Hey guys! I’m back, baby! And that can only mean one thing: college football is quickly approaching. With less than 50 days until kickoff, the first official stop on the college football tour is in Hoover, Alabama. It’s SEC Media Days 2019, folks!
If you didn’t catch Day 1 of the festivities, don’t worry your pretty little head. Poppa Bear is here to make sure you stay up to date. Let’s rundown Day 1:
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey
Commissioner Sankey is excited to be back, and honestly, aren’t we all?
Starting in 2020, the Las Vegas Bowl will join the SEC bowl inventory.
Next year, Media Days will be in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame.
IN 2021 MEDIA DAYS WILL BE IN NASHVILLE. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
This season will include a celebration of the 150th anniversary of college football. This will include a countdown of the top 150 moments in SEC football. Those moments will be announced through social media and on the SEC Network over the course of the season.
It’s the 5th anniversary of the SEC Network, and we’re all glad that it exists.
The SEC Network will debut an SEC Storied program: Saturdays in the South. This 8-part series will chronicle the history of SEC football dating back into the 1800’s. I’m officially aroused.
The Commissioner switches gears to legalized sports gambling and supports regulation to protect the integrity of the game.
He spends quite a bit of time discussing mental health in college athletics, promising to put a larger emphasis on helping student athletes with any mental health issues.
The SEC conducted an external review of SEC officials, and they have added more external evaluators for the upcoming season.
The Egg Bowl fight was discussed, as Sankey spoke to both ADs. “Actually it wasn’t defined as fighting. It was flagrant personal fouls just to be technical on the rule. And there is a difference.” – Greg Sankey, a bit of an ass, but a funny one.
Conference realignment still isn’t a major topic of interest and won’t be for some time.
The Miami vs Florida game was moved up a week to increase the focus of the 150th season celebration. (Greg Sankey is rooting for Florida).
The SEC works in an advisory role for Missouri as they appeal their NCAA sanctions.
When asked about targeting penalties that seem controversial: “If we could change behaviors without penalties, I’m sure we would.”
Dan Mullen, Florida
Coach Mullen begins by paying respects to George “Mr. Two Bits” Edmondson, who passed away recently.
Florida brought RB Lamical Perine, DE Jabari Zuniga, and QB Feleipe Franks to media days this year.
Mullen relays his excitement and expectations following a 10-win season.
Florida has upgraded their facilities, including a brand new football locker room.
Mullen discusses the improvement of Feleipe Franks last season. Franks started to understand that he’s large enough and athletic enough to gain extra yards with his legs. He also spoke about Franks being able to block the outside noise, especially from social media. (I think he’s talking about me).
He’s really excited to be able to open the 150th college football season with a rivalry game against Miami.
On Feleipe Franks being drafted by the Red Sox: “Well, as a Red Sox fan, they do need a lot of help in the bullpen, He’s got a lot of heat…..I’ve seen, though, he’s still working on his accuracy. I don’t know if I’d want to get in the batter’s box if he’s throwing 95.”
“There’s another quarterback that I coached that I don’t know if anybody’s heard of him, he’s kind of a Minor League ballplayer right now, played for the AAA Mets in Tim Tebow, and he’s managing to try to pick up baseball.” Dan Mullen, you snarky bastard. I love it.
Mullen is a big fan of freshman LB Mohamoud Diabate, who enrolled early and made some strides in spring practice.
Florida places a lot of importance on the mental health of student athletes, making sure the can transition from football players on Saturday to students on Monday.
Rivalries make football special, but every game is important. The FSU/Florida rivalry is unique. (No, it isn’t. Every in-state rivalry is EXACTLY the same.)
Mullen is asked about Georgia/Florida possibly becoming a home and home series. He understands both sides of the argument, and like the special feeling of a neutral site game. (Don’t mess with the Cocktail Party you bastards).
He expects another jump in success for year two as players become more comfortable with his system. There are no questions and everyone understands expectations.
Offensively, he’s always focusing on how to create different match-ups that are advantageous for their best players.
There was no turnover in the SEC HC rankings this offseason. Neat.
Mullen is a big fan of WR Van Jefferson, as he has put in a ton of work to put on weight and make himself a stronger player.
He expects the NCAA transfer portal to be rough for a few years while it evolves into something more easily managed by players and coaches.
He does his best to make sure each player is educated properly on the decision to leave early for the NFL or stay in school.
