on the road in league.
The Cougars are now 3-0 on the road in 2024 with wins at SMU, at Wyoming and at Baylor.
Go get it
With two more interceptions today, BYU’s defense has intercepted a pass in every game. BYU was tied for No. 18 nationally in interceptions entering Saturday’s action.
BYU also posted three sacks on defense (tied season high-SMU) and did not surrender a sack on offense for the second time this year (Wyoming).
Extra points
BYU lost the toss and Baylor chose to defer to the second half. Both teams scored touchdowns on the resulting first possessions (at the start of the game and the start of the third quarter) … the Cougar captains were DE Tyler Batty, WR Chase Roberts, OL Connor Pay and QB Gerry Bohanon (a former Bear) … the BYU alumni flags were carried by WR Margin Hooks (1997-2000), DL Fred Katoa (1990) and RB Blair Buswell (1981) … the other Cougar flags were brought onto the field by DE Viliami Po’uha (USA), TE Keanu Hill (Texas) and strength and conditioning coach Tim Ismail (Big 12) … The announced attendance at McLane Stadium was 39,583 with weather at game time recorded as sunny and 79 degrees.
