Steve Sabins, Sam White Recap LSU Loss — Sabins Slams Three WVU Players for On-Field Misconduct
Following West Virginia University’s crushing 34–17 defeat at the hands of LSU, assistant head coach Steve Sabins and defensive coordinator Sam White sat down for a blistering post-game press conference that left little room for misinterpretation. While White provided a technical breakdown of the Mountaineers’ defensive struggles, it was Sabins who seized the spotlight with a blunt and emotional indictment of three unnamed players for what he called “unacceptable conduct that disgraced the program.”
“It wasn’t just the scoreboard that embarrassed us,” Sabins began, his voice steady but smoldering. “It was the attitude, the selfishness, and the flat-out disrespect for the game of football — and for this university.”
Sabins, long known for his passionate commitment to discipline and team unity, did not mince words. Though he refrained from naming the players, multiple sideline sources confirmed that the trio under fire includes starting wide receiver Malik Jefferson, linebacker Tyrese Hunt, and sophomore safety Darnell Freeman.
According to insiders, Jefferson was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second quarter after taunting an LSU cornerback following a rare first down reception. The penalty pushed the Mountaineers out of field goal range in a critical moment that could have narrowed the Tigers’ early 14–3 lead. Sabins alluded to the moment, calling it “a selfish play that cost us points and momentum.”
Hunt, meanwhile, reportedly ignored play-calling directives and free-lanced assignments on three separate snaps in the third quarter, opening up glaring gaps that LSU quarterback Jaden Daniels exploited with surgical efficiency. Sabins was livid.
“When a linebacker decides he knows more than his coach, you don’t have a defense — you have chaos,” he said.
But it was the actions of Freeman that drew Sabins’ harshest condemnation. With WVU trailing by 10 early in the fourth quarter and LSU driving, Freeman allegedly shoved a coach on the sideline after being pulled off the field for a misread coverage. Cameras didn’t catch the moment, but multiple staffers witnessed it and confirmed disciplinary action is underway.
“That kind of behavior?” Sabins said. “He’s lucky if he sees the field again this season.”
Sam White, more measured but visibly frustrated, emphasized breakdowns in communication, missed tackles, and a lack of mental toughness as root causes of the defensive collapse.
“LSU didn’t beat us because they were faster or stronger. They beat us because we didn’t do our jobs,” White stated. “It starts with accountability.”
Sabins concluded the presser with a grave message for the team moving forward:
“We’ll review tape, but we’ve already seen what we need to. If you wear this jersey, you represent more than yourself. You represent West Virginia. And if that doesn’t mean something to you — you won’t be wearing it next week.”
Inside the locker room, the mood was somber. Sabins’ words echoed down the hall. The loss stung, but his message may cut deeper — and may just define the Mountaineers’ path forward.
