Archive for July 18th, 2012
2012 SEC Media Days: LSU coach Les Miles finishes day two with a bang
Photo by: Austin Bigoney
The always-entertaining Les Miles concluded the longest day in SEC Media Days history with a bang in typical Miles fashion:
- Miles opens his press conference talking about everything he did in the offseason, but now, he says, it’s football time.
- On his EA Sports commercial, Miles says they simplified the dialogue so he could recite the lines. He also says Mike The Tiger stole the show.
- Miles says the quarterback won’t run the ball as much as it has in the past in his offense, but will be a more traditional, passing attack.
- Miles gets a couple of questions about the national title game, and he says, “I’ve seen it a couple times. There weren’t that many plays for us on offense.”
- On Tyrann Mathieu’s recent twitter habits, Miles said, “No game is won on the twitter page. It’s a nice pastime, like media days.”
- A reporter asks Miles if teams will be able to handle playing 15 games in the new playoff format, and he says that more games are better for the fans and teams will get used to it.
- Miles says that in 2011, “we played everybody but the Green Bay Packers.”
- He’s getting a lot of questions about Zach Mettenberger, and after about the fourth or fifth one, he says, “it’s pretty much what I just said.”
Instant reaction:
Marc: It was pretty much status quo for Les Miles at SEC Media Days. But the status quo for Les Miles is entertaining, informing and funny, and he was all of that. He took the questions about the Alabama game in the national championship in stride and said all the right things about Mathieu. Miles won’t let the BCS title game performance get to his head and will have his team ready to go come September.
Marq: Les Miles was nearly 20 minutes late, but no one really seemed to care because the Mad Hatter was gold at the podium like he always is. The questions he was asked were more ridiculous than the responses he gave. He kept the entire room laughing and took a nice shot at a reporter for calling his defensive game plans bland. LSU will be in the national championship race as the long as Les is at the helm.
2012 SEC Media Days: Auburn coach Gene Chizik heated at SEC Media Days
Photo by: Austin Bigoney
Gene Chizik addressed the media following lunch, dressed in a pin-stripe suit with a pocket square. Chizik brought some excitement back to the media sessions, following the less than stellar Joker Phillips.
- Chizik opens by thanking everyone for sending thoughts and prayers to the Auburn community following the shootings that left three dead.
- Kiehl Frazier and Clint Moseley will battle for the starting quarterback position in the fall.
- Chizik would not place a time-table on selecting a starting quarterback, but said he would like it done sooner than later.
- Chizik said this is the first time since he’s been at Auburn that the Tigers have had depth at multiple positions.
- Auburn has 16 returning starters, with five returning senior starters.
- The current Auburn senior class has averaged 10 wins a year, are undefeated in postseason play and have a national championship ring.
- Auburn hired a new offensive (Scot Loeffler) and defensive (Brian VanGorder) coordinator this offseason.
- Loeffler and VanGorder have both coached on the NFL level.
- Chizik said if a game is decided by seven points or less, he thinks Auburn is going to win.
- Chizik called Missouri coach Gary Pinkel one of the best coaches in the country.
- Chizik called Missouri and Texas A&M two “dang good” football teams.
- Chizik said geographical reasons are not a reason to move Auburn and Alabama to the SEC East.
- Chizik would have supported the new playoff system in 2004 when Auburn finished undefeated, but would have been opposed in 2010 when the Tigers won the national championship.
Instant Reaction:
Marq: Chizik was his usually calm, collected self during his session. He brought some energy back into the room. Demeanor was very similar to 2010 when he was coming off the national championship. He didn’t get a lot of questions, but he knocked down the few he was answered. He opened by thanking everyone for showing support after the shooting and it seemed like it came straight from the heart.
Marc: I don’t see Chizik all the time, but he seemed absolutely fired up at today’s media session. But he raised his voice to talk about Texas A&M and Missouri joining the SEC, and the potential scenarios in the new playoff format – hot topics, but nothing to get that riled up about. Still, Chizik was very well-spoken and confident in his Auburn team, which he says finally has some depth. Auburn will be tested early with Clemson in Atlanta and a trip to Starkville awaiting the Tigers in weeks one and two.
