college football www.sltrib.com/sports Phases &Stages Veteran Kyle Whittingham, rookie Kalani Sitake and middleman Matt Wells lift the cover on what it’s like to lead their programs Taysom Hill Troy Williams Kent Myers The BYU QB will be under The USU senior who spotlight as fans hope quarterback doesn’t to see production that gets to have know the equals the hype he starting spot word ‘quit’ had coming to Utah all to himself 2 > COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Table of contents IN THIS ISSUE • What they’ve learned P. 41 Kyle Whittingham, Kalani Si- take and Matt Wells each are at different stages of their coaching careers. With each of those stages brings a different set of perpsectives. The columnists’ views Kurt Kragthorpe looks to two players at two schools with the same last name who will be key to their teams’ hopes; Gor- don Monson predicts how Utah, BYU and Utah State will fare. Utes on the offensive It’s all about the passing at- tack for the Utes, whether it Breaking down USU be at quarterback with Troy Williams, the wide receivers P. 50 Utah State enters the year with Tim Patrick, the offen- knowing the margin between sive line with newcomer Gar- success and failure is razor-thin; rett Bolles or the tight end Kent Myers gets the chance rotation; meanwhile, Andy he’s been waiting for to be Phillips keeps on kicking and the undisputed starting quar- the much-renowned defense terback; the Aggies lineback- is led by Ute legend Morgan ers are inexperienced and Scalley; what Utah needs to P. 6 have big spots to plug; the do to succeed this season and renovations at Maverik Stadi- team roster plus depth chart um are expected to make a and schedule analysis, and a big splash for fan satisfaction Pac-12 breakdown of every and recruiting; Travis Seefeldt team with in-depth analysis by returns to the defensive line Tribune staff writer Kyle Goon. after being told he may nev- er play again; what Utah State So much new at BYU needs to do to succeed this season and team roster plus So much newness surrounds depth chart and schedule the BYU program with a coach- analysis, and previewing the ing staff that has deep connec- Mountain West, in which San tions to the team; Kalani Sita- Diego State is the favorite. ke has been preparing for the chance to lead a major pro- High hopes at Weber gram for a long time; Taysom Hill gets another chance to fin- Weber State has high hopes ish out his senior season; Ja- with several returnees in the maal Williams returns to BYU Big Sky Conference, while with added perspective; more Southern Utah has several information on BYU’s search holes to fill; plus previews on for reliable performers at wide Dixie State and Snow College. receiver, tight end and defen- sive back; a new formation in Around the country defense allows for multiple opportunities to create hav- Clockwise from top left: A series previewing the oth- oc; Fred Warner has the look Utah’s Troy Williams, Utah er Power Five Conferences: of a future star at linebacker; State’s Braelon Roberts, We­ The SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big what BYU needs to do to suc- ber State’s Eric Wilkes and 12. Plus a look at the Heisman ceed this season and team ros- BYU’s Taysom Hill. Trophy prognostications, plus ter plus depth chart and sched- P. 28 FILE PHOTOS | The Salt Lake Tribune schedules for every Football ule analysis. and The Associated Press Bowl Subdivision team. WWW.SLTRIB.COM/SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW < 3 Around the state The things they’ve seen Kyle, Kalani and Matt lord over their coaching kingdoms, different though they may be. By GORDON MONSON Meyer’s follow-up in surrounding the our football program.” The Salt Lake Tribune 2005, Whittingham program, positive re- And then … last fall USU struggled at first, ab- sults are what really fell backward, finishing at 6-7. Three schools. Three teams. sorbing information matter. To that end, During this offseason, Wells Three situations. Three stag- as he went. Early on, he’s warmed up the lost six assistants to other es. Three coaches. his players wanted to BYU environment, programs. Although he says All of them different, all strangle him because made it demanding he feels no more pressure of them at different places in his old school ways but comfortable for now than he ever has, 2016 is the head coaching cycle: