Saturdays in Athens

George Somerville 

28th July 2021

 AN SEC MEDIA DAY SPECIAL:

PART 1

You can tell that football season is upon us when the great and good gather in Hoover, Alabama to talk about the South Eastern Conference. 

With last year’s SEC Media Week postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was perhaps greater ever anticipation for the event.

In the first of a two part review of who said what, George Somerville brings you the best of SEC Media Week 2021…….

The Times They Are A Changin' - Greg Sankey

Photo Credit: SEC Network

In a classic “If we knew then what we know now”, the SEC Commmissioner Greg Sankey’s opening lines would have made perfect sense. Not that he didn’t make sense – change is coming and is inevitable. However, perhaps we just weren’t prepared for the magnitude of the change which was lurking back stage. But more of conference expansion later. That wasn’t to raise it’s head until Wednesday and this was still only Monday.

The Conference is grateful to Sankey for driving them through the Covid pandemic last season. While other conferences stuttered and stalled. the SEC kept its focus and in the end completed a full conference-only schedule.

So Sankey took the stage with as high an approval rating as a football commissioner is likely to ever have. This was his moment and he knew it.

As any great keynote speaker will testify, Sankey’s opening remarks would resonate over the course of the week. Quoting Bob Dylan, Sankey welcomed the media of the South Eastern Conference with:

“Come writers and critics who prophesise with your pen. Keep your eyes wide open, the chance won’t come again. And don’t speak too soon for the wheel’s still in spin, and there’s no telling who that it’s naming, because the loser now will be later to win, for the times they are a changing'”.

Somewhat prophetically in terms of what was due to unfold in the following days, Sankey went on to say,

“If you wonder if I pick songs that have some meaning. I think I got that one right, maybe a little early because the times are changing”.

Sankey would go on to chronicle all that had been thrown at the conference, universities, coaches, players, fans and frankly the world since the last time that the SEC family had been able to meet collectively – covid, civil unrest amidst social inequality, TV contract rights, economic uncertainty, Name and Image Likeness rights….no end of drama had been bestowed on College Football since 2019.

But despite the adversity, the commissioner was able to talk positively about the future. The overriding message was the conference’s duty to it’s student population and it’s support of the student athlete as these uncertain times play out. Especially – but not exclusively – with regards to NIL.

The Commissioner ended his opening remarks by repeating that famous line from that famous song. A song that was written at a time when America was going through unprecedented change. Sankey finished with:

“The times are changing. It’s not simply a song lyric, it’s a reality. It is an uncomfortable reality, but that’s how progress is made. Through it all, I remain convinced in the Southeastern Conference – our best days are still ahead”.

And with that, the Media Day event was under way…. 

#ItJustMeansMore

Two Championship Quarterbacks - Ed Orgeron, LSU

Photo Credit: SEC Network

If LSU head coach Ed Orgeron felt any pressure going into SEC Media Days, he certainly wasn’t showing it. Orgeron was a commanding figure striding onto the stage with his wide Cajun grin. Opening his segment, Orgeron boomed across the room.

“We’re very proud to be here at SEC Media Days, representing the LSU Tigers”.

Orgeron continued,

“Obviously, we’re excited about this season. We have a lot of guys returning. We have an experienced team. We have a very good team. A very good coaching staff coming back, and I love the mindset of this football team and the leadership of the football team”.

Clearly this is a massive season for Orgeron and his staff. Having built perhaps the greatest ever college football side in 2019, the 2020 season by comparison was calamitous.

However, the Bayou Bengals have made some coaching changes and Orgeron is optimistic. Coach O said this of his 2021 coaching staff which will be music to Tiger fans,

“A couple of things on offense. We brought back Jake Peetz and DJ Mangas to run Joe Brady’s offense of 2019, one of the most prolific offenses in the history of football, and that’s what we’re going to. I think those guys are going to do a tremendous job.

 

We’re also excited about the acquisition of Brad Davis in the summer, one of the best offensive line coaches in the country, along with Kevin Faulk and Mickey Joseph. Those guys are going to do a tremendous job for us”.

