Latest news with #Big12MediaDay
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona State defensive lineman Clayton Smith discusses team's mindset at Big 12 media day
Arizona State football defensive lineman Clayton Smith explains what his team's mindset is at Big 12 Media Day.
Dominion Post
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Defensive line Edward Vesterinen calls WVU home and didn't want to leave, boosting room of fresh faces
MORGANTOWN — Once Rich Rodriguez was announced as the new head coach of West Virginia, players on Neal Brown's 2024 roster had a decision to make. Leave in the portal and start over, or take a chance on Rodriguez with a lot of unknowns to follow. Defensive tackle Edward Vesterinen was one of the many players forced to make the difficult decision. However, for him, it wasn't too hard. 'After the season ended, I was uncertain on what was going to happen,' Vesterinen said at Big 12 Media Day. 'What am I going to do? I gave it a chance. I stayed for the spring, and I was happy with the spring, so I decided to stay.' The spring wasn't the only factor leading to Vesterinen staying. Vesterinen also enjoys the small town and nature. He mentioned how he enjoys Monongahela River, Cheat Lake and Cooper's Rock. Vesterinen is from Helsinki, Finland, which is over 4,000 miles from West Virginia. There's not much recruiting of football from Finland, so the only Power Four offer Vesterinen received was from WVU back in 2020. His other offer was from UMass. 'I wasn't heavily recruited coming up from high school in Finland,' Vesterinen said. 'West Virginia was my only Power Four offer, so I took it. It ended up being the best decision of my life.' Now, Vesterinen becomes one of the only starters on WVU's defensive line to return for the 2025 season. Defensive coordinator Zac Alley's focus for the defensive line is to create more sacks and tackles for loss, which was a weakness under Brown. Vesterinen leads Alley's attack, and when Vesterinen heard Alley was chosen as defensive coordinator, it gave Vesterinen even more reason to stay. 'He's definitely a mastermind on the defense,' Vesterinen said. 'When I was talking to Rich Rod in January, and he was telling me that we were getting a SEC defensive coordinator, that kind of got my hopes up. I was getting really excited. Once we landed Zac Alley, and now we've been through spring ball, and I see how he runs his defense. I'm really excited.' To help Alley's goal of generating more sacks, Rodriguez and the DC went to work in the transfer portal. In the fall, Rodriguez made a splash and landed UTSA pass rusher Jimmori Robinson. Robinson had 10.5 sacks in 2025, which was eighth in all of college football. Most of the players ahead of him are now in the NFL. In the spring, Rodriguez added more depth to the defensive line with Missouri's Eddie Kelly Jr. and Incarnate Word veteran Devin Grant. Vesterinen said it's taking some time learning all the new additions to the D-line room. 'There are so many guys that there aren't really many clicks, like, friend groups anymore,' Vesterinen said. 'Everybody's new and everybody has to make friends. That many new people creates an atmosphere of getting to know each other better.' Despite it only being a couple of weeks since the new transfers, who were added in April, Vesterinen was able to list pretty much every player in his room. Defensive line coach William Green spends the most time with the line and is witnessing the gelling of the new group. Green has his work cut out for him. There are high expectations for the defensive line, especially with the addition of highly anticipated Robinson, set to make an immediate impact. Just two months before the season, it sounds like the defensive line group is in good shape, especially with WVU veteran Vesterinen back for 2025. 'I'm really happy for the D-line group,' Vesterinen said. 'Especially the new defensive line coach, William Green. I would call him a technician. He's a very developmental coach, who I'm very happy to have.'
