SEC Media Days - Day 2
posted by Scott Hood, Thursday, July 24, 2008
9:40 - Mark Richt, Georgia
10:40 - Nick Saban, Alabama
11:40 - Houston Nutt, Ole Miss
12:40 - Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
The last time I walked downstairs there were already a few Alabama fans waiting in the lobby for a glimpse of Saban when he walks through. It's a mob scene every year. When Brodie Croyle came here a few years ago there was nearly a riot. Hopefully, Alabama fans will behave themselves this year. I'm sure Saban will be asked about going back to Baton Rouge this year.
Richt will likely face questions about the pressure UGA is feeling since most publications have them either No. 1 or No. 2 in the country. In fact, I think the Bulldogs will be the top-ranked team when they invade Columbia on Sept. 13. That will be quite a scene for the CBS cameras. UGA has a very good offensive backfield with Matthew Stafford at QB and Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King at RB.
I'm sure Nutt will face a flurry of questions about his decision to bolt Fayetteville and go to Oxford to coach the Rebels. Ole Miss plays at Arkansas on Oct. 25, so I'm sure Nutt will be asked about that and how emotional he'll be. He was at Arkasnas for a decade. Of course, Tyrone Nix is now the DC for Ole Miss, so the 10/4 game between USC and OM will be a reunion.
Finally, expectations are always high at UT but it's been 10 years since the Vols won the SEC title. Fulmer signed an extension during the off-season, but I have no doubt that if UT goes 7-5 he'll be fired. UT was very fortunate last season in beating USC, Vandy and Kentucky. In fact, they should have lost all three games but escaped each time.
9:00 - The first speaker of the day will be Rogers Redding, the SEC Coordinator of Officials. He'll talk about the new rule changes in college football. The most important change relates to the play clock. The colleges will go to the NFL-style 40-second play clock in which the countdown starts immediately when the previous play is blown dead. Under the old rules, the 25-second clock started when the refs spotted the ball. However, some people felt that left too much discretion to the officials. The 25-second clock will remain in effect in limited stoppage situations. The other major rule change is the 5-yard "incidental" face mask penalty has been eliminated. Now, the only penalty for face mask will be the 15-yard variety for twisting, turning or pulling. Also, the horse-collar tackle has been banned and will result in a 15-yard penalty. The NFL adopted that prohibition a couple of years ago. I think they called it the "Roy Williams Rule" because he used it a lot. However, it's very dangerous and can result in serious injury to the ball carrier.
9:10 - I just did an interview with Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Biachi. He knows Steve Spurrier pretty well since he's covered him for a number of years. He still believes Spurrier can turn USC into a SEC contender, but wonders when that will happen. I will have some of his comments in the Notebook later today.
9:20 - Fox Sports South and SportSouth, two separate regional sports networks, have announced they will once again produce 30-minute preview specials for each SEC team. Here is the schedule as it pertains to USC:
8/6 - 8 p.m. (SportSouth)
8/7 - 7 p.m. (FSN)
8/8 - 11 a.m. (SS)
8/8 - 5 p.m. (SS)
8/10 - 9:30 p.m. (SS)
8/15 - 11 a.m. (SS)
8/17 - 1 p.m. (FSN)
According to the press release, they interviewed Spurrier and Ryan Succop for the special. Each preview was shot on location at each school's campus.
9:55 - Georgia coach Mark Richt has taken the podium. There are HUGE expectations in Athens this season. Richt said that can be a blessing or a curse. But he said the players are working very hard. He's talking about Prince Miller of Byrnes HS right now. UGa opens with Ga. Southern and Central Michigan, but then comes a critical 2-game road trip to Williams-Brice and then to Tempe, Ariz. for a much-anticipated matchup with Arizona State. That game will be a barometer of the SEC and Pac-10. While UGA has a very talented team, the schedule is abslutely brutal. Many people feel it's the most difficult in the country. In addition to the SEC East, they have to play Alabama, LSU and Auburn from the SEC West. If the experts are correct, the 10/25 game at Baton Rouge could be a preview of the SEC title game in Atlanta. But looking at that game in Columbia, USC has an excellent opportunity to make a statement nationally. Obviously, they'll have to find a way to stop the UGa offense.
