A lot of media's going on with Penn State from football attending Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday, July 23 to women's volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley giving her acceptance speech for The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance to Micah Parsons getting put on blast by his own team's owner. Here's everything you missed.
Penn State football will take the mic Wednesday, July 23 at 3:45 p.m. ET for Big Ten Media Days
Head coach James Franklin joined by quarterback Drew Allar, offensive lineman Nick Dawkins, and safety Zakee Wheatley will participate in Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday, July 23. Franklin will give an opening statement and the four will be available for media and questions starting at 3:45 p.m. ET (12:45 p.m. PT).
The event will be streamed live on Big Ten Network and the Fox Sports App.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley gives heartfelt thank you at ESPYS and Saquon Barkley wins two awards
Katie Schumacher-Cawley received The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2025 ESPYS. She thanked her family, Penn State staff, team, and the medical professionals who supported her along the way in her battle against stage 2 breast cancer.
". . . I'm beyond humbled and truly grateful for this moment. This past year has been one I could have never imagined. It's been filled with challenges, with grit, with tears, but also with perspective, purpose, and unbelievable love. Cancer changed my life, but it didn't take it. It didn't take my belief, it didn't take my spirit, and it didn't take my team," Schumacher-Cawley said in the beginning of her acceptance speech.
Former Nittany Lion running back Saquon Barkley won two of the three awards he was nominated for as well at the award show. Though he was not in attendance, Barkley won "Best Play" and "Best NFL Player." Teammate Jordan Mailata accepted his award for his reverse hurdle over a Jacksonville Jaguar defender in Week 9 of the 2024 regular season.
Luke Lilledahl wins gold at Budapest Ranking Series
Penn State wrestling's Luke Lilledahl won gold at the Budapest Ranking Series as part of Team USA. He defeated Islam Bazarganov in a 3-1 decision to claim first place. Lilledahl won 4-2 over Niklas Stechele and 7-6 over Rahul to get to the gold medal match.
Teammate Levi Haines did not win his weight class and did not make it into the wild card round to place on the podium.
Jerry Jones takes shot at Micah Parsons over contract extension standstill
During a Monday media availability with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons' contract extension was up for discussion. Jones took a shot at Parsons' high ankle sprain injury during the 2024 regular season, which caused him to miss four games, as reason to not move forward with his deal for the time being. In the midst of the dig, he also commented on Dak Prescott's season-ending hamstring injury in regards to Dallas spending too much on a player just to get injured.
Parsons reposted JJ Watt's response on social media to Jones' insensitive comments with sarcasm, writing, "Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you."
Saquon Barkley, Jahan Dotson, and Tariq Castro-Fields receive Super Bowl LIX rings
Three former Penn State football players received their Super Bowl LIX rings. Barkley and Jahan Dotson both played in the game against Kansas City, and Castro-Fields was a practice squad player throughout the 2024-25 season.
The rings were designed to feature various season and franchise accomplishments, including retractable wings to reveal the Philadelphia Eagles' motto during the season and 40 diamond points writing out "WORLD CHAMPIONS" to represent the number of points Philadelphia scored in the Super Bowl.