PROVO, Utah – BYU football began its fall camp practice on Tuesday morning as the team prepares for the unprecedented 2020 season.
The Cougars reported for camp on Monday and participated in workouts and meetings before BYU's first official practice on Tuesday.
The following quotes are from Tuesday's post-practice Zoom media availability:
Head coach Kalani Sitake
Link to full Zoom interview here.
On getting fall camp started
I was really pleased with the practice today. We had the guys do some crossover stuff and I really feel good about our group. With all the uncertainties and things that are happening, I think our only goal is to try to be ready for whatever happens and hopefully we get those opportunities to play this fall. And if we do we'll be ready by then. So that's been our focus. I've been really pleased with our leadership on this team, our coaches, our administration – everyone has done an amazing job allowing us to be in this position right now.
On the outlook of the season
Tom Holmoe talks to me about a lot of different things. There are so many different variables and a lot of it is the stuff that we can control. I have just been really pleased with the way Tom's doing it. He's got a really tough job and I am just trying to get us ready to go. My job is to get the team ready, not to do the schedules and things like that, that's Tom's job and I trust him. So we'll just be ready whenever they're asking us to play.
On the morale of the team
I think a lot of guys are frustrated about being all bottled up and now they get to get out there and play football with great competition. It's been an awesome thing for me to see and we have great leadership. We have a little bit of pushing and shoving and things like that but it's nothing too crazy. It's just what you expect most of the time playing football but the guys are anxious. They want to get out on the field. They want to play and I think they've been looking for a way to kind of let off some steam and compete against each other. We've been working at walk-through pace, doing our install and doing a lot of Zoom meetings. It just feels good to get out and be out in the sun and play some football so I'm looking forward to that. Understanding the situation, there's a little bit of frustration, but more than anything I would say it's just excitement to play the game. It gives them a way to disconnect for a couple of hours.
On the players adjusting to wearing masks during practice
I mean, nobody likes it. It's not comfortable but I think they are kind of used to it. They understand it and they just know that this is a necessity. It's getting hot out there and the guys have to have these masks on but it's okay. It's the price that you paid to keep it a low-risk environment so that we can keep practicing and these guys are willing to do that in our meetings and practices and things. I think for the most part they would rather not do it. and we would all rather things go back to normal, but we'll just adjust and make it work as much as we can.
On the unknowns for the season
I think the unknowns will be known soon. I'm an optimistic person, so we'll stay positive about it and then trust that things will work out. We put a lot of faith in our players and the leadership on this team to keep it rolling. I trust the leadership in our administration, and I'm really anxious and excited for these guys to perform for our fans; that's the goal. You know, we want to get out there and get back to normal. Although there may be some adjustments that you do along the way, I think we're going to be fine. I feel like it's kind of trending towards that.
Tight end Matt Bushman
Link to full Zoom interview here.
On what the team did during the offseason
I feel like once you get older, you are self-motivated get as good as you can be as a football player. During quarantine, we weren't allowed to be at BYU, so it was more about finding places to get better. There were a couple of spots where I was allowed to train and work hard in the offseason so I was able to change my body and get in good shape. I just feel really good. I feel like a lot of the players, not having to necessarily feel like they're required to be at these workouts, are self-motivated. I feel like it brought more out of the players and it's been exciting to see. Being with everyone today and yesterday as a whole group has been really cool and everyone seems excited and glad to be back.
On staying focused with all the uncertainty
I guess the biggest thing is you never know. No one really knows what's going to happen even with the NFL. But, you're not going to progress or get any better by just moping around or sitting at home. So the biggest thing we are doing is hoping for the best. They say that there's a season and we hope that there's a great schedule ahead of us. I mean, we've lost some games, but I know the administrative staff is working really hard to just schedule and get the best competition possible. So we just trust that and we know, although it is uncertain, it seems like there's going to be a season. Once you're out there, it's pretty easy to be motivated just to be playing the game that you love. So we are trying to enjoy it, especially the seniors because it might be some guys' last go around. So they're just soaking it all in while they can.
On his role with the team this year
The biggest thing it's just to be consistent. I want to be a guy on offense that people can look to and can be that consistent player that's making plays every day in practice, every game and just doing my job. With the young guys, they just need to gain confidence and stay confident during games or in practice when coaches are getting on you for making mistakes. Once you can get over that barrier then you just have to move on to the next play to keep a high level of confidence. You can be such a better player and the game slows down for you. So I want to be an example and be a confident player that is staying out there and doing my job every time. That will just help the younger guys see that it's possible and just have someone showing them the way
Linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi
Link to full Zoom interview here.
On the mantra for the season
There are few, but the saying on the back of our workout uniforms right now says, 'Be the change'. So I think that could be one of them. Each room and position group has their own but as a team, I think we're just trying to get to be as perfect as we can and then be the change. There's a lot of stuff going on right now with social issues and different things. There are so many different things and that saying of 'Be the Change' has kind of caught on in the nation at least. We have a platform, we have a voice and we have the right to listen and I am really proud of our guys and the diversity on our team is just incredible. I wish that the nation was more like a locker room. There are guys from different areas, different backgrounds and we all grew up differently and we have different views, but we come together as a team. We learn how to understand each other, how to listen to each other and that is being the change – learning how to listen, learn and communicate.
On the possibility of playing without fans
That definitely is going to be different if teams decide to limit fans or have no fans. But, we've already been through different things. I think by now, we were able to adapt. We had our spring ball cut short but we were able to adapt and found ways to get better. We have to wear masks during practices and we've found a way to adapt and get better. So playing without fans, I'm sure it's going to be really weird. One of my favorite things about being a college football player is being able to control the crowd, pump them up, get the crowd going. I am going to miss that if they decide to have no fans or limit the fans, but we just adapt.
On what the team is confident about for this season
I think it's our unity. Which is kind of crazy because we weren't really together at all. When we were together, it was in groups of 10 and then 20 and then 30. Throughout the quarantine phase and then throughout the summer phase I didn't really see any of the offensive guys because we were lifting at different times. But the leadership we've created in our culture has just thrived, which has started with our head coach and then trickled down to some of the veterans. It's an asset and a factor for us to be a great football team because we're just united and our leadership is really excited about our whole team and the unity that we have.