Indiana University Athletics
B1G Media Days Kick Off 2015 Season
7/30/2015 7:43:00 PM | Football
Speech | Social | Photos // Media: Sights & Sounds | Wilson | Rayner | Spriggs | Sudfeld |
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
CHICAGO - Indiana football players Adarius Rayner, Jason Spriggs and Nate Sudfeld joined Indiana coach Kevin Wilson as Hoosier football's representatives at the annual Big Ten media days at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.
The Hoosiers spent Thursday conducting interviews, posing for photographs and making their rounds with media members from across the nation.
We followed the Hoosiers throughout the day, keeping tabs on where they were and what they were up to.
9:23 a.m. –We're off. Rayner, Spriggs and Sudfeld meet in the downstairs lobby of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place where the 2015 Big Ten Media Days were held. Wearing Indiana colored shirts and athletic shorts, the Hoosiers are just about set to begin their day meeting with the media.
9:28 a.m. –A fan stops the three as they make their way to a photoshoot with ESPN. He wants to snap a picture of the three Hoosiers standing together and pass along good luck wishes.
9:30 a.m.—It's picture time. The ESPN photographers ask the players to "show some personality" in their group and individual photoshoots, and the players obliged.
Sudfeld posed for a few photos while doing the "whip dance," which he says is one of about two dance moves he has nailed down. Rayner had a few shots taken of him caressing the football like a baby and some others while flexing.
Spriggs, an offensive lineman, was less keen on touching the football.
"I'm not allowed to ever get ahold of this thing," Spriggs said, laughing. He had a hard time keeping his composure at times with Sudfeld and Rayner standing behind the photographer heckling him as he tried to hold a straight face.
When the individual shoots are finished, the three gathered together for a few group shots, which even included taking a few selfies on a cell phone.
"Photoshooting with my teammates, that's pretty fun," Sudfeld said afterword.
10:05 a.m. –After the three players got changed into custom-made suits, Sudfeld's first interview stop was with the Spartan Radio Network out of Michigan State.
The interview touched on a variety of topics from Sudfeld's confidence level heading into his final season to his rehabilitation process after injuring his shoulder to his charity work in Africa.
"I'm really excited about the season," Sudfeld said. "I feel like we're really good on both sides of the ball, which is something that has us feeling confident."
Before his interview ended, Sudfeld was asked to gauge his confidence heading into Friday's Kickoff Luncheon where he will be one of two players giving a speech.
"I'm a little nervous," Sudfeld said.
11:08 a.m. –With the topic of his speech still on his mind, Sudfeld tells his teammates that he's got almost the entire thing planned out. He told Rayner and Spriggs that he even knows what sorts of gestures he's going to use heading to the podium.
"He may be a little nervous about it, but he's going to do well with it," Spriggs said.
11:32 a.m.—The players joined ESPN.com to discuss the upcoming season.
Each sat down for one-on-one interviews to talk about their expectations for the upcoming season and discuss the growth of the Big Ten as a whole.
Sudfeld said he'd stack the talent level in the Big Ten Eastern Division against any other division in the country, pointing out the fact that Ohio State is looking to repeat as National Champions.
11:39 a.m. – Between interviews, Sudfeld made time to take a group of selfies at one of the Big Ten Network's selfie stations. He took a sequence of four photos while doing the whip dance, which has definitely become one of his go-to moves in Chicago. He said fans can expect to see it on game day.
11:47 a.m.—While Rayner and Spriggs were finishing up with ESPN.com, Sudfeld headed to another interview with the Big Ten Network.
In his interview, Sudfeld revealed that before every game he likes to relax by listening to music and sitting in a hot tub to clear his mind.
During that same interview, Sudfeld was asked to sing the Indiana fight song. He knew every word.
11:58 a.m. – Sudfeld's speech was once again a topic of discussion. He joked that if he ever gets nervous of freezes up, he'll just start quoting lines from the movie "Miracle."
12:02 p.m. –Sudfeld's was back with the Big Ten Network doing an interview for the network's show, 'The Journey."
Unlike many of the other interviews throughout the day, this one strayed away from football. Sudfeld was asked questions on a variety of off-the-field topics from his charity work in Africa to his evolving relationship with Wilson.
12:07 p.m. – While Sudfeld was talking about his relationship with Wilson, Rayner and Spriggs were at the selfie station. The two teamed up to take a photo together for the Big Ten Network to Tweet out.
12:25 p.m. –Spriggs and Sudfeld joined Big Ten Network TV host Taylor Rooks at a Facebook station where they took rapid fire questions.
12:30 p.m. – Rayner split from his teammates to do his own interview with the Big Ten Network while Spriggs and Sudfeld were interviewed by ESPN.
Rayner, who was admittedly anxious at times throughout the day, was told that the interview with the Big Ten Network would be relaxed—and it was.
He spent time talking about IU's annual Nearly Naked Mile and his ambitions to make a positive impact in the community after football. He said a recent class he took inspired him to want to start a non-profit organization to help children in need.
Rayner said he enjoyed his first media day experience. When asked about his favorite part of the day, he had his answer almost immediately.
"Hanging out with you guys," Rayner said. "I love talking to everybody."
1:00 p.m. – Wilson made his first major appearance of the day at the coaches' podium to address a room full of several hundred media members. (WATCH HERE)
Wilson fielded questions on a variety of topics ranging from where he thinks his team will improve to injury concerns.
One of the areas Wilson seemed the most excited about was the potential of IU's offensive and defensive lines.
"I think that will be our biggest strength," Wilson said.
1:18 p.m. – Immediately after Wilson's podium interview ended, Wilson once again found himself surrounded by media outside the main ballroom.
Wilson spent time expanding on his answers to previous questions and continued to applaud his offensive and defensive lines. He also said this year's team is the deepest he has ever had while at IU.
"We're ready to roll this year," Wilson said.
2:45 p.m.—After a short break, the players were once again made available for interviews.
The Hoosiers addressed media in small groups around podiums where they discussed the upcoming season in greater detail. After about 30 minutes at the podium, they moved to roundtables were they continued to take questions from media members who were coming and going.
"It's definitely fun to talk to everyone and see all these different players on other teams you don't normally get to see," Spriggs said. "That's one of the coolest parts is how relaxed it is. You get to see old friends and have a good time."
3:15 p.m. –Wilson was also available to the media at the podium during this time. He continued to field questions throughout the session, discussing IU, the Big Ten and college football as a whole.
"We have a chance to do some really good things this year," Wilson said.
6:00 p.m. –Once the media day festivities came to an end, the Hoosiers headed off to Joe's Bar for the annual On the Road with the Hoosiers fan dinner where the day came to an end.
