Brothers divided: Sitakes will be on opposite sides of rivalry on Saturday

When Kalani and T.J. Sitake were kids growing up in Provo, they used to play a game they called "Down, Set, Hike."

"We'd stand about five yards apart," T.J. explains. "We'd get four downs each and try to run past each other, and we'd practice tackling each other."

The Sitake family didn't have much money, so instead of a football, they used a shoe.

"He was 9 and I was 5," T.J. says. "That's when we generated our love together for football. He's always been my mentor."

"We were best friends since we were little," Kalani remembers. "We got bloodied up playing every day for years. We did that until I was a senior in high school. I was older, but he was bigger or the same size as me. We were taught by our dad to be competitive. We would kill each other."

Over the years, the brothers have remained close. "It's hard for us to be separated. Our voices, and the way we laugh, are similar," Kalani says. "People can't tell us apart on the phone. We're a lot like twins."

On Saturday, when BYU hosts Utah in the annual grudge match, the Sitake brothers will be separated like never before as they compete on opposite sides of this bitter rivalry. It's just a different version of "Down, Set, Hike" but on a much larger stage, with much more at stake.

"I just wish I were playing on Saturday," Kalani says.

T.J. Sitake is a senior defensive lineman for the Cougars and Kalani Sitake, who played running back at BYU from 1994-2000, is in his first year as the Utes' inside linebackers coach.

Prior to the season, knowing that this game was looming on the horizon, they discussed it. "We wished each other the best. Our dream was for BYU and Utah to be undefeated going into this game," T.J. says. "I want us to win all the way. Both of us want to demolish each other. We've always been that way in anything. We're really competitive. And supportive, when we're not face-to-face."

Kalani says he's trying not to think about the fact he's facing T.J.

"It doesn't matter that my brother's on the other side," Kalani says. "It doesn't change the way I prepare my players and it doesn't change the way I coach. For four hours on Saturday, it's all about winning. Afterwards, we'll hug and tell each other we love each other. There are a lot of divided homes in this state. That's what makes the rivalry great. It's a huge game."

T.J. and Kalani say they haven't talked much this season. "It's been very little, compared to how much we normally talk to each other," T.J. says. "We usually don't talk much during football season. He is a dedicated coach, like he was a player. Mostly, it's to congratulate or console each other after games."

Heavily recruited at Timpview High, T.J. decided to sign with BYU — in large part because he wanted to follow in his older brother's footsteps.

"I came to BYU pretty much because of him," T.J. says. "I looked up to him and watched him play. BYU's been a part of my life even before I came here. He's been my biggest inspiration."

The Sitakes were actually teammates for one season at BYU, in 1998. "Sometimes I sit in the locker room and try to remember what it was like hanging out with him," T.J. says.

After he finished up at BYU, Kalani began his coaching career at Eastern Arizona in 2001 before returning to Provo to serve as a graduate assistant at BYU in 2002. Then he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Utah. When Kalani accepted the job at Utah last winter, T.J. was thrilled for his brother, overlooking the fact that he would be working for the enemy.