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How BYU is leaving its mark — on and off the field

BYU fans showed up for the Cougars’ upset victory over the Baylor Bears Saturday, Sept. 28,. 2028, in Waco, Texas. Cougar fans are being noticed at the games and in the communities where the Cougars play. | BYU Photo

As Kalani Sitake stood and waved to another throng of BYU fans at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, the BYU head coach couldn’t help but get emotional. His Cougars had just defeated Baylor 34-28 for the program’s first Big 12 win away from home, but his heart was touched by the loyal showing of followers whenever BYU hits the road.

“We still have a lot of work to do still, but it feels good. I’m just happy the guys played well. I’m glad they performed well in front of our fans. We love our fans so much. They are part of us.”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake

“Awesome! I love them,” Sitake told BYUtv. “I am one of them.”

Having grown up a BYU fan living outside of Utah, Sitake understands the gathering power of BYU’s athletic teams — most notably, his football program. It’s more than just a game; it is a galvanizer. Sitake also knows that travel isn’t cheap, and neither are the tickets, but a community of fans, young and old, come anyway.

“We still have a lot of work to do still, but it feels good,” Sitake said. “I’m just happy the guys played well. I’m glad they performed well in front of our fans. We love our fans so much. They are part of us.”

Some fans travel thousands of miles to get to the games, while others drive just a few blocks. Even more impressive is the fact that they come no matter whether the team is winning or losing — but winning certainly helps — and these Cougars are winning.

BYU’s victory at Baylor gave the Cougars their first 5-0 start since 2001. The unbeaten September also has BYU up to No. 17 in the AP Top 25 and tied at the top of…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-leaving-mark-off-field-181021770.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-09-30 18:10:21

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