11:00 - Alabama head coach Nick Saban has taken the podium in the main ballroom here at the Wynfrey Hotel. The Crimson Tide went 7-6 in Saban's first-year, including a stunning home loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Saban says Alabama was very inconsistent last season. They played a great game against Tennessee. Of course, many USC fans will be watching Alabama closely in the pre-season since they open up against Clemson Aug. 30 in the Georgia Dome. Saban said Alabama has just 9 seniors, so the Tide will be counting on a lot of young players. Saban said the Clemson game will enhance Alabama's development as a team and will help them "down the road" when they face SEC competition. John Parker Wilson will be the QB again for Alabama. He threw for 2,846 yards and 18 TD in 2007. Listening to Saban talk, it's evident he's still in the process of putting his stamp on the program. As always, the Auburn game is huge for the Tide. But Alabama has lost 6 games in a row to the Tigers. The thought process is that Saban will start to feel some heat if he doesn't end the losing streak this season. That Iron Bowl will be in Tuscaloosa this season.
12:10 - Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt has taken the podium here in Hoover. After a decade-long run at Arkansas, Nutt says he's been re-energized since taking over in Oxford. The question, of course, is whether the Rebels have enough talent to compete in the SEC West. Of course, USC fans will get a close look at the Rebels in early October when the two teams meet in Oxford. Ole Miss was just 10-25 in three seasons under Ed Orgeron, including an embarrassing 0-8 mark in the SEC last season. The matchup with the Rebels will have plenty of intrigue as well since former USC DC Tyrone Nix is now holding down the same position with the Rebels. Nutt said the talent level he found at Ole Miss is fairly decent. They have a very good OL in Michael Oher. Nutt, though, fears a losing mindset may have set in. The opportunity for a good start is thre, though, since the first three games are against Memphis, at Wake Forest and Samford. They also host Vandy on 9/20 and travel to UF on 9/27. Ole Miss could be 4-1 when USC arrives in Oxford on 10/4. Chances are better that they'll be 3-2. The Rebels will have to post an upset or two to qualify for a bowl game.
12:20 - I just asked Nutt about the impact Tyrone Nix has made since he arrived on campus. It's clear Nutt loves Nix. He said the defense appears like it has bought into Nix's system. He also said Nix and the defensive players appeared to have bonded pretty well in the spring. He likes the aggressiveness Nix brings to the Ole Miss defense.
1:20 - Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer has taken the podium here in Hoover. Tennessee won the SEC East last season but lost in the SEC championship game. This will be a season of change for the Vols. After David Cutcliffe left to become the head coach at Duke, Fulmer went out and hired Davis Clawson as the new offensive coordinator. It looks like he'll bring a little more wide open attack. But Fulmer is still fairly conservative when it comes to offensive play-calling. Tennessee will also have a brand new QB after Erik Ainge departed. The new signal-caller is Jonathan Crompton, a 6-foot-4 junior from Waynesville, N.C. But he attempted just 12 passes last season for 97 yards. It's been a decade since UT won the SEC title and Fulmer said he's tired of going to the SEC Championship game and losing. Right now, I would say the Tennessee game is the most important one of the season for South Carolina. It's an absolute must-win for the Gamecocks. USC will be at home. In my opinion, the talent level between the schools is fairly even. UT may have a slight advantage. The games have been very close between the schools in recent years. USC blew it last year and needs to put away the Vols this year. Tennessee opens the season with a long trip to the West Coast to face UCLA in the Rose Bowl. After that, they host UAB and Florida before traveling to Auburn. That's a pretty tricky start to the season. Tennessee could be 2-2 with road trips to Georgia and USC still on the horizon. Fulmer signed a lucrative extension in the sprng, but if UT goes 7-5 or something like that, I'm convinced Fulmer won't be back in 2009.
1:35 - The rumors are rampant here in Hoover that Phil Fulmer was served with a subpoena when he arrived at the Wynfrey Hotel. It is my understanding it may involve an NCAA investigation related to the whole Alabama mess a few years ago. I'm sure more will come out later today about it. However, Fulmer has refused to address the topic when questioned by the media. He's still addressing the media in the main ballroom.
