Sean Payton shares that he’s not anti-analytics, but he won’t exactly be carrying the flag for the fourth-down revolution either.
“I think let’s talk about a few things,” Payton began, unprompted, as only the third-year head coach of the Denver Broncos broke out a history lesson. “It’s not new at all.”
Analytics, in Payton’s world, aren’t buzzwords by broadcasters. They’re deeply embedded in the front office, particularly when it comes to building a roster. Think less “go-for-it” on fourth and more “is this receiver too skinny to make it in the league?”
Take rookie quarterback Bo Nix — Denver’s quarterback of the present and future. The Broncos liked that he had one “negative” play — a sack, interception or fumble — for every 82 snaps in college. That data point, Payton said, holds up over 30 years of quarterback study.
Payton says the Broncos prototype every position, in the same way rival Raiders legend Al Davis once did. There’s an ideal frame and skillset for a cornerback, left tackle, even for a running back, where the requirement isn’t height but size. “Short, not small,” Payton explained, referencing RJ Harvey. “You wouldn’t say small. You’d say short.”
Still, Payton’s not handing over the playsheet to a spreadsheet.
“Yeah, 2025 — it’s different in-game,” he admitted. “And yet, you can’t lose track of what’s going on.”
He brought up a moment from his days in New Orleans. It was a game in St. Louis, and an eager young exec once questioned why Payton kicked a field goal instead of going for it.
“I said, were you paying attention?” Payton asked. “We had a young left tackle, and Robert Quinn had just sacked Drew Brees three times.”
Payton basically explained that there are many more things going into decisions than just the binary of going for it or not.
Payton also referenced the 2024 NFC title game, where Detroit’s Dan Campbell — someone Payton knows well — decided to go for it on fourth down rather than take a field goal with a 17-point lead. They didn’t get it. San Francisco came back and won.
“You can’t let analytics trump instincts,” Payton said.
That especially applies when it comes to two-point conversions, where Payton admits he’s got a chart, but only pulls it out situationally.
“If it’s a low-scoring game, I might apply that chart a little earlier. If it’s a high-scoring game, I won’t even look at it until the fourth quarter,” he said.
But Payton flipped the thought process on two-point plays with something he’s shared in the past. Sometimes the coach will use his best two-point play before even getting into that situation.
“If I love a two-point play, and I’m first-and-goal from the three, I’m calling that play. I’m not saving a great two-point play when I can score six with it,” Payton explained. “And then, as soon as the play’s run, you’re checking it off. You’re like, ‘Alright, what’s our next go-to?’”
All of this, Payton insists, is part of the weekly evolution — the Monday morning meeting that starts with a simple question: “What would we have done differently if we played that team again this weekend?”
For all the data, all the decades of research, all the prototype spreadsheets in the front office — Payton still relies on something old-school.
“I’ve been blessed with good instincts,” he said. “You’re not always right.”
So yes, analytics matter, and it’s one of the reasons the Broncos have their quarterback, but Payton still trusts his gut.
The Broncos are trusting both analytics and Payton’s guts to take another step in 2025.
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere announced her retirement Monday afternoon, bringing to a close her storied 36-year run as the leader of Utah’s volleyball program.
The program’s all-time winningest head coach (689-439), Launiere retires as the third-longest tenured head coach in the history of Utah Athletics behind only Greg Marsden, who led Utah’s gymnastics program for 40 years (1976-2015), and Don Reddish, head coach of Utah’s men’s swimming program for 37 years. Launiere also is the second-winningest head coach in department history behind Marsden (1,048-208-8).
“After 36 years as the head Volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said. “While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today. I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”
Launiere built Utah Volleyball from the ground up, beginning in 1990, as she turned Utah into a perennial top25 program. Under her watch, the Utes were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll 183 weeks, including twice achieving a program-record 45 consecutive weeks ranked, from 2000-2002 and again from 2019-2022.
“It is nearly impossible to put into words the impact Beth Launiere has made at the University of Utah,” said Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan. “Her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the history of Utah Athletics is well-established, and the number of student-athletes, coaches and staff she has influenced in such a positive way stands at the top of her lengthy list of accomplishments. The standard of excellence and winning culture that Beth has created and sustained here for nearly four decades cements her place in Utah Athletics history. She will be greatly missed, but her established standard and culture will carry forward. Please join me in saluting Beth Launiere on her incredible career.”
Launiere led Utah to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back in her final two seasons.
