Unlike SDSU Head Coach, BYU’s Sitake Excited For Matchup With Aztecs
Brigham Young University head football coach Kalani Sitake watches a kickoff in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – San Diego State head coach Rocky Long made it clear that if he was the athletic director of the Aztecs, he wouldn’t schedule BYU. Long shared these comments in a weekly press conference last month when asked about having BYU back on the schedule.
“I don’t mind playing BYU. I wish they weren’t on the schedule. I think that them leaving the league was the wrong thing to do. And they went independent, and the only way they develop a schedule is the Mountain West Conference scheduling them,” said Long.
Remind me again why #BYU would ever want to go back to the MWC? https://t.co/JVoETgWuEj
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 30, 2019
Well, San Diego State’s athletic director didn’t have the same thoughts as Long when the Aztecs and BYU agreed to this two-game series back in 2018. The Aztecs will make a return visit to Provo in 2020.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake didn’t hear the remarks from Long last month but is excited to have an old Western Athletic and Mountain West Conference rival back on the schedule.
Last month, SDSU head coach Rocky Long said he wished #BYU wasn’t scheduled.
Kalani Sitake didn’t hear those comments from Long, but noted he’s looking forward to a fun game this Saturday. #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/1cMpPy7PUW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 25, 2019
“I didn’t know he (Rocky Long) said that, but that’s okay. We’ll play this weekend. I know Rocky is a good man and he’s competitive. I’m just looking forward to the game. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I respect him and his coaches and definitely respect his players. Looking forward to the matchup,” Sitake said.
The last time BYU and San Diego State met on the gridiron was in 2012 in the Poinsettia Bowl. Saturday’s game will mark the first time the two have met in the regular season since a controversial Mountain West Conference game back in 2010.
“I know that they’ve had a really good season. They’ve been ranked so they are a team that we are looking forward to playing,” said Sitake. “The fact that it’s at the end of the year. I just like the last game of the season. We already know we’re going to a bowl game, so we know we will have some time to recover so you can just really give everything you got and give everything.”
BYU has performed well in regular-season finales in the Sitake era posting a 2-1 record in the first three years. The lone loss coming last season against rival Utah. San Diego State isn’t anywhere near the rival of Utah, Utah State, or Boise State, but it’s a game that gives BYU a great opportunity to close their season with an opportunity to get a sixth win over a team with a winning record.
BYU at San Diego State
Kickoff: 7 p.m. (MT)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KSL NewsRadio 102.7 FM, 1160 AM
Streaming: KSL NewsRadio App
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.