BYU’s favorite punter is back in the headlines, but this time his family is taking center stage. Sam Vander Haar, the man who became famous for pulling a fake punt against Baylor, and turn it into a run for a first down. Such players become crucial pieces for a coach’s game plan. But his availability could be an issue. Vander Haar might have to travel back and forth for their game against Arizona as his wife’s delivery date comes closer. During this sensitive time, BYU is right there to back him up.

Sam Vander Haar is expecting his first child with his wife, Hallie. She might go into labour after he heads to Tucson. And BYU is making sure they have plans ready to transport him if required. Special teams coach Kelly Poppinga said, “I mean, we got a bunch of plans ready. I mean, we have a plan where we can fly him home on the jet and get him back in time for the game. And, I mean, there’s a bunch of things. But I think right now, we’re just playing it day by day. And if something happens, and you know, number one is he wants to be with his wife, and he needs to be with his wife when that happens.”

Hallie was initially ready to deliver on Wednesday, but with the team’s road game and their need to fly to Arizona on Friday, the team is doing everything in their power to make sure Vander Haar reaches his destination on time. But if that’s not the case, Poppinga already has a backup plan ready. “And Fuller will be ready to go. And Will (Ferrin) knows how to punt too as well, so I think we have a good backup plan if Sam’s not around,” he added.

But there’s a reason why teams might be on the look out for Vander Haar on the field. It’s his capability to puzzle their opponents. Last week, he was pretending to punt the ball against West Virginia. Instead, he faked and ran for 11 yards to get a first down, helping the team win out 38-24. “It was a lot of fun. We’ve had that one dialed up for a little bit now,” Vander Haar said. “Humbly, I think I could’ve maybe gotten to the end zone.” Sam is also the eldest in the team at 28. He came to the Cougars after averaging 38.5 yards per punt in 12 games as Pitt’s main punter. At BYU, he is averaging 43.6 yards per punt with seven punts inside the 20 and no touchbacks this season.

On top of that, he fits into the culture at BYU. Before coming into the team, Vander Haar wasn’t aware of BYU’s rather conservative and orthodox approach, but as a man with a wife who is also about to have a kid, his maturity suited the team’s culture well. “It’s been fantastic,” he said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Kalani Sitake appreciates the skill of Kenny Dillingham

Kalani Sitake and Kenny Dillingham are going to face each other this week, but the comparisons between them go way back. When Dillingham was Oregon’s offensive coordinator, he was able to dominate and get a 41-20 win against BYU. That’s exactly why Sitake has immense respect towards him. “He’s got a great offensive mind. He’s got this great football IQ and understands how to score points and put together a staff,” Sitake said. “He has this approach, being a local kid from the Phoenix area, to keep the local talent there, and he’s created this initiative to get that done.”

Dillingham was even an offensive coordinator at Arizona when Sitake was the defensive coordinator at Utah and Oregon State. But his turnaround with the Sun Devils is what turned him into a star. Last year, they were give the worst odds in the Big 12 to take home the conference championship. Instead, they bear all expectations and took home the Big 12 crown. And if not for one amazing throw by Arch Manning, ASU could have also been looking at a deep playoff run.

Sitake already knows the enthusiasm this game would bring on the field. “They play with a lot of pride,” Sitake said. “I think it’s a sold-out crowd, so he’s got the energy going in that area, and I’m excited to go play him. And he’s a great human being, too. Regardless of the result of the game, I’ll still have a lot of respect and admiration for him because he’s a great person.” Sitake will need all of his players at their best for this game. But even he understands that for cases like Vander Haar, family should always be first.