Brigham Young University has always been something of a curiosity in college football.
Outside observers look at the faith-based school and see it conducting a grand experiment.
The school supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always aspired to be nationally relevant, a big-time player in the college sports landscape, all while adhering to a strict honor code for its students, coaches and faculty. That uniqueness, fueled by a long-held culture of faith and family, sets BYU’s teams apart from almost every other athletic program in the country.
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“I have always found BYU to be an absolutely fascinating case study in college sports, particularly football,” said Berry Tramel, college sports columnist for the Tulsa World and a 46-year journalism veteran. “They have a worldwide brand, a worldwide reach, yet they seem to strive to be ‘not of the world,’ in a religious sense.”
Therein lies the rub, the grand experiment, as it were.
Can an athletic program comprised mostly of clean-living, God-fearing, scripture-reading, love-thy-neighbor, Jesus Christ-following individuals thrive in the increasingly secular, cutthroat and money-oriented landscape of college sports?
Nearly half of the players on BYU’s current football roster — 56 — have served missions in 22 different countries and speak 10 different languages. Six coaches on the staff, including head coach Kalani Sitake, have served missions.
Sitake, his assistant coaches, new BYU athletic director Brian Santiago, former and current BYU football players and even national sports reporters such as the aforementioned Tramel believe it can be done.
Sitake’s “love and learn” culture can…
Source link : https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/08/15/byu-culture-athletics-sports-sitake-reese-santiago-nil-transfer-portal-landscape/
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Publish date : 2025-08-16 03:00:00
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