Sitake stresses discipline as BYU opens Big 12 play against Colorado

Brian Schaible

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Sitake stresses discipline as BYU opens Big 12 play against Colorado image

The #25 BYU Cougars are 3–0 after last week’s win over East Carolina, but head coach Kalani Sitake didn’t hide his frustration with the mistakes that nearly stalled momentum. Heading into Saturday’s Big 12 opener at Colorado, Sitake emphasized that discipline must improve if the Cougars want to keep their perfect start alive.

“Well, all of them are different types of penalties,” Sitake said of the 10 flags that cost BYU 101 yards in Greenville. “So we have to look at the ones that, I think sometimes, the ones that happen during the game play is different than the ones that are false starts and things like that, mental mistakes.”

Sitake pointed out that many of the penalties are correctable, especially those rooted in focus and preparation. “We can control the ones that are the holding penalties even within the game. You can control, just got to move your feet a little bit more,” he explained.

The BYU head coach admitted responsibility for the substitution error that wiped out a turnover. “The substitution one, that’s on me,” Sitake said. “If you’re looking at the other penalties, they’re kind of in the… we had a taunting and unsportsmanlike. That’s not us. Can’t have that and can’t cost a team. So those are easy adjustments to be made. Has nothing to do whether you’re home or on the road. It just has to do with your mentality and playing smart.”

Sitake’s message to his players was blunt. “It’s okay to be physical. It’s okay to talk back and forth, too. But if that’s going to throw you off your game, then just shut up and play football,” he said.

He acknowledged that his team is still young and learning, but reiterated that avoiding penalties is the kind of detail that separates good teams from great ones. “These guys are learning it. Fortunately for us, they didn’t hurt us too much. They did hurt some of the drives… just got to be more disciplined. That’s my job as a coach, to teach these young men to be more disciplined and play with a great mindset.”

As BYU prepares for Coach Prime and Colorado, Sitake made it clear that cleaning up penalties is just as important as matching up against the Buffaloes’ talent. “It’s hard to have that many penalties,” he said. “It’s hard to make up the difference when those kill drives and take points off the board.”

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Brian Schaible

Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.