If you have ever seen the Kalani Sitake Heisman T-Shirt, you should probably know the story behind it.
It’s one Sitake can only laugh about now.
Back when Sitake was a fullback at BYU, he took a picture during fall camp while striking the Heisman pose. It was at the photographer’s request and he was told it would never see the light of day.
But decades later when he was tabbed the Cougars’ head coach, that picture was plastered on T-Shirts and sold to the masses. Even Sitake’s children started buying up the shirts to have around the house.
(Courtesy Royal Army) BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, then a fullback on the team, strikes the Heisman pose during fall camp in the late '90s.
“Don’t ever trust somebody when they say, ‘Play around and take a picture that no one will ever see,’” Sitake said while laughing. “... I’ve regretted it every day since. People are wearing the shirt, people keep promoting [it] and putting it out there and selling it. Making money on my likeness.”
Sitake is reminded of the memory every fall camp when he sees his own players taking pictures.
“It is always the photographer,” Sitake said. “Try something goofy. Try something different. I’m trying to look hard and be done in like 10 seconds. And they are making me do all this other stuff. Throw the ball in the air and all these crazy poses. All you young people, one day 20 years from now that picture might end up on a T-Shirt and people are wearing it.”
Sitake is largely fine with the picture now. His kids laugh about it. But the head coach still wants the story out there of how it came to be.
“It’s OK, it actually makes people laugh,” he said. “My kids laugh at it when they see it. And they bought some of those shirts. I can’t believe it. I paid for it in many different ways. Even out of my pocket.”
Quick Hits
• BYU fullback Masen Wake, who became a fan favorite while hurdling defenders, retired from football two weeks before the season.
• Freshman running back LJ Martin capped off an impressive week of fall camp with a strong scrimmage. Can he play in year one?
• Mark Pope says transfer Ques Glover left BYU over NIL issues. The coach says he needs to do more to make BYU competitive in the NIL space.
• The BYU-Utah rivalry will be back soon enough. Here’s why both sides think it is a good thing for college football.
Around the Big 12
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Cincinnati — The Bearcats were back on campus for a scrimmage after a few weeks away. Where do their Big 12 preparations stand?
Houston — Can the Cougars keep the pressure up on the quarterback this year?
Iowa State — Gambling scandals continue to rock the Cyclones.
Kansas — Are the injuries stacking up before the first week of the season?
Kansas State — Will Howard continues to get national recognition.
Oklahoma — Which players to watch this fall.
Oklahoma State — A coordinator that could be key for the Cowboys.
TCU — The path that awaits Sonny Dykes after 2022.
Texas — Arch Manning impresses during scrimmage.
Texas Tech — A sellout awaits when Houston comes to town.
West Virginia — First look at Will Grier under center.
