HONOLULU – BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake addressed the media in Hawai'i Monday morning as the team begins its final day in prep for the bowl game Tuesday prior to a final practice session and a service activity to a local hospital.
Coach Sitake, along with senior wide receiver Micah Simon and senior defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku, took part in the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl press conference on the Royal Hawaiian Ocean Lawn in front of a picture-perfect backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Ghanwoloku was also one of six Cougars named to the 2019 Phil Steele All-Independent Teams on Monday.
Coach Sitake on being at the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl
"Representing BYU, we are excited to be here. On behalf of our team, administration, university and our fans we are excited to be in the SoFi Hawai’i Bowl to play this game against the University of Hawai’i. I first want to congratulate the University of Hawaii on an excellent season. We’ve had some opportunities to see them play in our common opponents and we are really impressed and admire the way they play the game with so much passion and excitement. We are looking forward to the matchup."
Coach Sitake on playing Hawai'i
"We’ve had a great connection with this team and with this place, having so many players that are involved and connected to the state of Hawai’i. I’m just really impressed and have tons of respect for the University of Hawai’i and their leadership with Nick Rolovich. He’s done an amazing job winning their division in the Mountain West. I’m looking forward to the game. I have brought receiver Micah Simon and defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku, who has played a lot of different positions, and I’m just really exited to play one more game with these seniors. I appreciate all the work they have put into this program, all the sweat, blood and tears that they have done, and I’m looking forward to just enjoying this last game with them."
Wide receiver Micah Simon on playing in the bowl game
"Going to a bowl game is a great accomplishment but like (Coach Sitake) has been saying ever since we got here and even before we got here when our prep started, it’s about winning the game. That’s what we are going to go out here to do."
Defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku on playing in his last game
"We came here to win. It’s not just a vacation or to mess around. It’s a real game we are treating like any other game. Everyone’s mind is right, we are in it, so winning is a big thing to me personally and to us. Micah and I are seniors and it’s our last game to play with our boys, and the underclassmen. Every game counts, whether it’s a bowl game or it’s not, you need to play it like it’s your last."
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors' head coach Nick Rolovich and his players also joined the Cougar representatives for the press conference to give their final thoughts on the bowl game.
Coach Rolovich on playing in the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl against BYU
"We are grateful for the bowl game. It’s been a great week so far. We are getting closer to the game so the focus has changed a little bit. I like coach Sitake. We are friends. They have also had a season where they won some big games and kept fighting. I think there’s a lot of similarities in the mindsets of the teams, and the matchup I think is really good for football fans, not just today but throughout the history of both of our programs. We are happy to be here. It’s been nothing but first class."
Following the press conference BYU put in its final practice of the 2019 season at local high school to put the finishing touches on the game plan for Tuesday.
Sharing Holiday Cheer
Members of the BYU football team and Cosmo also visited children at the Kapiʻolani Medical Center in Honolulu on Monday to bring gifts and share in the Christmas spirit. The players played games and enjoyed making new friends during their visit. Ty’Son Williams, Zayne Anderson, Sione Finau, Tristen Hoge, Kieffer Longson, Thomas Shoaf and Bracken El-Bakri represented the Cougar football team.
See some photos from the day in the slider above. Click the following link for more information, photos and video about each day in Hawai'i at the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl.
BYU plays Hawai'i in the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, at 3 p.m. HST at Aloha Stadium on ESPN.
GAME INFORMATION
BYU (7-5) vs. Hawai'i (9-5)
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. HST
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Aloha Stadium (50,000)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV/Streaming: ESPN
RADIO: BYU Sports Network, ESPN Radio
BYU Radio Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM HD2, KSL Newsradio 1160 AM/102.7 FM
Live Stats
Pregame/Postgame: BYUtv
TICKET INFORMATION & FAN GUIDE
Tickets available at BYUtickets.com
Hotels and bowl festivities information