Kalani Sitake and Morgan Scalley entered Saturday’s BYU-Utah game hoping to lower the rivalry’s temperature. Their efforts appeared to pay off.
A raucous but respectful environment at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City has been a topic of conversation for fans of both teams on social media and was praised by both head coaches after Utah beat BYU 28-20.
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“(Kalani and I) wanted to make it about what’s good,” Scalley said in his postgame press conference. “We wanted to have a less toxic environment when it comes to the rivalry. I thought we had that today. Grateful to our fans, grateful to our players. Not a lot of extracurricular stuff after the plays. But I have nothing but respect for Kalani, that staff, the way they prepare their guys and the way their guys play.”
Sitake said he was “really impressed with Utah, really impressed with the environment (and) the fans.” He added that he was “really proud of our program and our fans and really proud of Utah and the response of the back and forth that we’ve had.”
The coaches’ daughters posted videos together before the game, and players and coaches appeared to make conscious efforts to display sportsmanship and the friendships that exist off the field in the offseason.
Even current Utah State and former BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall noticed a difference that signaled a new era in the rivalry.
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“What I will say is how that game is being managed by the leaders is as healthy as it’s been for a long, long time,” he said, per Deseret News’ Carson Hilton. “Meaning, there’s no reason a rivalry can’t be fierce but also respectful. And both Kalani and Morgan are exemplary leaders with morals and values and substance that kind of backs that.”
A BYU support staff member described Saturday’s game to the Deseret News as the “most pleasant experience” he had ever had at Rice-Eccles.
“That was my fourth time on the field at a game there,” the staff member said. “Every other time I was heckled, ridiculed and insulted. It was the least pleasant place to visit. This time, nothing … Even on the mile walk from my car to the stadium through tailgates, the fans were more focused on cheering on their team than talking trash to me about BYU.”
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Fans felt a difference in the stadium, too. BYU fan and X user Brigham Llama praised Utah fans for their hospitality.
“I never imagined I would say this … but it was one of the best experiences I have ever had as an away fan,” they wrote. “Whatever is happening with this rivalry, let’s keep it headed in this direction.”
Jeff Beck, a BYU fan known on X as Brigham’s Burner, also attended the game and wrote that he realized “that I was wrong about a lot of the assumptions I’d made.”
“I was greeted warmly by Utah fans multiple times throughout the day,” he stated. “There was plenty of banter, but it was playful and good-natured. At one point, a Utah fan even asked whether I felt safe surrounded by so much red. He was genuinely looking out for my comfort and safety.”
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Utah fan Bro Hen wrote on X that he’s “loving the shift in culture between our teams. Go Utes! Go BYU! (I can’t believe I just typed that!).”
Here are five “healthy” moments from the game that illustrate a shift in the BYU-Utah rivalry.
Postgame hug between Sitake and Scalley
After the final whistle, Sitake and Scalley met on the field for a long and emotional embrace.
“Congratulations to Morgan. It’s good to see him at midfield, and I love that guy,” Sitake said postgame.
As Sitake started to pull away from the hug, Scalley pulled him back in for another embrace. They continued to talk with their foreheads pressed together.
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Another generation’s friendship
Since Scalley’s promotion to head coach, he and Sitake haven’t shied away from sharing their respect for each other. The two coached together at the University of Utah for about a decade.
“Morgan Scalley is a good friend of mine,” Sitake said at Big 12 media day in July.
In his own media day remarks, Scalley said his and Sitake’s relationship should be an example for their respective programs.
“I just think the way Kalani and I model our relationship with one another and the respect we have for each other and our programs should lead the way,” he said.
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They passed their friendship down to the next generation with their daughters, Sadie Sitake and Maddie Scalley. Ahead of the game, the girls made a TikTok video using the “illegal” trend.
Wearing sweatshirts with their fathers’ respective teams’ logos, they shook hands as the audio says, “Hey, is this illegal? Hey, this feels illegal.”
Players diffusing contention
Following BYU safety Faletau Satuala’s late hit on Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, Utah tight end Noah Bennee confronted Satuala.
Bennee got in Satuala’s face in what looked like a tense exchange, but three seconds later, the contention melted away. Bennee patted Satuala on the shoulder, and the two separated.
The moment exemplified the little “extracurricular stuff after the plays” that Scalley noted in his postgame press conference.
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Scalley’s concern for opposing players
In the third quarter, Scalley walked onto the field to check on injured BYU cornerback Therrian Alexander as BYU’s staff tended to him.
X user Mike Singley said he noticed Scalley did more than just walk over.
“I noticed he would walk part of the way to the injured player and wait for the BYU coaches to get (there) first, then walk the rest of the way out,” he wrote. “Show support but don’t overstep bounds. It’s the little things.”
Sitake’s appreciation for Utah fans
Sitake interacted with Utah fans after they rushed the field. The BYU head coach waved at Utah fans in the stands as he walked off the field.
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“What a cool, respectful game,” Sitake said postgame. “Even after, when (Utah fans) stormed the field, we didn’t have anything that was too dramatic. I thought it was a lot of fans that were excited and just told them congratulations.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
