BYU players prepare for a snap during spring drills in Provo on March 14, 2024. Spring camp concluded last Friday. | Aaron Cornia, BYU Photo
One could say BYU learned a lot of lessons during its foray into the Big 12 this past year.
A big lesson in the losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State is how important small, seemingly simple things can be the difference between wins and losses.
That pick-six against Oklahoma while knocking on the goal line in LaVell Edwards Stadium was a backbreaker and pivotal in a loss that could have been the difference in getting to a bowl game. You could pick a number of plays, break down the execution, the decisions and the play calls that, if different, could have produced a different outcome.
“It’s a conscious effort, something you have to work on all the time. Once everyone has bought in, the trajectory can go really high, even in the middle of a season, even within a game. We are hoping to hit that sweet spot so we can face any type of adversity.”
BYU coach Kalani Sitake
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once said, “I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually they make the difference between winning and losing.”
This spring, BYU worked on small things they hope will lead to big things — at the least, more consistency.
Part of that is putting some new eyeballs on details, thus hiring TJ Woods for Aaron Roderick’s offensive line and run game, and former NFL tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride to work with BYU’s tight end corps.
This is also the case for adding consultants Chad Kauha’aha’a (UCLA, USC, Utah, Wisconsin, Oregon State, Boise State, Utah State, UNLV, Weber State) and Gary Andersen (Utah, Southern Utah, Utah State, Oregon State, Wisconsin).
It could also be said of the shakeup and additions to BYU’s strength and conditioning…
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