Barry Odom, Missouri
Missouri has brought new transfer QB Kelly Bryant, LB Cale Garrett, and S DeMarkus Acy.
Odom says that the culture of the locker room will be their edge this season, and that they’ve set the bar high for themselves.
He loves his players and loves the staff he’s working with. And of course he does, he has THE Derek Dooley as OC. What’s not to love?
Coach Odom is very happy with the momentum the team has kept over the last several months, including how well they’ve done in the classroom.
Missouri has eight returning starters on offense, six on defense that should bring the experience to help continue carrying momentum into the season.
The NCAA sanctions have not deterred the players, who won’t focus on what they can’t control.
On getting Kelly Bryant to transfer to Missouri: when he visited campus and met the team, it was a natural fit.
Odom says that he understands the importance of the transfer portal, but needs more time to decide if he likes it or not. “I don’t want a guy that doesn’t fit into the culture here.”
Missouri has people that are designated to the transfer portal for recruiting.
In moving from DC to HC, self-critiquing and evaluation is important to determine the kind of culture you’re establishing.
The leadership of the players in the locker room kept the team together and resulted in no transfers from Missouri after the NCAA sanctions. Respect.
Kelly Bryant brings a versatile skill set that should open up the offensive play book.
Arkansas WR transfer Jonathan Nance would be a starter on the depth chart right now.
Spending time worrying about the appeal on the post season ban is “wasted thoughts.” Simply put, Odom doesn’t waste time worrying about it.
Odom believes his team to be an SEC East contender and he hopes to continue to play past November this season.
Derek Dooley has been an awesome fit as OC for Missouri and has been one hell of a recruiter so far. That damn rascal scooter can do no wrong.
DeMarkus Acy has made major strides every year he’s been on campus and should be a major playmaker this season.
Ed Orgeron, LSU
OK, so you guys know what’s about to happen here, right? Coach O is going to talk about EVERY. SINGLE. PLAYER. on his team. All of them. Even the long snapper. Personally, I love it. Coach O loves his players and wants to heap praise on them, but I’m not about to write about all of it. Here’s the gist: he likes them all and they’ve all done a great job.
The Tigers brought QB Joe Burrow, Center Lloyd Cushenberry (easily the most important position on the field), and S Grant Delpit.
LSU has moved to the spread offense and brought in Joe Brady from the Saints.
Orgeron plans to open up the offense for Joe Burrow this year, letting him run a lot more than he did last season.
Coach O states that he has the best DB unit in the college football, and that Delpit is the best defensive player in the country.
The way the LSU/A&M game ended added to their rivalry. Orgeron said it’ll be a hell of a week when that game comes around.
“I do believe that Joe, if we let him, would run into a brick wall no matter what it took.” – Orgeron on Joe Burrow not dodging tacklers.
Signing Devonta Lee was a huge win for LSU.
Orgeron knows he has a great team this year, but they have a tough road schedule this season. They need to correct mistakes from last season and “answer the bell” in the big games.
Pete Jenkins and John Robinson are invaluable mentors for Orgeron and the coaches at LSU.
“We’re going to run the spread offense. It’s in. It’s in the playbook. So it’s not a threat, Scooter, I promise you that. We’re going to run it.” How can you not like Ed Oregeron?
This time last year, Joe Burrow wasn’t the starting QB. He won the job and the team, and is now going through spring and summer as the starter.
Joe Brady came in last year with the Saints to help with RPOs. Orgeron wanted the Saints passing game, so Joe Brady was a logical fit on staff.
“They were feisty.” – Orgeron talking about UCF in the greatest understatement ever.
Orgeron wants to see the defense stop the run and pressure the QB, two things they didn’t do well last year.
When talking about building a culture on the team, I just learned that LSU calls their practice field The Ponderosa and I’m about it. “You go out on the Ponderosa, and go ones against ones.”
Coach O is much more comfortable as head coach, especially after a 10-win season. Orgeron believes LSU deserves more than a 10-win season.
LSU has been able to recruit all over the country because of the SEC brand, especially the SEC West. “Players want to come here.”
On freshman QB Peter Parrish: “Peter came to camp, and we didn’t offer him, and he left. And I couldn’t sleep that night, and I woke up at 6:00 that morning. I had a staff meeting. I said we got to offer this young man. And we text the momma.” OK, that’s my new favorite thing today. We text the momma.
Orgeron is against the transfer portal. When people enter the portal and don’t end up anywhere, they’ve given up an education. What a valid and well thought out point…….from Ed Orgeron.
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
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