Eddie V: From Finland with Love

He knows he’s made huge strides both as a person and as a football player as he ends his final spring as a Mountaineer.

“It is really hard to believe because when you come here, you think you have so much time,” Vesterinen began. “But, really, it goes quickly. Life goes quickly if you don’t pay attention.”

With this knowledge, Vesterinen took a different approach this spring.

“I’m trying to bring a different energy, knowing that any snap can be my last,” he said. “I want to enjoy the friendships I’ve got and enjoy playing for this school.”

Needless to say, Eddie V, as he is known, has undergone a metamorphosis as both a person and player.

“Big change, I’d say,” he began. “As a person, I’ve had a lot of development. I’ve grown to be a man here and it’s hard to explain, but a lot has changed. It’s been a 180. As a player, I feel like I’m climbing toward my real potential here. I’ve taken big steps ahead and everything is starting to click more and the game is starting to slow down.

“I’m able to make quick decisions on the run. It’s just the playing speeds. I’m thinking much faster than I was.”

The Americanization of Eddie V was a process, to be sure.

“When I first came here, all I saw was the movies,” he said.

While he didn’t say whether he thought America was more like “The Godfather” and “Casino” or like “Forrest Gump” – which he said is his favorite – and “Thelma and Louise”, he didn’t say, but make no doubt if you get image of American based on movies you saw the picture is quite distorted.

“I saw “Terminator”, which is a cool movie, but it doesn’t really reflect American society,” he said. “I came here and found people were very friendly, very talkative and I feel I have become more Americanized,” he said. “I like to talk more, express myself and I enjoy the long summer here.”

Vesterinen was obsessed with getting a chance to play in America.

He found his way to WVU, with defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley giving him a chance.

Now, he’s helping others from Europe who want to follow in his footsteps. He admits he hears from a lot of European wannabes asking for advice.

“I hear from many people,” he said. “They keep sending me highlight videos. I like helping them a lot. I want to be able to provide them the same help I was given when I was in that position,” he said.

Eddie V knows what they are up against.

“It’s hard for Europeans. No one is going to come find you. You are going to have to be able to show yourself. I tell them to be involved in camps around Europe because that can give you exposure and might lead to a summer camp tour in America and that might lead to offers,” he said.

“Working with the best in Europe, you’ll be found.”

And if there were only one piece of advice he could toss their way?

“During my journey when I was trying to get a scholarship, I stopped and looked in a mirror, looked at myself and asked ‘Am I good enough? Am I going to make it?’ At the end of the day, you only need one coach, one person to find you.

“I didn’t know when that would happen. It’s a very short window and the window is going to close because you age. But don’t quit. You never know when it is going to hit.”

He has made the most of his chance and believes he will be rewarded with a big senior season.

“We have huge potential as a defense,” Eddie V said. “The previous years we were playing more as individuals who were trying to reach our goals, but this year we are becoming a team and care about each other. I think that is what is going to determine most games; how you relate to your teammates and is he willing to take that one more extra step.

“Unity is being comfortable with your teammates and having fun knowing winning is more important than individual awards,” he went on. “Individual awards will come if we win.”

He understands that he’s at a position that offers highlight reel plays on a regular basis but accepts that.

“Playing boundary tackle is .... eh, I celebrate when I see other people doing their jobs. For me, I can’t try to make plays because I will make mistakes. I will lose my responsibility if I go out there and try to do too much. I just need to do my job and wait for it, because the play will come to me at the end of the day.

“I value rings more than how many tackles I have. I’ll do anything for the team. I’m that kind of person.”