done because he doesn't have what it takes to effectively and consistently lead. He is capable of a big win here and there, but is wildly inconsistent through lack of discipline, accountability, direction and identity. His teams often wilt when an opponent steps on their neck, like Utah and Washington. Sitake has been given enough time to show some progress. Toledo was crucial. That loss was just ridiculous. BYU cannot consistently finish drives any more than they can consistently finish games. Fans can handle getting throttled by Washington - even though BYU's defense continued to quite ineffectively rush three most of the game, allowing their QB to spend the day surveying the field and making easy completions like he was playing Madden against a two-year-old.

Personally, I'm tired of the deer in the headlights look from Sitake as he stands on the sidelines. He does not give me the impression he is leading the team - ever. He's a big cheerleader with headphones. Look at coaches like Wittingham and Peterson - none of us question whether they are leading their team and are actively involved in game planning, and in game adjustments/calls. When Sitake goes against coaches of that caliber, he's got no shot. He doesn't add that critical element of leadership to his team. Sitake is a figurehead. Worse, he's soft and, therefore, is not effectively leading his team to consistently play big. He gave us a taste of what is possible vs. Tennessee and USC; however, he then completely falls apart at home vs. Utah and Washington - and lays an egg vs. Toledo.

My wife and I have attended every game this season but for Toledo. That means we travel from Las Vegas for any game we attend. We are traveling to Florida for next week's game. We have been all over the country watching BYU, from Washington, DC to the Rose Bowl, from Seattle to Orlando, from Dallas to Ann Arbor, from New Orleans to Boise, etc. We are not average BYU fans. We are not what I would consider "whiny" BYU fans. We love our team. However, we are among those in the fan base wondering why we are willing to invest so much in a team that embraces mediocrity. That's what we have in Sitake. Now that Wilson is out, he will have that to hang his hat on as another excuse for a subpar season.

Honestly, I have been sour on Sitake since he went out of his way to publicly humiliate Ty Detmer. He clearly had some kind of conflict going on and I thought throwing his OC under the bus each week in post-game interviews was very weak. It demonstrated insecurity, poor leadership. He began moving in that direction again after the Toledo loss regarding other members of his staff. Sitake takes digs at his staff, then comes back with something like "But, I'm the head coach so I have to fix it." Then, of course, he doesn't fix it - because he can't fix it. Who has faith that Sitake is really capable of fixing anything? He is a super nice guy with a great personality, and represents BYU well as a figurehead. But, he's just not a good head coach and I think we have enough data to see that we are not moving in the right direction. Look at his record vs. rivals. It's abysmal. He will likely lose to USU and/or BSU. Why? Because those coaches are better and game planning and game execution. I don't like thinking that - but that's how I feel. Yes, I would love BYU to win out. That's just not likely to happen. The loss of Wilson obviously factors in predominantly. But, even more so is Sitake, who himself lacks the "IT" factor that is needed to be an effective leader as an HC.

So, that's what's wrong with me. Count me among those with little faith in Sitake. I would love to be proven wrong. I hope he is able to prove those who feel as I do wrong. But, from the beginning, Sitake has created a weak culture of permissiveness, based on his desire to be everyone's best friend. That has its place, but Sitake has not been able to find the right balance, from what I have seen. Barely eeking out six wins each season so BYU can get to a bowl game is just not enough. We will likely get there this season, but more is expected of a guy like Sitake, who makes more now than any other person in BYU history. Mediocrity is not the goal and will only get him so far - regardless of how nice he is to Wittingham et al or how well he personally represents BYU as a personality when so called upon.