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.

"I have no mixed feelings at all," T.J. says. "I'm just happy for him. My brother will always love BYU, no matter where he works. I just look at it as him making progress as a coach. This is his first Division I job. It's a great situation for him. When it comes to football, the rivalry's still there. My loyalty's to BYU, of course. That doesn't change how hard I'm going to play for BYU. My heart and my loyalty is with BYU and this team."

For Kalani, taking a job at Utah was an easy choice, doing what was best for him and his family. He also realizes he's not the only one who has jumped from one side to the other in this rivalry. Former BYU wide receiver Aaron Roderick is in his first year as Utah's receivers coach, and Ute head coach Kyle Whittingham was a star linebacker for the Cougars in the 1980s.

"Life is about adjustments. Aaron and I are stuck in the middle," Kalani says. "We have a great role model in Kyle Whittingham. He's handled the situation well. I had a great experience down there (at BYU). Now it's a different chapter in my life. The rivalry is for fans. Football is my life. Right now, I'm a Ute. This is where I'm wanted."

Kalani does acknowledge that it will be strange to be with the opposing team at LaVell Edwards Stadium. "I've never been to the visitor's locker room," he says. "I have no idea what it looks like. There's a first time for everything."

As for the Sitake family, rivalries are nothing new.