The 2025 Utes showed grit and determination going 4-1 in their last five matches of the regular season to punch their ticket to dance, including two top25 wins over No. 23 BYU and No. 13 Kansas. In 2024, Utah earned a No. 4 seed and hosted the first and second rounds at the Jon M. Huntsman Center to cap a season in which it ranked No. 23 in the final AVCA poll.
The Utes made four Sweet 16 appearances under Launiere, in 2001, 2008, 2017 and 2019.
With Launiere leading the way, Utah earned six conference championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008, all in the Mountain West), and notched 20 of the 25 20-win seasons in program history—including a record 28 wins in 2006.
Under Launiere’s watch, 16 athletes earned 24 All-America honors including Kim Turner who was the first Utah Volleyball player to receive the honor in 2003 and is the only Utah Volleyball player with a jersey retired in the Huntsman Center rafters. Turner is joined by Dani Drews who was recognized all four years she suited up for the Utes (2018-21) and is the most decorated Utah Volleyball player in program history, and most recently Kamryn Gibadlo who earned the recognition during 2024’s NCAA Tournament run.
Launiere’s coaching tree is equally impressive, having identified some of the best and brightest up-and-coming talent in the collegiate volleyball world. Most notably, Arizona State’s JJ Van Niel and BYU’s Heather Olmstead served as assistant coaches on Launiere’s staffs over the years.
Van Niel has recently shot up the coaching ranks, being named the Big 12 Coach of the Year two seasons in a row (2024 and 2025) and the AVCA’s Pacific Region Coach of the Year (2024) while leading the Sun Devils to a record of 84-13 since taking over the program in 2022. Van Niel spent three seasons in Salt Lake City with Launiere from 2015-17, two as an assistant head coach and one as associate head coach.
Olmstead has made her own noise with the Cougars, leading BYU to a 279-55 record in 10 seasons at the helm, earning the 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, and holding the highest active winning percentage of any NCAA Division I women’s volleyball coach (min. three seasons) at .848.
Launiere leaves the Utes as a four-time AVCA West Region Coach of the Year (2001, 2006, 2008, 2019), a three-time Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008), a Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2019) and a five-time Don Reddish Award winner (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005).
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Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
Blinn Cross Country Head Coach Jesse Parker (Joe Alberico)
The Blinn College Athletics Department is excited to invite former Buccaneer track and field and cross country athletes and coaches to the first Blinn College TFXC Alumni Reunion.
Blinn men’s and women’s cross country head coach Jesse Parker will host former Bucs coaches and runners at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, inside the Multi-Purpose Room at the Kruse Center on the Blinn-Brenham Campus. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.
The event will coincide with the Blinn women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kruse Center.
To RSVP, please visit www.blinn.edu/athletics-forms/xctf-rsvp.html. For more information, please contact Jesse Parker at jesse.parker@blinn.edu.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Blinn’s track and field programs were considered national powerhouses across all levels of collegiate athletics. The Buccaneers captured a combined 18 indoor and outdoor NJCAA men’s track and field national championships, winning nine consecutive titles in both indoor and outdoor competition between 1987 and 1995. Blinn also won back-to-back NJCAA men’s cross country national championships in 1993-94. Numerous Buccaneers also made appearances in the Olympic Games.
Blinn relaunched cross country in the fall of 2024, fielding both men’s and women’s programs. Since the relaunch, the Buccaneer men and women have made two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships and two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Half Marathon Championships.
This Week’s Events Saturday, December 13
Women’s Basketball hosts Niagara – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS – all tickets $8.88} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger) Sunday, December 14
Men’s Basketball hosts Oakland City – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger)
Viking of the Week Izabella Zingaro, Women’s Basketball
Averaged 17.5 points per game – shooting 83-percent from the floor on the week – while also averaging 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Women’s Basketball
-The Vikings return home for one game this week, hosting Niagara on Saturday.
-Saturday’s game will be played in Woodling Gymnasium, where the Vikings are 3-0 this season.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, going 1-1 including a 72-55 victory at Oakland.
Men’s Basketball
-The Vikings will have a single game this week, hosting Oakland City on Sunday.
-Sunday’s game will mark the second inside Woodling Gymnasium for the Vikings, a place where they picked up a 109-56 victory over Waynesburg earlier this year.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, with Jaidon Lipscomb averaging 19.0 points and the duo of Priest Ryan and Josiah Harris averaging 9.0 rebounds through the first two #HLMBB games.