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Not a care in the world': Deion Sanders sparks buzz after refusing to explain summer health mystery in Frisco
'Not a care in the world': Deion Sanders sparks buzz after refusing to explain summer health mystery in Frisco (Image Via X) On July 9, 2025, at Big 12 Media Day in Frisco, Texas, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders stepped in front of a room full of reporters. Dressed sharp and smiling, he seemed ready to talk football. But when the topic of his health came up after weeks of absence from the public eye, he stayed silent. His choice not to answer left many wondering. Why the silence? What really happened this summer? The questions grew louder, but Coach Prime kept the focus on his team. Here's what we know so far. Why Deion Sanders declined health questions and focuses on team At roughly 4:38 PM, Deion Sanders took the podium at The Star, the NFL Dallas Cowboys' building near Frisco, Texas during Big 12 football media days. Reporters pressed him about his health after he missed spring and summer camps, and his planned June keynote in Florida was also canceled. He was firm : 'I'm not here to talk about my health, I'm here to talk about my team,' he said. Then he shared this: 'I'm looking good. I'm living lovely. God has truly blessed me. Not a care in the world. Not a want or desire in the world'. Though he gave no details, Deion Sanders said he's feeling well and is back to work. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Reports on health absence and support from peers In June, sources including ESPN and Reuters reported Sanders was at his Texas ranch for an 'unspecified health issue' . His son, Deion Sanders Jr., told fans in a YouTube livestream that his father was 'feeling well' but could not say when he'd return to Sanders has had health issues before,he had two toes removed in 2021 and missed 2023 Pac‑12 media day due to blood clot problems. Also Read: Cowboys Star KaVontae Turpin Under Fire After Police Find Weapon In Car During 97 MPH Traffic Stop In Texas During media day, Deion Sanders thanked Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and fellow coaches for their daily calls to check on him. He said, 'I love them, they've been calling and checking on me, making sure I'm straight'. He also addressed football matters, his coaching staff, quarterbacks, and team changes for the upcoming season. But when asked again about his health, he shut it down: he's here for football, not medical updates. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Awkward Moment With Deion Sanders at Big 12 Media Day Sparks Instant Buzz
Awkward Moment With Deion Sanders at Big 12 Media Day Sparks Instant Buzz originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Appearing at Wednesday's Big 12 Media Day, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders was the hottest ticket among the press in attendance. The 57-year-old coach rarely holds back his feelings, a trait that has both worked for and against him since his return to the college football world in 2020, when he accepted the head coaching position at Jackson State. Advertisement As noted by college football insider Brett McMurphy, when asked a question by The Athletic, Sanders dismissed the journalist's question and refused to answer. "You gonna be on that bulljunk," said Sanders. It's just another example in a long line of difficulies Sanders has had with the media. In August 2024, Sanders drew headlines for refusing to take questions from a CBS-affiliated reporter at a press conference. After the reporter introduced himself from CBS Colorado, Deion cut him off. 'CBS? I'm not doing nothing with CBS. Next question. … They know what they did,' likely indicating he had an issue with the local network, not necessarily the specific journalist. Advertisement Deion Sanders at Buffs Later that month, the Colorado athletic department forbade Sean Keeler of the Denver Post from asking Sanders questions. The university cited that Keeler had made personal attacks against Sanders. Fans reacted swiftly online to question Sanders' motive. "He knows he's going to be lucky to win 6 games so I doubt he wants to talk about his football team," said one fan. "Shocker. Egomaniac gets his butt hurt over an innocent question," replied another. "Deion won't be there more than two more years. He was only there to coach his kids anyway," commented a fan. The Buffaloes are coming off a successful 2024 season, where the team finished with a 9-4 record. The Big 12 program hadn't had a nine-win season since 2016. Advertisement Colorado has yet to name its starting quarterback. The Buffs brought on a senior transfer, Kaidon Salter, from Liberty. However, true freshman Julian Lewis joined Sanders at Wednesday's media day, perhaps suggesting the former five-star recruit may have an inside track to start. Related: Julian Lewis Follows Shedeur Sanders' Lead at Colorado's Big 12 Media Days Related: $6 Million College Football Head Coach Lands Extension Through 2030 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Deion Sanders declines to discuss health at Big 12 Media Days
Colorado coach Deion Sanders, speaking to reporters at Big 12 Media Day in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday, declined to discuss details of an undisclosed medical condition that has limited his activity with the program. "I'm not here to talk about my health, I'm here to talk about my team," Sanders said when pressed by a reporter to address his recent health challenges. "I'm looking good. I'm living lovely. God has truly blessed me. Not a care in the world. Not a want or desire in the world. ... I look good. I'm feeling good." Neither Sanders nor Colorado officials have given specifics about the nature of the health issue the coach is facing. He has been away from Boulder, Colo., missing annual youth camps he normally would have attended. When repeatedly asked about his health, Sanders insisted he feels "good" and turned the focus to his team. "I never waver. I never say why me, regardless of what's ahead of me or what I see. ... I'm truly thankful," Sanders said of what motivates him. "Truly a go-getter. I want to win at all costs. I want to win the right way. I want to set the right standards. And I want to prepare these young men for life not just for football, I want them to be professional." Sanders also shared his love for his fellow Big 12 coaches who he said have been supportive. "The coaches of the Big 12 are incredible. I love them. They've been calling, checking on me, making sure I'm straight," Sanders said. "But you talk about knowing football, teaching football, communicating with their kids, none of this stupid animosity or jealousy. I love the coaches of the Big 12. I want to beat them all, but love them. I truly do." Recent social media posts showed visits to Sanders' estate in Texas by former NFL cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and the rapper Lil Wayne. Sanders was seen in an Instagram video walking, a bit gingerly, with the rapper. However, he appeared to be walking normally onstage at Wednesday's press conference. Sanders had previously addressed his health in a social media post on June 11. "I can assure you all that everything is OK and will continue to be so," he posted to X. "... I'm excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program. When we arrive back to Boulder you will be updated on everything." A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sanders required multiple surgeries for persistent blood clots in recent years. He had two toes amputated in 2021 to address clotting issues, but it is unclear whether that is related to his current health status. The Buffaloes open the season at home on Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