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We're back for Day 2 fo SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. Three of the more tradition-laden programs in the conference will be represented today. Here is the lineup of coaches in the main ballroom here at the Wynfrey Hotel:
9:40 - Mark Richt, Georgia
10:40 - Nick Saban, Alabama
11:40 - Houston Nutt, Ole Miss
12:40 - Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
The last time I walked downstairs there were already a few Alabama fans waiting in the lobby for a glimpse of Saban when he walks through. It's a mob scene every year. When Brodie Croyle came here a few years ago there was nearly a riot. Hopefully, Alabama fans will behave themselves this year. I'm sure Saban will be asked about going back to Baton Rouge this year.
Richt will likely face questions about the pressure UGA is feeling since most publications have them either No. 1 or No. 2 in the country. In fact, I think the Bulldogs will be the top-ranked team when they invade Columbia on Sept. 13. That will be quite a scene for the CBS cameras. UGA has a very good offensive backfield with Matthew Stafford at QB and Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King at RB.
I'm sure Nutt will face a flurry of questions about his decision to bolt Fayetteville and go to Oxford to coach the Rebels. Ole Miss plays at Arkansas on Oct. 25, so I'm sure Nutt will be asked about that and how emotional he'll be. He was at Arkasnas for a decade. Of course, Tyrone Nix is now the DC for Ole Miss, so the 10/4 game between USC and OM will be a reunion.
Finally, expectations are always high at UT but it's been 10 years since the Vols won the SEC title. Fulmer signed an extension during the off-season, but I have no doubt that if UT goes 7-5 he'll be fired. UT was very fortunate last season in beating USC, Vandy and Kentucky. In fact, they should have lost all three games but escaped each time.
9:00 - The first speaker of the day will be Rogers Redding, the SEC Coordinator of Officials. He'll talk about the new rule changes in college football. The most important change relates to the play clock. The colleges will go to the NFL-style 40-second play clock in which the countdown starts immediately when the previous play is blown dead. Under the old rules, the 25-second clock started when the refs spotted the ball. However, some people felt that left too much discretion to the officials. The 25-second clock will remain in effect in limited stoppage situations. The other major rule change is the 5-yard "incidental" face mask penalty has been eliminated. Now, the only penalty for face mask will be the 15-yard variety for twisting, turning or pulling. Also, the horse-collar tackle has been banned and will result in a 15-yard penalty. The NFL adopted that prohibition a couple of years ago. I think they called it the "Roy Williams Rule" because he used it a lot. However, it's very dangerous and can result in serious injury to the ball carrier.
9:10 - I just did an interview with Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Biachi. He knows Steve Spurrier pretty well since he's covered him for a number of years. He still believes Spurrier can turn USC into a SEC contender, but wonders when that will happen. I will have some of his comments in the Notebook later today.
9:20 - Fox Sports South and SportSouth, two separate regional sports networks, have announced they will once again produce 30-minute preview specials for each SEC team. Here is the schedule as it pertains to USC:
8/6 - 8 p.m. (SportSouth)
8/7 - 7 p.m. (FSN)
8/8 - 11 a.m. (SS)
8/8 - 5 p.m. (SS)
8/10 - 9:30 p.m. (SS)
8/15 - 11 a.m. (SS)
8/17 - 1 p.m. (FSN)
According to the press release, they interviewed Spurrier and Ryan Succop for the special. Each preview was shot on location at each school's campus.
9:55 - Georgia coach Mark Richt has taken the podium. There are HUGE expectations in Athens this season. Richt said that can be a blessing or a curse. But he said the players are working very hard. He's talking about Prince Miller of Byrnes HS right now. UGa opens with Ga. Southern and Central Michigan, but then comes a critical 2-game road trip to Williams-Brice and then to Tempe, Ariz. for a much-anticipated matchup with Arizona State. That game will be a barometer of the SEC and Pac-10. While UGA has a very talented team, the schedule is abslutely brutal. Many people feel it's the most difficult in the country. In addition to the SEC East, they have to play Alabama, LSU and Auburn from the SEC West. If the experts are correct, the 10/25 game at Baton Rouge could be a preview of the SEC title game in Atlanta. But looking at that game in Columbia, USC has an excellent opportunity to make a statement nationally. Obviously, they'll have to find a way to stop the UGa offense.
