Day 3 of SEC Media Days is here! You know the drill. Let’s go!
Alabama
- Coach Nick Saban to the podium. He starts with a very, very long speech about having players graduate, being competitive all summer, and having a very young team this year.
- When asked about how he self-assessed after the Clemson game: “I’m willing to change. I want to learn. I don’t want to waste a failure.” Solid line right out of the gate.
- Bo Scarbrough and Shaun-Dion Hamilton are progressing well from injury and are expected to be ready for the season.
- Will he need a “get back” coach to avoid the new penalty: “We might need more than one.”
- Saban downplays the gap between Alabama and the rest of the SEC. He mentions respect for other teams by name……and leaves out Auburn. Shots. Fired.
- When asked how to have longevity as a coach; “Win.” Stone cold killer, even when he doesn’t try.
- He builds up the Florida State opener, comparing them to an SEC style team.
- There’s not a QB controversy; Jalen Hurts is the starter.
- He ends by thanking the media. THANKING. THE. MEDIA. Which makes me think he’s sick.
Missouri
- Coach Barry Odom to the podium. He begins by expressing disappointment over last season, and taking the blame.
- “I didn’t do a good enough job as a head coach.”
- He’s excited to have Drew Lock back under center, and sees the entire defense as an area of improvement.
- Odom has no opinion on conference realignment. Which is good.
- “When you only win 4 games, it hurts your soul.” My high school football career can attest to this.
- He has a lot of respect for Arkansas, but is enjoying the budding rivalry.
- On Drew Lock expanding his game: He doesn’t need to try to do it all with one throw. And he needs 10 solid players around him.
- He plans to keep a solid recruiting presence in Arkansas.
Kentucky
- Coach Mark Stoops to the podium. He begins with the 50th anniversary of the SEC breaking the color barrier that started at Kentucky. It’s worth reading up on.
- He’s excited to build on the momentum of last year, which saw Kentucky go to the Tax Slayer Bowl. “We’re ready to take it to the next level.”
- Coach Stoops was pleased with the play of QB Stephen Johnson last year. “Not surprised, but pleased.”
- Johnson will be the starting QB this season.
- He discussed how important it is to be able to recruit in Ohio, where he grew up.
- More on Stephen Johnson; he has a lot of poise in the pocket and good instincts.
- The Kentucky coach was shocked to hear about Bob Stoops retiring. (He didn’t mention what a piece of garbage his brother is, but I’ll just assume he meant to.)
- The win in game four against South Carolina was the turning point for the team.
- He believes Kentucky is getting closer to contending in the East. “We’re not backing up.”
- Everyone in Kentucky knows they haven’t beaten Florida in 30 years. (Newsflash, everyone else knows too.)
Texas A&M
- Coach Kevin Sumlin to the podium. He starts with needing to be tougher and finish stronger than they did last year.
- “We’re doing the off season a lot different than the past.”
- Christian Kirk coming back “softens the blow” of losing so many skill players.
- On John Chavis: they need to have a better run defense, and they need to be better across the board.
- Does Sumlin feel the heat from a possible hot seat? “Nobody puts more pressure on me than me.” (And yes, his seat his hot. I wrote about it last week. You should read it.)
- Will they be better this year? He doesn’t know……Seriously. That was his answer.
- Same Alabama question. Same “we want to win a championship” answer.
- There isn’t a front runner for the QB job so far.
- On Michael Clemons: “I’m into recruiting anybody who’s 6’6″ and his nickname is Cyclops. I don’t care if he’s got one eye or not.” My new favorite quote of the day ends Day 3.
That’s all for today folks! Tomorrow should a fun one. Especially since Hugh Freeze has to face the media 24 hours after having a lawsuit filed against him by Houston Nutt. I. Can’t. Wait.
Remember, Poppa Bear loves you.
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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
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