2012 SEC Media Days: Kentucky coach Joker Phillips finishes up the morning session
Photo by: Austin Bigoney
Joker Phillips finished up the morning session of SEC Media days, taking questions about his team’s upcoming season and, of course, basketball.
- Phillips starts off talking about his experienced staff and how excited he is (shocking, I know) to start the new season.
- Wisconsin is the program that Phillips says he can most model his own program after in terms of not getting the best recruiting classes, but still developing talent.
- On conference realignment, Phillips says, ” the best league just got better.”
- And Phillips gets his first basketball question: how does the championship help recruiting? He says it was “unbelievable advertising of our logo.”
- John Calipari called a recruit when Phillips had him on campus.
- Phillips on possibly being on the hot seat: “Well, I’m not sitting down right now. There’s nothing hot. I don’t have time to listen to that.”
Instant analysis:
Marc: There are entertaining coaches who coach bad teams (Houston Nutt) and boring coaches who coach good teams (Nick Saban). John L. Smith was the rare exciting-coach-who-coaches-a-good-team. Joker Phillips falls into the worst category: the boring coach who coaches a bad team. Phillips said all of the cliches – “we’re excited to get started,” “we’ve got some good guys coming in” – and got the predictable basketball questions, but it was tough to really feel any optimism coming out of his media day session. Kentucky will be a pretty bad team that will do well to win six games and get back to a bowl game.
Marq: Joker Phillips’ session in the main room was everything but exciting. Phillips handled himself well and answered every question, but media members were more focused on lunch than covering Kentucky football. Phillips has the toughest job in the SEC, even tougher than James Franklin has it at Vanderbilt. Phillips coaches at a basketball school and not a lot of football recruits are knocking down the Wildcats’ door. Hopefully, Phillips can lead the Cats to a bowl game after missing the postseason in 2011.
2012 SEC Media Days: Arkansas head coach John L. Smith not botherd by outside pressure
Photo by: Austin Bigoney
John L. Smith has the most interesting situation in all of college football. He signed a contract to be the head coach for the Razorbacks that doesn’t last a full year. The Hogs will be talented on offense and if Smith can keep the team focused, they have a serious shot at representing the SEC West in Atlanta and playing for a national championship in Miami.
- Smith was a little confused with the protocol of SEC Media Days. He tried to skip the question/answer session and introduce his players.
- Smith said the outside pressure doesn’t affect the team. “You have to be like a duck and let that water roll off your back.”
- Smith believes this team can compete for a chance to play in Miami despite its offseason distractions.
- A reporter asked Smith if he would like to be the coach at Arkansas for longer than a year and Smith responds, “Of course! Do I look stupid? Don’t answer that.”
- Smith credited his “nothing to lose” attitude to his grandfather’s journey to America. Smith said he views life as an adventure and doesn’t close any doors.
- Smith said the teams biggest recruiting goal is keeping the talented kids from Arkansas in state.
- Smith was surprised he got the job and shocked when he heard about the Bobby Petrino situation.
- Smith acknowledged that the Hogs have to be mentally tougher and believe they can beat Alabama and LSU.
- Smith took multiple jabs at the Arkansas media that he recognized, getting laughs from the reporters in the room.
- Smith came to the podium in style and left with a bang.
- After the spat with a reporter, Smith hugged the Memphis reporter he pretended to argue with.
Instant Reaction:
Marq: John L. Smith is full of energy and should have been a comedian or some type of entertainer. He moves to the beat of his own drum and has a “nothing to lose” attitude. Smith’s personality fits his current situation perfectly. He takes it one day at a time and doesn’t let the outside pressure get to him. If that care free attitude can translate into victories, Smith could become the Hogs coach for the next few years.
Marc: John L. Smith is in a tough situation, having to replace Bobby Petrino on such short notice and operating in such an uncertain state. He seems to have taken a nothing-to-lose approach, and it’s easy to see why – because he really doesn’t have anything to lose. He probably won’t be back next year, but said very bluntly – “do I look stupid?” – that he would love to. The sky’s the limit for Arkansas, but the floor looks mighty deep, too.
