What’s special about the Cougars going on the road? -Deseret News

As Kalani Sitake waved to another crowd of BYU fans Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, the BYU head coach became emotional. His Cougars had just defeated Baylor 34-28 to earn the program’s first Big 12 road win, but the loyal performance of his supporters whenever BYU went on the road touched his heart.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but it feels good. I’m just happy that the boys played well. I’m glad they performed well in front of our fans. We love our fans so much. They are part of us.”

— BYU coach Kalani Sitake

“Impressive! I love them,” Sitake told BYUtv. “I’m one of them.”

Having grown up outside of Utah as a BYU fan, Sitake understands the appeal of BYU’s sports teams – particularly its football program. It’s more than just a game; it is a galvanizing device. Sitake also knows that travel isn’t cheap and neither are the tickets, but a community of fans, young and old, come anyway.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but it feels good,” Sitake said. “I’m just happy that the boys played well. I’m glad they performed well in front of our fans. We love our fans so much. They are part of us.”

Some fans travel thousands of miles to get to games, while others only drive a few blocks. What’s even more impressive is the fact that they come whether the team wins or loses – but a win certainly helps – and these Cougars win.

BYU’s win at Baylor gave the Cougars their first 5-0 start since 2021. BYU’s undefeated September also puts BYU at No. 17 in the AP Top 25 and tied for the top of the Big 12 standings. Their projected win total from ESPN’s computer rankings has increased from 4.7 to 9.3.

At the same time, BYU fans have found ways to contribute off the field. When the football team left Waco, area alumni donated 1,092 pounds of food and money to the Shepherd’s Heart food pantry to distribute to Texans in need. BYU alumni conducted a similar service project at the SMU and Wyoming games.

Bob Gager founded the Shepherd’s Heart pantry 15 years ago to meet the needs of the Waco community – needs that have exploded this year. His start-up project has grown into the largest religious food pantry in Central Texas. The pantry served 73,149 families in the first nine months of the year, while also supporting thousands more in other capacities, including school meals.

What Gager saw from BYU fans on Saturday was something he had never seen before.

“This is the first time something like this has happened,” Gager said of a host school that held a food drive for the opposing team’s community. “I really appreciate you. I was so impressed. So impressed. The tailgate party they threw there was like starting a small town overnight. It was huge.”

The game’s kickoff time was only announced six days earlier, leaving BYU alumni in the area scrambling to see it through. For Gager, a Waco resident and Baylor fan for 40 years, the game day donation made a huge impact.

“We are just the hands and feet. What we do every day is Matthew 25 in action,” Gager said. “If you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. That’s what it’s about. Who is your neighbor? Cougars or bears – it makes no difference. There are no markers as to who your neighbor is. What (the Latter-day Saints) did last Saturday was great.”

Last week, BYU fans helped Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson raise over $60,000 to help pay for cancer treatments for Johnson’s former high school principal. The support came after BYU’s 38-9 win in Provo.

Before the game, Johnson appealed to his followers to donate for every touchdown he scored throughout the season. BYU held its offense to three field goals, but Cougar fans opened their wallets and the dollar figures quickly surpassed the original fundraising goal of $20,000.

When asked about BYU fans and their contributions, Johnson said, “It just shows that there are a lot of great people in the world.”

The BYU Alumni Association is committed to leaving a positive impression wherever the football team plays. Their efforts drew attention last year when the Cougars traveled to Arkansas for the first time and defeated the Razorbacks 38-31.

After the game, an Arkansas fan tweeted: “I’m a Hog fan and they just came to town, donated 40 pounds of food, beat us, prayed for us and left town.” slapped a man.”

Mission accomplished – without the slaps.

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” on ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar”, available at desertbook.com.