But like all SEC football teams – or indeed any college football team across America – the position of Quarterback is the question that is top of the agenda as far as Tigers fans are concerned. So with Myles Brennan and Max Johnson slugging it out, what does Orgeron think of the battle for QB1 so far? Well, understandably he wasn’t giving much away,

“Obviously, on offense we’ve got a battle at quarterback. I think it’s healthy for a football team. I believe in both quarterbacks. Myles Brennan and Max Johnson are two championship quarterbacks. Whoever wins is going to do a great job at LSU. It’s going to be a tremendous battle, and we’ll see what happens”.

With the news that the Tigers were moving back to the 2019 Offense, it was no surprise that questions would come around how the QB’s would fit into this scheme. Orgeron explained,

“I don’t know if we’re going to see another Joe Burrow”.

Orgeron said, before elaborating,

“Whether or not Max, Myles, or Garrett can run it like Joe, I’m not expecting that, but I want to see the same type of plays, I want to see the same type of adjustments that were so successful for us.

Now, that doesn’t mean that’s the only thing we’re going to run. But that is going to be the basis of our offense, which is a spread offense, which we learned under Joe Brady”.

If you have read Orgeron’s book “Flip the Script” you will know that he places a lot of emphasis on learning from past mistakes. Criticism mounted over his coaching hires in 2020 and the media jumped on the opportunity to gauge his views on learning from last season.  He was asked what he has learned during his time in Baton Rouge. Orgeron did not hesitate in saying,

“Do it the way I want. That’s it. If it’s not done the way I want, I’m going to fix it. If I see something broke, I’m fixing it”.

However, Orgeron defended his decision making by saying,

“If I’d have interviewed Bo Pelini face to face, I would have still hired him. There would have been no question about that because of his reputation and because of the guy I knew. There’s no question about that”.

So despite the confidence the program remains under pressure to deliver in 2021. A lot has to click in place to allow that to happen. It’s going to be another interesting season in Baton Rouge.

#GeauxTigers

I Got A Text From Quavo - Kirby Smart

Image Credit: SEC Network

SEC Media week has a habit of throwing up the odd surprise and there more than a few chuckles over the course of the week. But the first surprise came when Smart was asked about his thoughts on NIL rights.

When talking about the education that UGA is providing to it’s student athletes, Smart name dropped his relationship with American rapper, Quavo. Smart told the story of the rapper being the first to contact him about the impact of NIL on his young players. Kirby said,

“I got a text from Quavo, who’s an avid Georgia fan. A lot of people in this room probably don’t know who Quavo is. The first text I got was two weeks after NIL started, and he said, ‘Coach, please tell the players be selective who they put their brand with. Don’t just do anything.’ He used the term “thirsty.” Don’t be thirsty. Be selective in what you do, selective in how you handle your branding. You’ve got tax issues now you’ve got to deal with”.

So not necessarily the advice given out (which seemed sound) but more the fact that Quavo had a direct line to Coach Smart was what caused the stir around the room.

Asked about how this had come about, Smart said somewhat nonchalantly,

“As far as Quavo, that started back around the playoff run, National Championship run, he reached out, communicated through a couple of our players. He’s come and spoke to our team before. I have a lot of cell phone numbers in my phone”.

Nonetheless at least half the room had no idea who Quavo was. Also who else is in Smart’s black book?

#GoDawgs

The Guy's Made A Million Dollars Already? - Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

Photo credit: SEC Network

From the point that both Mississippi schools hired the most interesting men in college football, their attendance at SEC Media Day was eagerly anticipated. And given that their debut’s were delayed by twelve months due to Covid-19, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say expectations were  at fever pitch when Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin took the stage on Tuesday.

And while there was never any doubt, Lane Kiffin did not disappoint.

He talked at length about Nick Saban reading his tweets, the analytics behind going for it on 4th and long, developing QB Matt Corral, improving defensively, losing weight and playing one on one basketball with Dabo Swinney (challenge accepted but still to be played). But perhaps Kiffin’s most genuine reaction was in response to the comment by Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban that his sophomore QB, Bryce Young, had secured a NIL contract which would earn him close to $1m prior to throwing a ball in anger this season. 

