PROVO, Utah – BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake appeared on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show in the lead-up to his undefeated team’s matchup against the Arizona Wildcats.
Joining him on the set were host Rob Stone, former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, and former Utah head coach Urban Meyer.
During the show, Meyer, who faced a chorus of boos from the BYU fans present, prompted Sitake to share his thoughts on the fan base. “You have an amazing fan base, but they change when they walk in that stadium. They lose their minds. Tell us about your fan base,” Meyer asked.
Sitake expressed his appreciation, saying, “We’ve got an amazing fan base. They’re not perfect. But they’re perfect for me, so I love them. Love you guys.”
The ninth-year head coach, who previously worked under Kyle Whittingham at Utah, took a moment to express gratitude to Meyer for his influence on his coaching career. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for wonderful people and mentors along the way. So I hope BYU fans understand Urban Meyer took care of me,” Sitake stated. “He allowed me to do some professional development, whether he was at Utah, Florida, or Ohio State. So I appreciate you.”
Meyer responded to the hostile reception with humor, saying, “If they cheer me, that’s a problem.” Sitake added, “They respect you, just like we all do. But you know, the gamesmanship? We don’t party here at BYU, except when we’re on the football field.”
The No. 14 BYU team is scheduled to face the Arizona Wildcats today at 2 p.m. on FOX and KSL NewsRadio.