BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa didn’t waste words when asked about the fallout from the Brendan Sorsby saga at Texas Tech. He kept the focus on habits, accountability and the standard Kalani Sitake has set inside the program.
“Kalani teaches us to do the small things right, so in relation to everything that’s gone on out there with the media, it’s just continue to be the best version of ourselves,” Tanuvasa said during an interview with reports at the The Star in Frisco. “It’s a tricky world out there, so we just have to be the best version that we can be in every room we enter.”
Tanuvasa was speaking in the wake of a summer that turned chaotic in Lubbock after an NCAA investigation into Sorsby. The former Texas Tech quarterback admitted to placing thousands of bets over several years, including on teams he played for, and was suspended after acknowledging a gambling addiction and seeking help.
The situation escalated further when Sorsby won an injunction in court that allowed him to remain part of Tech’s team, making the following week one of the most turbulent in recent college sports history. Tech and Sorsby eventually split.
When the conversation turned to whether he had hoped Sorsby would suit up for the Red Raiders, Tanuvasa took a broader view. He said he wanted the best for both the player and the program, then pointed toward the possibility of seeing Texas Tech again later in the season.
“I just wanted the best for him as an individual, and I wanted the best for Tech, whether it was with him or without him,” Tanuvasa said. “I hope they’re the best team that they can be. And if we get the chance to play them this year, because they’re not on our schedule right now, I’ll look forward to playing them and getting our revenge this year.”
BYU and Texas Tech met in last year’s Big 12 Championship game, where the Red Raiders beat the Cougars, claimed the league title and earned the conference’s lone spot in the College Football Playoff. Most projections have BYU finishing behind Texas Tech in the Big 12 again, which would set up a possible rematch in the conference title game in December at AT&T Stadium.
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