The A-Rod Interview I Needed To Hear

Maybe I'm only speaking for myself, but it's kind of a weird time to be a BYU football fan. Let me explain some of the complexity of my internal football feelings right now.

HAND ONE: The BYU football team is one of the favorites in the Big 12 this year. There is a returning quarterback. There is the returning Offensive Player of the Year. The defense has brought back just about everybody. Kalani turned down Penn State. Notre Dame is coming to town this year. There is so much to like and be excited for about BYU football right now!

HAND TWO: Kalani almost left, and that's a weird feeling. Resources became one of the biggest focal points of the offseason. Since Kalani decided to stay, there have been unconfirmed rumors aplenty about what was promised and when it would come to fruition. But in recent months, we're starting to hear Kalani talk more publicly about resources and how he's not asking for difficult things. He's not making any accusations, but there is a very real feeling of frustration when he talks about these things. It doesn't mean anything yet, but it could mean everything down the road. And it's just kind of weird.

(There are other things that have contributed to some of the haze too, like Parker Kingston, Ephraim Asiata, missing on Bode Sparrow, and a few other things. Those things happen every year, but there is no reason to pretend like they aren't real.)

The juxtaposition of those two emotions is kind of difficult to tango with. There is so much good happening in Provo and the future feels as bright as it has ever felt. That bright future could come to fruition as soon as this season. But this weird cloud has prevented me from going full hype mode.

I don't know if I'm alone in this weird island of uncertainty, but I did stumble upon some news that has allowed me to start inching towards the excitement of BYU football season.

If you haven't heard Aaron Roderick's interview with Spencer Checketts from this week (who am I kidding... it's an interview with Spencer Checketts, I know most of you haven't heard it), our guy said a few things that have provided some peace to my football soul.

(More parenthetical commentary: I personally enjoy Spencer Checketts. His off-mic stuff and affinity for Utah compared to BYU notwithstanding, I think he's generally one of the better personalities that we have in the state of Utah. But I digress..)

Checketts was candid about his view of BYU's standing and their positioning for the future. He believes that the Cougars are among the most capable programs when it comes to navigating the tumultuous future of college sports. He made a comment about BYU's ability to compete in NIL and the financial commitment that the programs has seemingly made.

Frankly, it was the kind of comment that has made me wince over the last few years. When it's discussed by non-BYU people, the financial ability has been overstated. Non-BYU people believe the resources in Provo know no limits. BYU people, including Kalani, talk about resources and you would think BYU is only squeaking by the hair of the chinny chin chins. I was nervous for how A-Rod would respond.

“I’m not super involved with the money part of things, but I can say that we have enough to compete. Kalani has mentioned that we’re never going to be the highest-bidder for players, and we’re never going to be the top salaried team in the country or whatever, but the University has provided us with the things we need to compete," he said.

Well, well, well... this feels like some grounded reality talk! No hyperbolic speak about endless resources and no claims that BYU is operating paycheck-to-paycheck either? This feels great!

"We don’t lose many players to the portal. We’ve lost very few players - key guys, our starters that play a lot and do good things here. We’ve lost very few guys and I think that’s a result of great team culture and then also there’s a lot of players who have a reason other than just football for wanting to be here," Roderick continued. "I think the combination of having resources and a great team culture, and not losing a lot of players to the portal, is allowing us to have some stability that a lot other teams don’t have. That’s a big part of our success right now."

Oh my gosh this feels almost too grounded to be true!

"The other things is just the continuity of our coaching staff, we don’t have a ton of turnover. Coaches like working for Kalani. They like how he treats us and how he cares about our families. I think that that creates a work environment where everybody is excited to come into the building every day, players and coaches. There’s not a lot of anxiety about making a mistake or (wondering) what are the consequences of this or that. Every day it is, ‘come to work, cut it loose, and just go for it. Be aggressive. Have fun. And go after it.’ That’s a fun way to come to work and to approach this game," he said to wrap up his answer.

The old adage when there are two sides to a situation is that 'truth is probably in the middle.' Ladies and gentlemen, A-Rod just gave us the middle. And it feels fantastic.

BYU has what they need to compete. That's the offensive coordinator saying that. The offensive coordinator is responsible for recruiting the most 'expensive' position on the football field, and he emphatically states that the University has given BYU coaches what they need to compete. They won't be the highest bidder, but they can compete.

I've spent the last two seasons lauding the culture that Kalani has instilled in the BYU locker room, and A-Rod emphasized that culture as well. He talked about how it is a differentiator and gives BYU an advantage that other programs simply don't have.

We have talked about how important it was for BYU to keep Kalani Sitake in Provo, and A-Rod hit on that too. Kalani creates a culture that coaches like. Because coaches like it, they tend to stick around. Jay Hill got the job at MICHIGAN and only one coach followed him. That is astounding, and it has given BYU a stability advantage.

Resources To Compete + Culture + Stability = A Football Future To Be Excited About

Later in the interview, Roderick talked a little bit about what BYU is up against this year, and how their culture is going to be put to the test.

"The first thing is that - we have to understand that we had a great year last year but that doesn’t mean anything this year. We won five or six games last year where we were down by double-digit margins and we came back to win. Granted, we won the game so that’s awesome. But the margin of error is very slim," he said. "As long as we stay focused on that, that you have to stay humble and you have to respect each opponent every week and be ready to play - the same approach every week. I know it sounds like coach speak. But saying it, and actually doing it are two very different things. A lot of teams can’t handle that. They can’t handle the week after week grind of, ‘OK, start over from scratch this week. New opponent, same humble approach, and be ready to play no matter who it is."

It took me a little longer than normal but I'm all in. This BYU team is going to be good. The future of BYU is still bright. Things are good in Provo, despite some clouds in the sky. Nothing is perfect and BYU still has room to grow. That's not an indictment of the program, that should be encouraging for fans to hear. BYU isn't in a pit they have to dig out of, but rather, they are a bus of momentum that is just getting started. There is more improvement to be had and BYU is on their way there.

Who knew that all it would take to calm my stormy fan mind is a forecast of 68-degree overcast weather? Things aren't perfect in Provo, but they aren't on fire either. What an awesome spot to be in.