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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake looks on during the Cougars’ first full scrimmage of fall camp in Provo, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
Welcome to the last of 40 straight weekends of speculation. The questions that have been kicked around since the fumble that ended BYU’s 2023 season are about to be answered — one way or the other.
There are two camps prophesying two different outcomes. Las Vegas projects BYU to win four games, finish near the bottom of the Big 12 and miss the postseason for a second straight year.
Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake has a different take. He has to. He is the guy in charge of fixing what led to last year’s 5-7 season — and he believes he has. College football’s first Tongan head coach thinks BYU will be better.
Only one can be right when it comes to wins and losses. Early evidence will be presented against Southern Illinois, but on paper — and in practice — Sitake’s solutions give him reason to believe the Cougars will surprise a lot of people.
This is why he feels optimistic.
In question: Quarterback play
Answer: Sitake has stayed mum on who he prefers, but he loves the competition. Jake Retzlaff’s offseason goal was to show he could take better care of the football and didn’t throw an interception throughout spring practice. Gerry Bohanon, a grad transfer from South Florida, needed to show the mending process for his surgically replaced shoulder was complete.
Both quarterbacks achieved their goal. By nature of him being at BYU longer, Retzlaff has a deeper knowledge of the playbook. However, Bohanon has a considerable edge in D1 experience, including a Big 12 championship at Baylor in 2021. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Bohanon is a formidable force as a scrambler.
Sitake is banking on both guys getting the job done.
In question: Running the football
Answer:…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-struggle-prove-doubters-wrong-230608033.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-08-24 23:06:08
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