Kiffin – unaware of Saban’s comment – was overwhelmed by the quote. Kiffin paused for a time, contemplating what he had just heard before saying,,

“That number just blew me away”. 

Turning to his SID, he said

“You didn’t prepare me for that. That’s amazing. He made a million dollars and hasn’t started a game yet? Wow, I don’t even know what to respond to that, but great for him”.

The Mississippi Head Coach went on,

“It is neat the players can make money now and profit off of their hard work and what basically everybody else in America gets to do. So I’m excited about it. I think it’s very challenging trying to figure out how these things happen and what’s legal and what’s not in all that. I was asked earlier about it. I said, I’m excited for it. I wouldn’t want to be compliance departments, but a million dollars, whew”.

A few questions later, Kiffin was still taken aback..

“I’m still blown away on this Bryce Young. The guy’s made a million dollars already? That’s good, man. He don’t need to play next year against us, then. I mean, that’s mind blowing”.

#HottyToddy

I Bet They Would - Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

Photo credit: SEC Network

Of course the huge story which was menacingly lurking around during Media Week – and which eventually broke on day three – was the speculation that the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma were in the midst of breaking away from the BIGXII. Since then this has been confirmed by the two universities, who have announced their resignation from their conference and are in the process of applying to join the SEC.

Brent Zwerneman’s breaking story about the BIGXII breakaway swept the halls of the Wynfrey Hotel in downtown Hoover like an express train. What had been an entertaining and convivial get together of the SEC fraternity was suddenly thrown into chaos.

Of course the timing of the leaked story – just as Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork and Head Coach Jimbo Fisher entered the lobby of the Wynfrey – was not coincidental. It was done for MAXIMUM effect.

A stony faced Bjork, incidentally the only SEC AD to attend in person, was less than impressed with the story that in-state rivals the Texas Longhorns planned to join the Aggies in the SEC. He was visibly annoyed when he said,

“We want to be the only SEC program from the State of Texas”,

Bjork continued to remonstrate,

“There’s a reason why Texas A&M left the BIGXII. To be standalone, to have our own identity”.

By the time that Jimbo Fisher made it to the stage we all knew what he was going to be asked. 

“I bet they would”

Jimbo smiled in response to a journalist’s comment that UT and OU wanted to join the SEC.

Asked about what he thought of the program’s intentions to leave BIGXII, Fisher carried on,

“I don’t know. I’m just worried about A&M, you know what I mean? Listen, we’ve got the greatest league in ball. That’s the choices they make or what they do, I don’t know, but I don’t know how I feel about it. I’m just worried about A&M. I control what I want to control here”.

Texas A&M are high on many people’s radar to challenge Alabama in the SEC this year. With a large number of starters returning, the talent and consistency of scheme is there – although a question mark remains over the quarterback who replaces four year starter, Kellen Mond. Fisher had this to say about his two young quarterbacks, Zach Calzada and Haynes King,

“When you talk about those two guys, Zach is a very talented man, can throw the football very well, but everybody gets caught in his arm. Zach is a really good athlete and can run around. 

 

I think Zach is an NFL talent. I think Haynes King is an NFL talent. Haynes can really throw the football. He’s smart, he’s competitive, he can run, just like Zach is”.

Jimbo went on,

They have great knowledge of what we’re doing.

 

But more importantly, they’re great decision makers, they’re accurate with the ball, but they have an unbelievable competitiveness to them, and they affect the guys around them.

I think great quarterbacks have a great effect on guys around them and they have a great presence. When they get in the huddle you know that guy’s on our team, we can win”.

I guess we will find out in a few weeks time….

#GigEmAggies

George

GEORGE SOMERVILLE

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER

A GLASWEGIAN LIVING IN LONDON, GEORGE IS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL FAN WHO FOLLOWS THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE. HE PROVIDES CFB CONTENT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN AND IS ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST.

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