As Kalani Sitake stood and waved to a different throng of BYU followers at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, the BYU head coach couldn’t assist however get emotional. His Cougars had simply defeated Baylor 34-28 for this system’s first Massive 12 win away from house, however his coronary heart was touched by the loyal displaying of followers at any time when BYU hits the street.
“We nonetheless have plenty of work to do nonetheless, but it surely feels good. I’m simply joyful the fellows performed properly. I’m glad they carried out properly in entrance of our followers. We love our followers a lot. They’re a part of us.”
BYU coach Kalani Sitake
“Superior! I like them,” Sitake instructed BYUtv. “I’m considered one of them.”
Having grown up a BYU fan residing outdoors of Utah, Sitake understands the gathering energy of BYU’s athletic groups — most notably, his soccer program. It’s greater than only a sport; it’s a galvanizer. Sitake additionally is aware of that journey isn’t low cost, and neither are the tickets, however a group of followers, younger and previous, come anyway.
“We nonetheless have plenty of work to do nonetheless, but it surely feels good,” Sitake stated. “I’m simply joyful the fellows performed properly. I’m glad they carried out properly in entrance of our followers. We love our followers a lot. They’re a part of us.”
Some followers journey hundreds of miles to get to the video games, whereas others drive just some blocks. Much more spectacular is the truth that they arrive regardless of whether or not the staff is profitable or shedding — however profitable definitely helps — and these Cougars are profitable.
BYU’s victory at Baylor gave the Cougars their first 5-0 begin since 2001. The unbeaten September additionally has BYU as much as No. 17 within the AP High 25 and tied on the high of the Massive 12 standings. Their projected win whole from ESPN’s laptop rankings has skyrocketed from 4.7 to 9.3.
All of the whereas, BYU followers have discovered methods to contribute off the sphere. By the point the soccer staff left Waco, space alumni donated 1,092 kilos of meals and cash to the Shepherd’s Coronary heart meals pantry to distribute to Texans in want. BYU alumni staged an analogous service undertaking on the SMU and Wyoming video games.
Bob Gager began the Shepherd’s Coronary heart pantry 15 years in the past to help the wants of the Waco group — wants which have exploded this 12 months. His start-up undertaking has grown into the biggest faith-based pantry in central Texas. The pantry has served 73,149 households by way of the primary 9 months of the 12 months, whereas helping hundreds extra in different capacities, together with meals in school.
What Gager noticed Saturday from BYU followers was one thing he hadn’t seen earlier than.
“That is the primary time it’s occurred,” Gager stated of a visiting faculty staging a meals drive for the opposing staff’s group. “I actually recognize you guys. I used to be so impressed. So impressed. The tailgate occasion that they arrange there was like organising a small metropolis in a single day. It was enormous.”
Kickoff time for the sport wasn’t introduced till six days prior, which had BYU alumni within the area scrambling to drag it off. For Gager, a 40-year resident of Waco and a Baylor fan, the act of giving on a sport day left an amazing impression.
“We’re simply the arms and toes. What we do on daily basis is Matthew 25 in motion,” Gager stated. “If in case you have finished it unto the least of those, you will have finished it unto me. That’s what it’s about. Who’s your neighbor? Cougars or Bears — it doesn’t make any distinction. There aren’t any manufacturers on who your neighbor is. What (Latter-day Saints) did this previous Saturday was terrific.”
Final week, BYU followers helped Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson elevate over $60,000 to pay for most cancers remedies for Johnson’s former highschool principal. The surge in assist got here after BYU’s 38-9 win in Provo.
Previous to the sport, Johnson issued a plea to his followers to donate for every landing he scored over the course of the season. BYU held his offense to 3 subject targets, however Cougar followers opened their wallets, and the greenback figures raced previous the preliminary fundraising aim of $20,000.
When requested in regards to the BYU followers and their contributions, Johnson stated, “It simply goes to point out that there are plenty of nice individuals on this planet.”
The BYU Alumni Affiliation has made it some extent to depart a constructive mark on wherever the soccer staff performs. Their efforts turned plenty of heads final 12 months when the Cougars went to Arkansas for the primary time and upset the Razorbacks 38-31.
After the sport, an Arkansas fan tweeted, “I’m a Hog fan they usually simply got here to city, donated 40lbs of meals, beat us, prayed for us, and left city. Felt like being slapped by a person.”
Mission completed — minus the slapping.
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret Information and is a play-by-play announcer and present host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the writer of the youngsters’s guide “C is for Cougar,” accessible at deseretbook.com.