11:00 - Alabama head coach Nick Saban has taken the podium in the main ballroom here at the Wynfrey Hotel. The Crimson Tide went 7-6 in Saban's first-year, including a stunning home loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Saban says Alabama was very inconsistent last season. They played a great game against Tennessee. Of course, many USC fans will be watching Alabama closely in the pre-season since they open up against Clemson Aug. 30 in the Georgia Dome. Saban said Alabama has just 9 seniors, so the Tide will be counting on a lot of young players. Saban said the Clemson game will enhance Alabama's development as a team and will help them "down the road" when they face SEC competition. John Parker Wilson will be the QB again for Alabama. He threw for 2,846 yards and 18 TD in 2007. Listening to Saban talk, it's evident he's still in the process of putting his stamp on the program. As always, the Auburn game is huge for the Tide. But Alabama has lost 6 games in a row to the Tigers. The thought process is that Saban will start to feel some heat if he doesn't end the losing streak this season. That Iron Bowl will be in Tuscaloosa this season.
12:10 - Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt has taken the podium here in Hoover. After a decade-long run at Arkansas, Nutt says he's been re-energized since taking over in Oxford. The question, of course, is whether the Rebels have enough talent to compete in the SEC West. Of course, USC fans will get a close look at the Rebels in early October when the two teams meet in Oxford. Ole Miss was just 10-25 in three seasons under Ed Orgeron, including an embarrassing 0-8 mark in the SEC last season. The matchup with the Rebels will have plenty of intrigue as well since former USC DC Tyrone Nix is now holding down the same position with the Rebels. Nutt said the talent level he found at Ole Miss is fairly decent. They have a very good OL in Michael Oher. Nutt, though, fears a losing mindset may have set in. The opportunity for a good start is thre, though, since the first three games are against Memphis, at Wake Forest and Samford. They also host Vandy on 9/20 and travel to UF on 9/27. Ole Miss could be 4-1 when USC arrives in Oxford on 10/4. Chances are better that they'll be 3-2. The Rebels will have to post an upset or two to qualify for a bowl game.
12:20 - I just asked Nutt about the impact Tyrone Nix has made since he arrived on campus. It's clear Nutt loves Nix. He said the defense appears like it has bought into Nix's system. He also said Nix and the defensive players appeared to have bonded pretty well in the spring. He likes the aggressiveness Nix brings to the Ole Miss defense.
1:20 - Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer has taken the podium here in Hoover. Tennessee won the SEC East last season but lost in the SEC championship game. This will be a season of change for the Vols. After David Cutcliffe left to become the head coach at Duke, Fulmer went out and hired Davis Clawson as the new offensive coordinator. It looks like he'll bring a little more wide open attack. But Fulmer is still fairly conservative when it comes to offensive play-calling. Tennessee will also have a brand new QB after Erik Ainge departed. The new signal-caller is Jonathan Crompton, a 6-foot-4 junior from Waynesville, N.C. But he attempted just 12 passes last season for 97 yards. It's been a decade since UT won the SEC title and Fulmer said he's tired of going to the SEC Championship game and losing. Right now, I would say the Tennessee game is the most important one of the season for South Carolina. It's an absolute must-win for the Gamecocks. USC will be at home. In my opinion, the talent level between the schools is fairly even. UT may have a slight advantage. The games have been very close between the schools in recent years. USC blew it last year and needs to put away the Vols this year. Tennessee opens the season with a long trip to the West Coast to face UCLA in the Rose Bowl. After that, they host UAB and Florida before traveling to Auburn. That's a pretty tricky start to the season. Tennessee could be 2-2 with road trips to Georgia and USC still on the horizon. Fulmer signed a lucrative extension in the sprng, but if UT goes 7-5 or something like that, I'm convinced Fulmer won't be back in 2009.
1:35 - The rumors are rampant here in Hoover that Phil Fulmer was served with a subpoena when he arrived at the Wynfrey Hotel. It is my understanding it may involve an NCAA investigation related to the whole Alabama mess a few years ago. I'm sure more will come out later today about it. However, Fulmer has refused to address the topic when questioned by the media. He's still addressing the media in the main ballroom.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.