Kyle were a bit too rigid. He Whittingham Sitake Wells his assistants and a significant year for him and Whittingham, Kalani Sitake, got the message and his players. his Aggies. With new facili- Matt Wells. started listening to them, and Whittingham a “strict and “I believe in what our coach- ties in Logan and fan expecta- Whittingham has been the winning, a process that culmi- disciplined football guy, a es are doing and the players tions, he has to come through lead dog at Utah for 11 sea- nated in that unblemished re- man’s man,” but he says have all bought in,” he says. with something better. Think sons now, going on 12. Sitake cord in 2008. Those are les- there’s a flipside to him, too: “It’s not all fun and games, but about it this way: What hap- is the neophyte, entering his sons, changes made, that have “The great thing about Kyle is when you’re able to be happy, pens if USU has another sub- first season driving the boat at bolstered him through the how humble he is. His attitude be who you are, you can work .500 season? BYU. Wells hovers in the mid- transitional years from the is that he and we don’t have all hard. The guys feel comfort- Cache Valley wouldn’t be a dle, having won 25 games over Mountain West to the Pac-12. the answers. We’ll never have able, and so do I. It’s all work- happy place. his opening three seasons. “I hope I’m farther down all the answers.” ing well right now. I’m not “I’m very happy with what Sitake, who is 40 and was the road, a better coach than Adds quarterback Tyler panicked at all … but the sea- our program has accom - born in Tonga, and Wells, when I first started,” he says. Huntley: “He’s a cool guy. He son hasn’t started, yet. I saw plished — the wins, the bowl born in South Carolina 43 “You’re never a finished prod- knows how to engage with the how Kyle and Gary [Andersen] wins, the player graduations,” years ago, are coaching at uct. There’s always a better players. He knows how to talk and LaVell [Edwards] looked Wells says. “But there’s a ma- their alma maters. Whitting- way to do things. I’m still in to us and how to teach us.” over everything. I’m trying to jor sense of urgency that it’s ham, 56, born in California, is that category and always will do all of that. I’m a collection not good enough. There’s a at his alma mater’s rival. All of be. But I’m hopeful that I’m a The rookie of other people, borrowing trophy still missing in our tro- them feel at home. better coach than when I first from all of them. And leaning phy case.” Whittingham has taken started this thing.” Sitake, who counts Whit- on guys like I. Tuiaki, Ty Det- What Wells has learned on the challenge of coaching Whittingham says he now tingham as a mentor, having mer and Ed Lamb.” over his first three seasons is in the Pac-12. Sitake is coach- understands how critical it is worked for him as Utah’s de- this: he has more to learn. ing an independent team that to have a good rapport with fensive coordinator, came to The man on the spot “I know that every day is a wishes it were in the Big 12. his players. “I probably under- BYU from Oregon State. His new day,” he says. “Every day And Wells is attempting to estimated that when I first got transition to the Cougar head Matt Wells is a smart, de- I walk in, there’s something make his name and stake his the job,” he says. “It was just, coaching job has been, he says, tailed coach who is now in a unexpected that I had no idea claim in the Mountain West. hey, let’s go out and let’s go. I rather seamless: “There’s weird place, teetering back about. It might have to do with Wells replaced the man don’t care what you’re think- been nothing here that’s re- and forth, having made Utah football, it might be off the who changed the direction ing, how you’re feeling, let’s ally surprised me.” State’s program his, going 25- field, something in a kid’s life. of Utah State football — Gary just go to work and get it done. Through the first few weeks 16 over his time as head coach When you have 113 players and Andersen. Whittingham re- “But you’ve got to be part of his first fall camp as BYU’s and continuing much of the other staff members, you plan placed the man who bumped psychologist to do this job coach, Sitake says he’s all right: momentum from Andersen’s everything out and then you up the possibilities of Utah the right way,” Whittingham “I love what I’m doing, the peo- reign.