Kyle Whittingham's tenure at Utah faces scrutiny after BYU's third consecutive victory in the heated Holy War game. This episode dives into the implications of Whittingham's potential retirement and its impact on Utah's football program, the BYU Cougars & Big 12 Conference as a whole. 

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham decided to return for the 2025 college football season, marking his 21st year with the Utes. This decision followed a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2024, which was Utah's first season in the Big 12. Rumors of his potential retirement have been circulating, especially after the challenging 2024 season. 

Whittingham himself acknowledged that had the Utes won the conference championship last year, he "might not be sitting here" as head coach for 2025. He indicated that the team's poor record and the "bad taste" of the disappointing finish were a primary factor in his decision to return, as he didn't want to "step away on that note" and felt a commitment to turning the program around. Utah finished with a 2-7 Big 12 league mark and its first losing record in a decade. 

While the primary publicly stated reason for his return was the disappointing season, the rivalry game against Kalani Sitake and BYU is a significant factor that also played into his decision. The two rivals faced off recently, with Utah falling short to BYU, which provided a motivation for the next meeting. BYU has now won the last three meetings, breaking Utah's previous nine-game winning streak. For a coach like Whittingham, who has been with the program for over three decades in various roles and has an extensive history with the rivalry, ending his career with a win over the Cougars would be a major accomplishment. Utah has a succession plan in place, with defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley designated as the head coach-in-waiting, but Scalley wants to be a head coach and questions about his patience level are growing louder. 

Texas Tech's controversial ban on tortilla throwing also comes under scrutiny. We examine the cultural significance of this tradition and debate the merits of the university's decision to prohibit it as the hest of the Brett Yormark and the Big 12 Conference. 

Stereotypes and misconceptions about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as LDS or "Mormons") and their fervent BYU fan base are common, often fueled by sensationalized media or a general lack of understanding. 

One of the most persistent misconceptions is the idea that the LDS community, and by extension the BYU fan base, is monolithically white and sheltered. While the Church and BYU were historically less diverse, they have a growing international membership, with less than half of all members residing in the United States. Furthermore, the BYU athletic department itself features athletes of various faiths and ethnicities, including Muslim and Jewish players, who have publicly spoken about their acceptance by the community. BYU has made concerted efforts to promote diversity and inclusion to combat this perception.

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Jake Hatch brings you daily coverage of the BYU Cougars with the Locked On Cougars Podcast. Locked On Cougars brings BYU fans the latest news and comprehensive coverage when it comes to the BYU football and basketball programs as well as a look at the other teams in the BYU athletic department. Jake gives you his unique insights and insider information about the Cougs as they continue "on the trail to fame and glory" every weekday, along with interviews with players, coaches, experts, and alumni that you will not find anywhere else. 

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