Former Cougars Rob Morris, Brett Keisel, Justin Ena and the Heimuli brothers have been in his home. So have current players Ray Feinga, Harvey Unga, Fui Vakapuna and many others. His friendships with Cougar players go back to punter Lee Johnson, quarterback Jim McMahon and Vai Sikahema. Yet, he's had Utes, many of them his nephews — Kautai and Loma Olevao, Sione Pouha and Chris and Ma'ake Kemoeatu — in his house as honored guests.

"Tom is a level-headed guy who likes to sit down and slowly figure things out. He's a philosopher," said Bishop Tuialeva, who has known Tom Sitake since both were teens attending the church-owned Liahona High School outside Nuku'alofa, Tonga. "He is very wise and he loves his family and sons. I just love the guy."

The director of vocational rehabilitation at Utah State Hospital in Provo, Tom has been under scrutiny since son Kalani followed Ute defensive coordinator Gary Anderson from Southern Utah to the Utes.

While sitting down for lunch on Monday, a longtime friend, Timani Tonga, called him on his cell phone and asked who he'd pick this week. Tonga then told Tom as the patriarch of the family, he had to choose his son.

Another phone call. His brother Monty, a BYU graduate and die-hard Cougar fan, called and asked if he could score some tickets for Saturday.

Once viewed as a rock-solid BYU loyalist, folks in Provo wonder where his loyalties stand these days. A few seasons ago, he had a jersey made, and one side of it was red, the other blue. When asked if he'd pose in that for a picture, Tom declared he just couldn't do that to his son and refused. He is on a fashion binge to wear red for seven days leading up to Saturday's game.

Recently, his wife, who is a vice principal at an Alpine School District school, wanted him to go to a BYU practice and get a football signed. Jackson Unga urged Tom to accompany him, which he did. But he felt the eyes of a few on him at that practice, questioning his motives in being there. Then LaVell Edwards saw him, walked up and shook his hand and said, "Kalani is doing a great job, you must be proud of him."

Then Edwards called him Mr. Blue.

A year ago, after Utah defeated Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and a group were celebrating and invited him to be part of a photo shoot, which he did. Whittingham introduced Tom Sitake to the others, "This is Mr. Red."

You see the spotlight Tom Sitake dwells in these days.

Still, it's simple for the soft-spoken father, who describes himself as loyal a BYU fan as you will find.

"I will choose my son, I always will. When the game is over, win or lose, he will have my support. If BYU loses this game, I'll feel very sad for those players, but I will be proud of my son," Tom said.

When he talks to Kalani, it is rarely about football. "We talk of family and of his children, my two grandkids that I love so much.