This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Riding down the escalator at the Los Angeles airport during one of his many recruiting trips, Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake found himself irritated at the slow pace.
"I'm getting so mad and then I think, 'Well all I have to do is step down the thing,' " he said. "It was so funny. We've made everything so easy in our society, I'm even complaining about how slow an escalator moves. We have all this obesity in our country because we've made it so easy."
Being mindful of the rising obesity numbers plus knowing firsthand the value of competition in building one's fitness as well as confidence is one of the reasons Sitake is a big supporter of Title IX.
Football coaches are generally expected to oppose Title IX, since money made by football is often used to fund smaller sports. And some believe it threatens football's scholarship numbers as schools seek fair participation.
However, Sitake values the opportunities of Title IX not so much as someone involved in athletics, but as the father of 8- and 5-year-old girls, Skye and Sadie.
Soccer, basketball, swimming, running and a variety of other sports keep his girls active and healthy.
"I know from my own perspective as a football coach how important those things are to keep them active," he said. "I'm an old-fashioned guy. We have video games and treadmills that simulate running, but you have to get out and exercise."
As a supporter of Title IX, Sitake believes women should have equal opportunity, even when it comes to playing that most cherished of all sports — football.
But just like many others, he still struggles with the realities those equalities might bring. His oldest daughter, Skye, wants to take up tackle football in a youth league.
"I'm still a protective father, so I worry about her getting hit," he said. "I don't know if I'm brave enough for that yet."