Track & Field
-Cleveland State opened the 2025-26 indoor season with three school records.
-The Vikings are now off until the Falcon Early Bird Open on Friday, Jan. 9.
-Natalie Keller set the 5000 mark with a time of 17:54.57 at the YSU Open.
-Olivia Todd and Madison Morris followed it up with school records in the 300 at the Tom Wright Open.
Two Hope College juniors have claimed MIAA Athlete of the Week distinction: Parker Hovey in men’s basketball and Dylan Terpstra in men’s track and field.
Hovey (Hart, Michigan / Hart) is the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the first time.
Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) is the MIAA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for the first time.
Hovey averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks over two games: a 71-64 victory at Ohio Northern University on Friday and a 60-59 win at Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday.
The 6-foot-5 forward matched his career high with 21 points on 80% field-goal shooting at Ohio Wesleyan (8-of-10). He sank two go-ahead free throws with 10 seconds remaining and made all five of his attempts at the foul line.
Terpstra clocked the fastest 400-meter time in NCAA Division III on Friday with a school-record run of 48.16 seconds at Grand Valley State University’s Holiday Open.
The communication major eclipsed Brandon Wolliston’s 2017 Flying Dutchmen record in the event on GVSU’s 300-meter track and topped a field of 18 runners during the season-opening meet.
Terpstra also led off the second-place 4×400 relay that finished in 3:20.58.
TEMPE – No. 2 seed Sun Devil Volleyball is ready for its fourth NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal appearance in program history, facing No. 3 seed Creighton at the Lexington Regional on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. MST/1 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
This is the first of the two regional semifinal matches in Lexington, Ky. on Thursday. No. 1 seed Kentucky plays Cal Poly 30 minutes following Arizona State’s match. The winner of both matches will face each other in the regional final on Saturday, Dec. 13. The time will be determined following all matches on Thursday. It will be either 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. EST and will be on ESPN. The winner of this region will advance to the national semifinals in Kansas City on Dec. 18.
For Arizona State, this is the fourth trip to the round of 16 in program history, second in the last three years. The other years were 2023, 1995 and 1994. Additionally, this is the second time in school history ASU has won two matches in the NCAA Tournament, both under head coach JJ Van Niel. The program record improves to 14-21, 5-2 under Van Niel.
How to follow The Sun Devils will take on the Bluejays in the first regional semifinal match across the nation on Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN2, with live stats available as well. Updates will be provided on social media on X (@SunDevilVB) and Instagram (@sundevilvolleyball). More information can be found on the NCAA Championship website.
Sun Devil outlook No. 8 Arizona State (28-3, 17-1 Big 12)
Head coach JJ Van Niel has changed the Sun Devil Volleyball program in his three seasons. He has guided the team to back-to-back Big 12 Championships and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, going 86-13 overall, 5-2 in the postseason. He has been the conference coach of the year in each of his first three seasons as a head coach, the third NCAA volleyball coach to achieve this across the country. The other two are Mary Wise (Florida, 1991-93) and Geoff Carlston (Ohio University, 2003-06).
The regional semifinal match will be Van Niel’s 100th match as a head coach. He has a 86-13 record (.868), all while in Tempe these last three seasons. Of the eight head coaches in the program before him, he has more wins than four of them. He has the best winning percentage of any ASU volleyball head coach through 100 matches, regardless of a win or loss in the regional semifinal.
Arizona State is guaranteed at least the second-best winning percentage in program history, currently at .903, which would be second behind 2024’s .909 (30-3). The top three winning percentages in team history are under Van Niel.
Junior opposite Noemie Glover, the Big 12 Player of the Year, has been a force for the Sun Devils this year, particularly in the last three matches. She has hit over .500 in all three wins. She’s hit that clip or better five times. This year, she’s had double-digit kills in all but one match she’s played in, four times surpassing 20 kills.
Not far behind Glover in kill total is senior Bailey Miller, also having a strong offensive season. She’s having her most productive season yet, currently at 383 kills, 50 more than any other year. She’s had double-digit kills in 15 of the last 16 matches and leads the team in double-doubles with 10.
The block has been a big factor in Arizona State’s success this year. There have been 21 matches this season that the team has had double-digit blocks. Three on the roster have over 100 blocks: Colby Neal (168), Ella Lomigora (132) and Glover (108). Neal ranks nationally in blocks, currently No. 7 in blocks per set (1.50) and No. 8 in total blocks.
