BYU Football Coach on When Your ‘Game Plan’ Doesn’t Go as Planned
In the high-stakes world of college football, the game plan is everything. Coaches spend hours meticulously crafting strategies designed to lead their team to victory. However, as experienced coaches know, the game rarely unfolds exactly as expected. The ability to adjust on the fly, make quick decisions, and adapt to unforeseen circumstances often separates successful teams from those that fall short.
For BYU Football Coach Kalani Sitake, flexibility is key when things don’t go as planned. As a coach who has led the Cougars through numerous ups and downs, Sitake understands the critical nature of responding to adversity on the field. A game plan that may have seemed foolproof in practice can quickly unravel due to an opposing team’s strengths, injuries, or unexpected turnovers. In these moments, coaching becomes less about sticking to the initial plan and more about maintaining composure and finding alternative solutions.
“When the game plan doesn’t go as expected, it’s important to stay calm and trust the process,” Sitake says. “The players need to have confidence in what we’ve been teaching them all week, and they need to know how to adapt. Football is a game of adjustments—whether that’s changing formations, making strategic substitutions, or shifting tactics. We have to be ready for anything.”
Sitake emphasizes that while preparation is essential, it’s also crucial to instill a sense of mental toughness in his players. Games are unpredictable, and players often have to step outside their comfort zones to make things work. This requires strong leadership from the coaching staff, as well as a culture of accountability and resilience among the team. “We prepare for every possible scenario,” Sitake explains. “But when something doesn’t go according to plan, we have to look at it as an opportunity to grow. It’s about keeping your head in the game and not panicking.”
In these situations, the team’s leadership becomes paramount. Players who are able to remain level-headed under pressure, like veteran quarterbacks or seasoned defensive leaders, can help steady the team when things start to spiral. Sitake highlights the importance of leadership both on and off the field: “When things aren’t going right, the players have to look to each other. Our captains and seniors must be the first to step up, keep the morale high, and lead by example.”
Furthermore, Sitake believes that the ability to adapt quickly comes down to understanding the fundamentals of the game. Even when the game plan goes awry, having a solid grasp of basic football principles allows players to make sound decisions and execute under duress. Whether it’s staying true to fundamental blocking and tackling or relying on core communication skills, the foundation remains unchanged, no matter the external chaos.
“The game plan is just a guide,” Sitake says. “What matters most is how we handle the moments when things don’t go according to script. If we can execute when it counts, we can find a way to win, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart.”
In the end, Coach Sitake’s approach underscores a universal truth in sports: adaptability is just as important as preparation. As BYU football continues to face formidable opponents each season, Sitake’s philosophy will remain a central pillar in the team’s pursuit of success, proving that even when things don’t go as planned, there’s always a path forward with the right mindset and leadership.
