ABOUT THIS EPISODE
A brewing tension has emerged in Provo between BYU football coach Kalani Sitake and Athletic Director Brian Santiago, centering on resource allocation, unfulfilled promises, and institutional support for a surging program.
The friction broke into the open when Sitake—fresh off a stellar 12-2 season and a Big 12 title game appearance—publicly voiced his frustrations with the athletic administration's financial backing. Having turned down overtures from major programs like Penn State to stay at his alma mater, Sitake bluntly stated that his program has been forced "to do the most with the least". He noted that while other sports on campus—most notably men's basketball—have seen heavy institutional investment, football has lagged behind in receiving the competitive resources, NIL infrastructure, and recruiting budget necessary to keep pace within the Big 12.
The public airing of grievances fueled wild, unsubstantiated social media rumors that Santiago was on the verge of being fired or stepping down. The speculation reached such a fever pitch that BYU's athletic communications department took the unprecedented step of creating an official account on a major fan message board to shoot down the firing rumors
Beneath the rumors lies a deeper philosophical divide over how BYU manages its athletic department. Insiders suggest that promises made to secure Sitake's long-term commitment have been slow to materialize under Santiago, leading to visible strains in their working relationship. Though Santiago remains in his post, the university quickly moved to adjust internal oversight—hiring Marc Hill as a deputy athletic director specifically focused on football. Ultimately, Sitake's public comments have put the administration on notice: if BYU wants to transition from a localized overachiever to a consistent national power, leadership must drastically scale up its commitment to the football enterprise.
Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
KALSHI
For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. .
The Game
Don't miss this chance to celebrate 40 years of The Game with 40% off your entire order. Visit https://TheGameCaps.com and use promo code LOCKEDONat checkout.
Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.
Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