2012 SEC Media Days: Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen ready to contend in the SEC West
Photo by: Austin Bigoney
Dan Mullen is entering his fourth year as head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He has led a surprising Bulldog resurgence that has seen his team beat in-state rival Ole Miss three years in a row. But Mississippi State has yet to beat an SEC West team other than the Rebels. Is this the year Mississippi State takes the next step? Mullen spoke today on that and more:
- Mullen opens by talking about stadium expansion, which will start immediately after the 2012 football season.
- Mullen says the future is bright and that they’re building a championship program.
- A reporter points out Mullen’s record vs. the West, and he talks about how important the first conference game is, which for Mississippi State is Auburn.
- Mullen gets a follow up question on the SEC West and says that “the margin for error is so small between winning and losing.”
- Someone from SB Nation asks Dan Mullen about the various billboards Mississippi State has put up around the state Mississippi. Mullen says he enjoys them, but he doesn’t see them until they go up.
- Mullen fields his third question about the strength of the SEC West and says that his team is not far off from competing in the SEC West and subsequently, for a national championship.
- Mullen says he expects his former boss Urban Meyer to do a tremendous job at Ohio State.
Instant reaction:
Marc: Dan Mullen reminds me of James Franklin in how he carries himself when talking about his program. He knows the perception people have had about Mississippi State and is working as hard as he can to change it. He’s had a relative amount of success, but his record in the West is keeping Mississippi State from truly being considered a great SEC team. He got multiple questions about that and said that he believes they are close to competing for a division championship, which recently has meant a national championship.
Marq: Dan Mullen is a very confident man, despite Mississippi State’s lack of success against SEC West teams. During his tenure, State has failed to defeat Alabama, Arkansas, LSU or Auburn. That will have to change is the Bulldogs are serious about competing for a SEC title or being a relevant program nationally.
2012 SEC Media Days: Florida coach Will Muschamp ready to move on from disappointing 2011
Photo by: Austin Bigoney
Year two at Florida will be a swing year for head coach Will Muschamp. Gator nation is used to winning national championships and the fans patience could grow thin if Muschamp doesn’t put a winning product on the field in 2012. The Gators offense sputtered last season, but new offensive coordinator Brent Pease should fix those problems. The quarterback battle between Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel will be the biggest dilema surrounding the Gators.
- Muschamp said he is not putting a time-table on selecting a starting quarterback. Says the competition has made the offense and the team better.
- Florida returns 15 of its 16 top tacklers to a defense that only lost one starter. The Gators played a lot of young guys on defense last season.
- Muschamp said the Gators No. 1 goal is to improve the turnover margin. Gators finished 113th in the nation in turnover margin last season.
- Muschamp said Florida was immature last season and it says it showed when his team made costly errors in situations where they needed a big play.
- Muschamp said it was a “minor miracle” the Gators won seven games last season.
- Muschamp said the job Gary Pinkel has does at Missouri is outstanding. He said he likes the exotic offense they run.
- Muschamp said Kevin Sumlin’s offense puts up video game statistics. He said he doesn’t see that changing at Texas A&M.
- Muschamp said he doesn’t feel anymore pressure going into year two. He said he puts a ton of pressure on himself already.
- Muschamp said the Gators lacked quality depth on both lines of scrimmage last season.
- Muschamp said the playoff is fine because it kept the bowl season. He said it’s a great reward for coaches and student athletes.
- Muschamp said last season was very frustrating, but says he was proud his players continued to fight through their struggles.
- Florida has not had a losing season since 1979. Muschamp credits Steve Spurrier’s success in the 1990s and the recruiting area as keys to the Gators longevity.
Instant Reaction:
Marq: Will Muschamp opened with a great speech detailing everything you needed to know about Florida. He admitted that the Gators were inexperienced, lacked depth and weren’t very talented in his first season. It’s easy to tell that Muschamp comes from the Nick Saban coaching tree. He doesn’t speak on any topics outside of Florida football and shoots straight from the hip. The Gators will be improved this season and if they figure out the quarterback situation early, the Gators will have a good chance at winning the SEC East.
Marc: Will Muschamp is a no-nonsense coach in every sense of the word. He started off with an opening statement that went about 13 minutes and would have been longer if he wasn’t speaking at about 500 words per minute. The thing that stuck out to me was how disappointed he was with his team’s 2011. He said straight up that Florida’s 7-6 record was unacceptable and is doing everything he can to turn that around.