Opponent outlook No. 11 Creighton (27-5, 16-0 BIG EAST)
The Bluejays have had a strong season, going undefeated in conference play and winning their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST title. This is their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals, fifth overall.
Hosting the first two rounds, Creighton made the third round after a tough 3-2 win in the first round against Northern Colorado followed by a 3-1 win over UNI in the second round.
This will be the second meeting between ASU and Creighton, first since 2002, which the Sun Devils won.
No. 2 Kentucky (27-2, 15-0 SEC)
The Wildcats have won the last 24-straight matches heading into this weekend. They won the SEC Tournament and have won nine SEC titles in a row. Their two losses on the year were to Pitt and Nebraska.
As a No. 1 seed (No. 2 overall), Kentucky hosted the first two rounds and is hosting this regional. Kentucky beat Wofford in straight sets in the first round, then beat No. 8 seed UCLA in four sets to advance to the regional semifinals.
ASU trails in the all-time series against Kentucky, 1-2. However, all meetings were decades ago, the last meeting being in 1986, which ASU won.
Cal Poly (27-7, 14-4 Big West)
The Mustangs won the Big West Championship to earn the autobid for the NCAA Tournament, their first postseason appearance since 2018.
This is Cal Poly’s seventh appearance in the regional semifinal in team history, the first since 2007. The Mustangs are the only team in this year’s tournament to take down two seeded teams.
Arizona State leads 4-2 in the all-time series against Cal Poly, last winning in 2021 in straight sets.
Sidney Yap, a George Mason alumnus and former track and field athlete, is set to participate in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, taking place December 9-20.
The 33rd edition of the multi-sport event returns to the location of the very first regional Games in 1959, as the Thai capital of Bangkok plays host together with the Chonburi region. The full SEA Games schedule is available to view here.
During his four years as a member of the Patriots’ track and field program, Yap developed into one of Mason’s top throwers, earning multiple Atlantic 10 Championship appearances and cementing his place in the program’s record books. Yap credits his time at George Mason for preparing him to compete at the international level. He believes that the four years of balancing academics, athletics, and an internship gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams.
“I really have to thank all the coaches, professors, and managers that have been through this journey with me the past several years,” said Yap. “Without the support of them, I don’t think I would be where I am at today.”
One of Yap’s most memorable moments at George Mason was breaking the school record in men’s hammer throw during the season opener of his final year. He recounts the experience as unexpected but incredibly rewarding, as he had two throws that surpassed the previous record.
“It was even more memorable because there was a lot going on throughout the year as a team, and I was fortunate enough to have Coach Becky (Hartley) there,” Yap said. “She was the one that saw something in me and gave me a chance to compete for Mason. Being able to celebrate with her and have that moment where all the hard work is on display, that is something that I will never forget.”
Yap’s passion for track and field is what drives him to continue competing. He loves the process, the training, and the constant pursuit of improvement. Despite most athletes retiring after college, Yap felt he had the discipline, drive, and physical ability to keep going.
In addition to his love for the sport, representing the Philippines added an extra layer of motivation for Yap. As a first-generation Filipino-American, he takes pride in his heritage and is inspired by the opportunity to wear the country’s colors.
“I very much throw to achieve goals that I set for myself,” said Yap. “But to also make my family and friends proud is something that inspires me as well.”
Competing in the SEA Games is an opportunity for Yap to honor his family’s heritage. It allows him to visit the Philippines, see his relatives, and express gratitude for the love and support he has received throughout his journey. As Yap prepares to compete in the SEA Games, he looks forward to representing the Philippines and contributing to the success of his country.
“It makes me very proud being able to represent where my family comes from,” Yap said. “I can’t express my gratitude to all the family and friends who have shown me love and support through this journey. At the end of the day, I want to make them proud.”
His dedication, discipline, and love for the sport continue to drive him towards achieving his goals and making his family and friends proud.
Beyond athletics, Yap has also begun building a successful professional career. A graduate of four academic programs from the Costello College of Business, Yap currently works for Navy Federal Credit Union, where he supports member-focused financial services and applies the same discipline and work ethic that defined his collegiate experience. Balancing full-time work with elite-level training has strengthened his time-management skills and reinforced his commitment to pursuing excellence both on and off the field. Read the recent article on Yap’s career success LINK.
“I have trained ever so hard for this moment, and I have faith leading up to these games that I know I can put out a solid performance,” said Yap. “Likewise, I personally want to contribute towards the success and make the country proud.”
