SEC Media Days: Day 3 Recap

Share This Post

Welcome back kids! We’ve made it to Day 3 or SEC Media Days. You know the drill. Let’s get to it.

Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State

Coach Moorhead is another new head coach in the SEC. He thanks everyone and talks about how excited he is to be at Media Days. Three years ago, he was the head coach of Fordham University and apparently the Patriot League Media Days isn’t as cool as it sounds.

He’s excited about the spring practice and workouts the Bulldogs have had, and expects them to continue the momentum into fall.

He mentions Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons anchoring the defensive line, while still having plenty of depth there.

He says the word “excited” a lot and calls himself on it. Advises us to take the over if we’re betting on how many times he says it. Appreciate the heads up, coach.

They’ll be heading to Kansas State this season for an out of conference showdown. That game sounds awesome. Sign me up.

Moorhead’s goal is the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff. The SEC schedule is daunting, particularly in the West.

When comparing coaching at Fordham to coaching at Mississippi State, Moorhead uses a Hoosiers reference. Joe Moorhead is winning Media Days.

Trace McSorely and Nick Fitzgerald are compared: both are intelligent, competitive athletes that are a threat on the ground and in the air. I’m on board with the comparison.

Bob Shoop looks to be a strong DC, and has SEC experience from his time at Vanderbilt.

Interesting take: with the red shirt rule, Moorhead and staff first looked at which players could benefit on the existing roster before looking at the incoming freshmen.

When asked about his “Welcome to the South moment”: “I guess stepping out of your front door every day and being smacked in the face with the humidity, that’s a pretty good “welcome to the South” moment. And everything being wrapped in bacon in food, that’s pretty good, too.” I’m a huge Joe Moorhead fan. He gets it.

Moorhead speaks more on Nick Fitzgerald being a terrific athlete, and being excited for the Egg Bowl Rivalry.

Nobody has higher expectations for Mississippi State than Joe Moorhead. He also thanks James Franklin for the opportunity at Penn State. (I can hear Herbie booing from here.)

Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee

The second new head coach in a row today, Pruitt begins by thanking Greg Sankey and the media. He then makes it clear his goal is a championship caliber program. He knows the fan base is passionate and hungry to be back in the powerhouse category.

Pruitt mentions working with Phil Fulmer, and would not want any other athletic director at Tennessee. (I don’t think that’ll be an issue, Jeremy.)

Pruitt is excited about the staff he has assembled, and goes through the credentials of several of them.

He’s excited about the season opener in Charlotte against West Virginia. For the record, I am too.

When asked about the struggles of Tennessee in the last ten years, Pruitt isn’t worried about the last ten years. He’s worried about what he can control going forward.

Pruitt talks about the importance of reestablishing in-state recruiting, but the focus must still be on the right fit for both player and school.

Apparently Nick Saban didn’t offer up any advice to Pruitt when he took the Tennessee job. I’ll wait here while you all collect yourselves from that shocking turn of events.

He wants Tennessee to hold up its end of the rivalries, because rivalries don’t stick if one team controls the series on a regular basis. (I would probably start with Vanderbilt.)

Pruitt wants to put a product on the field that will bring the fans back and make them proud.

Eli Wolf is the most improved player of spring practice, and Pruitt expects him to continue to grow as a player.

The transfer of Brandon Kennedy from Alabama to Tennessee has not caused a rift between Pruitt and Saban. Sure, Saban never holds a grudge about anything.

Trey Smith has been treated and cleared, and will be ready to play in the fall.

Marquez Callaway looks to be the pivotal player to open up the offense.

Keller Chryst will have a chance to compete for the QB job in the fall after missing spring practice due to his transfer from Stanford.

He spoke very highly of Mark Richt, regardless of what Aaron Murray thinks.

Expect a running back by committee approach from the Vols this year.

Nick Saban, Alabama

Ever the veteran, Nick Saban gets right down to business. He’s excited for the opening of the season, practice starting soon, and the opener with Louisville down in Orlando.

Saban talks about having multiple players drafted last year. Losing so many players to the draft (10 on defense alone) will allow for more young guys to step up.

He’s had a massive coaching staff change, including a new OC and DC.

Before it can even be asked, Saban claims the QB controversy isn’t settled, and he doesn’t know. (I’ll give you a hint, that starter’s name rhymes with Tua.)

The team is forming its own identity, and they aren’t looking back to the success of last season.

The first question is about how long Saban will continue coaching. He answers by saying his wife doesn’t want him at home. He’s going to continue coaching as long as he feels like he’s healthy and contributing to the team.

As everyone else has said, Saban is a fan of the new red shirt rule.

Saban confirms that Keith Holcombe has left the football team to concentrate on baseball, and Saban would still love to have him back.

On coaching staff size: he knows he gets a lot of flack for hiring so many coaches and interns (I only gave you flack for hiring Butch Jones!….please don’t hurt me.) He only hires a large staff so they can develop more coaches, and then he can hire them back. Crafty as a fox.

Saban is asked if he expects Jalen Hurts to be on the roster by the opening of the season. Saban says he has no idea. Which flat out baffles me.

He has a ton of confidence in new OC Mike Locksley (who ABSOLUTELY deserved the job.) He’s focusing on the development of Tosh Lupoi because Tosh has never been a coordinator before.

Apparently he does give parting words of wisdom to coaches who leave to take head coaching jobs. He speaks highly of Jeremy Pruitt, but mentions stomping on his soul on the Third Saturday in October. (He didn’t say that, but his eyes did.)

The winner of the QB battle will be determined in the fall. The guy who wins the locker room and gives the team the best chance to win will be the starter. See also: Tua.

Saban is excited for the neutral site game in Orlando, but wants to see more home and home games scheduled with Power Five teams.

He has a lot of respect for UCF, but Saban isn’t responsible for the way teams get into the playoff. He can’t say how or why they should have gotten in. Because they shouldn’t have.

Saban believes bowl games are being diminished, and he’s right.

Barry Odom, Missouri

Coach Odom starts with the normal thanking of everyone in Media Days. Evidently he also had some custom made Jordan’s but Dan Mullen stole his thunder, so he didn’t bring them.

Odom says the staff works together better than any he’s worked with. The players are buying in as well.

He wouldn’t recommend anyone start out 1-5. This reminds me of how much I rooted for Missouri last year. The good old days.

Drew Lock is as talented a QB as there is in the country. He’s not wrong.

Missouri will have TEN returning starters on offense, lead by Drew Lock. I did not realize this. That’s going to be a fun offense to watch. Especially with Derek Dooley leading the offense. Wait, what?

Odom is excited to have Ryan Walters as DC, and he’s already made strides to improve the defense from last year.

Running back Damarea Crockett is back to full health after a shoulder injury last season, looking faster and stronger than ever.

Drew Lock coming back to school instead of the NFL could make for a really special year at Missouri.

He credits Gary Pinkel with helping him mature into the head coach he is today. And man, I loved me some Gary Pinkel.

The football facilities will be upgraded next year, which should help the Missouri football brand.

Defensive lineman Terry Beckner is healthy. He’s increased size and speed, and has carved out a role as a team leader.

There are several players with a lot of draft hype for this season. Those guys are the leaders and big play makers for Missouri.

That’s all folks. We’ll see you tomorrow to wrap up the last day!

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

Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

More To Explore