SEC Media Days: Recap of Day One
Posted on July 20, 2011 by Jacob Bunn
Wednesday, one of the largest media spectacles in college athletics got underway. Four SEC head coaches and eight players from SEC teams took to the media stage in Hoover, AL at the 2011 edition SEC Media Days.
Day one of the event opened with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive giving his state of the conference address. During this speech, Mr. Slive outlined his vision of how to overhaul some of college football’s procedural issues. He proposed elevating the required minimum high school grade point average for a prospective student-athlete from 2.0 to 2.5, and he advocated multi-year scholarships. It will be interesting going forward to observe how Slive’s proposed changes are received by other prominent people in college athletics.
The first head coach to take the podium at SEC Media Days was Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino. He spoke optimistically about the Razorbacks’ upcoming season. He said that he would still consider the Sugar Bowl as a loss, even though Ohio State played ineligible players in the game.
Will Muschamp made the next appearance at Media Days. The first-year Florida coach spoke positively about the team he inherited, and he made clear that Urban Meyer had been instrumental to him throughout the transition process.
Steve Spurrier always has something interesting to say at media gatherings. He blasted the proposal from Commissioner Slive about multi-year scholarships. He said, “Sorry commissioner, that’s a terrible idea.” South Carolina’s head coach thinks that his club has a real chance to compete this year for an SEC title and a national championship.
Dan Mullen concluded the head coaches’ press conferences for Wednesday. Last year, the Mississippi State head coach spoke of winning the SEC West. He believes his team can compete again this season. He also became the first coach to adamantly voice support for Commissioner Slive’s proposals.
Perhaps the biggest news of day one at SEC Media Days, though, was notable sports odds maker Danny Sheridan’s visit with Paul Finebaum on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network. On Finebaum’s program, Sheridan said that the NCAA is waiting on a person of interest in the Cam Newton recruitment investigation to come forward in order to proceed with the investigation. Sheridan said he believes that if the person did talk to the NCAA, there could be significantly negative implications for Auburn.
Tomorrow should be another interesting day at Media Days. Kentucky, Georgia, Auburn, and Tennessee will be meeting with the media on Thursday.
For the latest news for the rest of the week from SEC Media Days, follow me on Twitter (twitter.com.JacobBunn) as I report live from the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, AL.
Email Jacob at jacob@bunnsports.com and follow him on Twitter at @JacobBunn
