LAS VEGAS — Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham had to leave his wife Bri in Colorado where the family was vacationing before another hectic football season gets underway. The reason for the detour was Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, which started Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday.
It was the first formal event in the new conference for the Sun Devils and three other former Pac-12 foes in Arizona, Utah and Colorado. The addition of those teams gives the Big 12 teams in 10 states stretching from one coast to another. Eight teams took turns on the main stage, then rotating to other media stops and promotional shoots around the floor of the stadium, which serves as home to the NFL’s Raiders.
The conference issued 500 media credentials for the annual event, which began with an address and question and answer segment with commissioner Brett Yormark.
“I’ve been saying it for a year now, but the four corner (schools) was the ‘A’ scenario for us when we thought about realignment. Big brands, great markets, engaged fan bases, both academic and athletic excellence,” he said. “We got deeper and better in football. We got deeper and better in basketball and we got deeper and better in Olympic sports. So it’s been a win for this conference and I’m thrilled and excited to officially welcome the four corners. As I said, they’re here today, obviously. And I think we’re in for something pretty special as a conference.”
With the Big 12 swelling to 16 teams, it was necessary to stretch the event over two days. ASU’s biggest rival, Arizona, is among the teams to be featured Wednesday.
The Pac-12, which held its 2023 media day in Las Vegas, featured each coach and two players from each team. But the Big 12 likes to go big as evidenced by the recent conference expansion. Four players accompanied each…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/big-12-football-media-days-220139088.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2024-07-09 22:01:39
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