Incoming Large 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, heart, speaks with outgoing commissioner Bob Bowlsby, left, and Baylor president Linda Livingstone wanting on throughout a information convention opening the Large 12 soccer media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. This week BYU, together with fellow convention newcomers UCF, Houston and Cincinnati, shall be taking part of their first media days as members of the league. LM Otero, Related Press
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe gestures whereas stating, “I really like the truth that we get to enter the Large 12 with all our groups” throughout a press convention saying that BYU has accepted an invite to the Large 12 Convention at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports activities offered by the Large 12 apart from equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Males’s volleyball will proceed to play within the Mountain Pacific Sports activities Federation, because the Large 12 doesn't supply the game. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
ARLINGTON, Texas — Of the 14 colleges taking part within the Large 12 soccer media days Wednesday and Thursday in Arlington, Texas, BYU is maybe essentially the most unfamiliar with this type of setting.
“I feel there are lots of people … which might be predicting that we aren't going to do a lot this yr. They received’t perceive it. We'll see what occurs. However that’s OK. I don’t thoughts individuals not realizing about us but.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake
The Cougars, who left the Mountain West Convention for soccer independence after the 2010 season, haven't attended a convention’s soccer media day since July 28, 2010, on the Purple Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
After all, a couple of month later — on Sept. 1, 2010 — the varsity introduced it was going rogue in soccer and placing most of its different sports activities within the West Coast Convention. The next summer season, BYU held its personal soccer media day on campus on July 12, 2011, and touted its eight-year partnership with ESPN.
So pardon coach Kalani Sitake and the 5 gamers who've accompanied him to AT&T Stadium for feeling a bit like greenhorns on the residence of the Dallas Cowboys.
“Taking a look at what the Large 12 has achieved as a convention — they're progressive and so they create methods to do issues and be distinctive,” Sitake stated after what was possible BYU’s final professional day on March 24. “… I like what I've seen from the management of this convention.”
BYU has despatched punter Ryan Rehkow, quarterback Kedon Slovis, receiver Kody Epps, linebacker Ben Bywater and defensive finish Tyler Batty to the occasion. The Cougars are within the group that can do interviews and appearances on Wednesday, together with TCU, Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas and fellow newcomer Houston — a college BYU shouldn't be scheduled to face this fall.
Festivities kick off Wednesday with an 11 a.m. MDT deal with from Large 12 commissioner Brett Yormark — who was launched because the league’s new commissioner at this occasion final yr and promptly proclaimed that the convention was “open for enterprise” so far as additional enlargement was involved.
ESPNU will televise Yormark’s deal with reside, whereas it'll even be streamed on ESPN+.
Talking of which, enlargement figures to be the highest storyline for the get-together, because the league clearly has made overtures to Pac-12 colleges comparable to Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State in gentle of their league’s struggles to finalize a media rights deal.
When requested about enlargement on June 26, Sitake took a hands-off method and stated he’s OK with regardless of the Large 12 decides and reiterated his satisfaction with how the league handles its enterprise.
As for his dealings with different Large 12 coaches and athletic administrators at some conferences final spring in Arizona, Sitake stated he’s been impressed with their candor, openness and need for unity.
“It was attention-grabbing to listen to their tales, and attention-grabbing for them to listen to what we have now right here at BYU. For essentially the most half, there are a number of the identical issues, when you find yourself coping with younger individuals,” Sitake stated. “However I'm at all times going to speak about our place. I see it as a aggressive benefit that we have now right here and when individuals see that we have now restrictions, I feel it's a filter for me to get the best guys to play right here.”
As for BYU being picked to complete eleventh final week by the league’s media representatives, Sitake has principally shrugged off the low expectations.
“I feel there are lots of people … which might be predicting that we aren't going to do a lot this yr,” he stated. “They received’t perceive it. We'll see what occurs. However that’s OK. I don’t thoughts individuals not realizing about us but.”
One other key storyline shall be the departures of Texas and Oklahoma after this season, juxtaposed towards the arrivals of the 4 newcomers.
Showing on “Cougar Sports activities with Ben Criddle” on ESPN 960 Sports activities on Monday, longtime Large 12 columnist Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman referred to as it a situation proper out of a Beatles music.
“It’s going to be a Beatles’ ‘Hi there, Goodbye’ media days as a result of it’s goodbye to Texas and Oklahoma and hiya to Cincinnati, UCF, Houston and BYU,” Tramel stated.
One other storyline that ought to curiosity BYU followers is the plight of former Cougars quarterback Steve Sarkisian, now the top coach at Texas. Expectations are excessive for the Longhorns of their last season in a convention they've didn't dominate like many anticipated they'd.
How will Sitake’s former teammate on the Y. deal with these heavy expectations?
Sarkisian will take the rostrum at 2:25 p.m. MDT Wednesday, whereas Sitake will observe at 2:50 p.m. MDT within the information convention for reporters on the web site.
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe gestures whereas stating, “I really like the truth that we get to enter the Large 12 with all our groups” throughout a press convention saying that BYU has accepted an invite to the Large 12 Convention at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports activities offered by the Large 12 apart from equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Males’s volleyball will proceed to play within the Mountain Pacific Sports activities Federation, because the Large 12 doesn't supply the game.
Laura Seitz, Deseret Information