SEC Media Days: Day 2 Recap

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Hey guys! I’m back with Day 2 of SEC Media Days coverage. Click here to hit the highlights from Day 1. Today, we heard from Georgia, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Florida. Let’s dive in.

Georgia

Coach Kirby Smart to the podium. Smart begins by saying how fired up he is that Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are both returning for this season.
Georgia opens up against Appalachian State, who is 28-5 in their last 33 games (Kirby pointed this out. I didn’t know that.) Smart will be taking them seriously. The Dawgs then travel to Notre Dame.
The standard at Georgia is win championships, and that’s what Coach Smart plans to do. You know, like everyone else.
There is “great competition” at the QB position, but Jacob Eason is the leader.
Expect Jacob Eason to try to spread the offense out more, while still being able to lean on two 1,000 yard rushers.
*Insert question about catching Alabama.* *Copy and paste answer: recruiting and development.* (Seriously, media members, we get it. Stop asking. It’s lazy.)
Someone asked about 21 returning starters. Since Georgia is not returning 21 starters, Coach Smart said something about math and being fired up.
Smart ended with saying that the East is a close race this year. It isn’t.

Vanderbilt

Coach Derek Mason to the podium. He starts by saying that Vanderbilt football is on the rise, but they are not satisfied.
“The future is bright, but the future is now.” Derek Mason for president, 2020.
The long snapper gets a shout out! Love it.
Vanderbilt will have several veteran skill players back, including Ralph Webb.
Mason says that Ralph Webb is the most underrated RB in the SEC. I’m ok with that. (Editor’s note: I’ll second that)
Kyle Shurmur went to the Manning Passing Camp, and has been dedicated all offseason to improving his skills. (He also listens to really loud music while watching game tape.)
When asked about how Zach Cunningham blocked the kick against Auburn now being an illegal play: “Well Zach made it illegal. That’s nice.” Sincerely my favorite answer so far.
The win against Tennessee was a game-changer for Vanderbilt. Well…..yeah.
“I respect Alabama. I don’t fear Alabama.” Derek Mason just dropping bombs out here.
“There are only two types of people in the world: limited and limitless.” Seriously. DEREK. MASON. 2020.

Mississippi State

Coach Dan Mullen to the podium. He starts by saying they need entrance music next year. Because Dan Mullen.
Mullen says that Missouri and Texas A&M have adjusted well in the five years they’ve been in the SEC. I’d still be happy to trade Missouri back though.
When asked if he has hit a ceiling at Miss. State: “I have no finish line. We strive every day to get better.”
“We still haven’t won the West, the SEC championship, or a National Championship. There’s still a lot ahead.”
Nick Fitzgerald still talks with Dak Prescott. Mullen has no idea why so many teams passed on Prescott in the draft ( I have a few guesses.)
He’s looking for Fitzgerald to improve and develop into a more stable player. “You need a short memory on the emotional side of football.” Mullen with the big quotes now.
Fitzgerald needs to improve his passing completion and make non-spectacular plays.
Literally every question was about Fitzgerald or Prescott, except for one, and that was about tight ends.

Florida

Coach Jim McElwain to the podium, and I’m anxiously awaiting any questions about naked shark humping. Only on the SoBros Network could I write that sentence and it get posted.
He doesn’t take the bait (shark joke) and talk poorly about LSU when asked about the new rivalry. “Rivalries are good for college football” You know the drill here.
He didn’t know Florida chose LSU for the homecoming game this year, and states he has no say in those decisions.
McElwain won’t name the starting QB yet, but the competition is between Malik Zaire and Luke Del Rio.
The president of Notre Dame wrote Zaire a letter of recommendation for graduate school at Florida. Which is neat I guess.
Same stupid Alabama question. Same answer. Still lazy.
NAKED SHARK HUMPING QUESTION!…….and he got emotional and talked about it hurting his family….
Ok, listen. If you get accused of humping a shark while naked, you do ONE thing and ONE thing only: you make light of it. Seriously. Just say “yeah, that shark wasn’t my type. I’m more of a tiger shark guy.” Or, “there’s no way I’m naked humping a shark until I do P90x and get those killer abs first.” You don’t talk about it hurting your family. We don’t buy it. Rant over.
Antonio Calloway is going through some things right now, but he’s a talented young man and a great American. Seriously.
He ended his press conference by telling us to watch out for bears and mountain lions. If he had just said sharks…..

That ends Day 2 kids. See you tomorrow. Poppa Bear loves you.

Poppa Bear is the lead SEC contributor for the SoBros Network, and serves as our resident expert on the human anatomy, fixin’ stuff, and tomatoes. Follow on Twitter:@SoBroPoppaBear