Top Ten Moments of SEC Media Days 2014

SEC Media Days is considered the unofficial start to the college football season. Press members were given the opportunity to speak to the coaches and players of the SEC teams before the preseason workouts begin.

Associates of the SEC, like Commissioner Mike Slive and coordinator of officials Steve Shaw, also made comments regarding this season and the State of the SEC.

It was a media circus as always, full of surprising comments, hilarious moments and the occasional stump speech.

We’ve broken down the top ten moments during this year’s media fanfare:

10. Texas Longhorns Crash The Party

Texas wasn’t even invited, but managed to make a splash when it was revealed that Paul Finebaum’s new book details Texas’ hefty offer to Nick Saban. Alabama fans are relived that Saban wasn’t just concerned about the money when given the offer from the Longhorns. Saban was actively recruited for the job, as noted in an article from al.com and confirmed by Finebaum himself.

It’s something Alabama fans will have to get used to over the several years Nick Saban will continue to coach this team. Every offseason, we can expect Saban to be courted not just by big college football programs, but NFL programs as well. I don’t expect Saban to leave anytime soon, as he has stated time and time again that Alabama is his last stop.

9. Hugh Freeze Gets A Buzz Cut And It Was Glorious

Seriously, he looks good with a buzz cut. (Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports)

SEC Media Days is not all about the uptightness of discussing strategy and the upcoming season. It does tend to have it’s lighthearted moments, like second-year Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze had when he stepped up to the podium Wednesday.

While the story for the Rebels was how they would improve on a season that saw some positive things, Freeze had some things to say regarding a bet he made with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier on a golf outing.

"“If he (Spurrier) won our match, come to Media Day, you had to buzz cut your hair, so that’s why my hair is so short today .”"

Seriously, could we ever see the Head Ball Coach shave his head? That would be a sight to behold.

8. Is Jacob Coker Really The Starting Quarterback for Alabama?

As Saban does every year, he always leaves the QB competition as a open discussion among the media and nothing else. That didn’t change in 2014, as Jacob Coker, the supposed starter for Alabama who transferred from Florida State, was not really mentioned as the starter. Neither was Sims. If you look at the context clues of the entire press conference, however, it seemed to me that Sims might have been the current favorite. Who knows at this point? Any opinions made at this point is simply speculation.

7. Hurry-Up, No-Huddle

A topic that has been stirring in the pot of the offseason, the HUNH became the question of the media event, as every coach was asked their opinions on the subject. It all really stems from when Saban first commented on the matter, saying that the HUNH offense increases injury rate and puts players at risk. Some coaches agreed with that sentiment, while some shied away from the question. Some disagreed with the assumption. Seems like the issue will continue to be a discussion into the season this year.

6. Targeting and Player Safety

On day three, Steve Shaw, coordinator of SEC officials, spoke to the media and the topic was player safety. First, Shaw released that the SEC will penalize any “unabated defender” that “attempts to tackle an offensive player in a passing posture” above the neck or below the knees. Shaw described the area between these points as the “strike zone,” where a defender may tackle the quarterback. This was obviously in the interest of player safety, but it’s unclear how much this will affect the game itself.

Shaw also noted that the targeting penalty, which he describes as “the biggest change in his officiating career,” will change this year to where if a targeting call gets reversed, the ejection and the 15-yard penalty will both be reversed as well, which is different from last year and something the SEC and fans alike have been advocating for.

5. The Championship Ring Hat

Seriously, you can’t fault this dude for finding this hat and proudly wearing it.

4. Les Miles Hates Family Trips

Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

This headline may be exaggerating a bit, but LSU coach Les Miles certainly expressed some discontent with his family’s trip to Austin, TX. The family took a trip up and it seems like Miles was a fan of beaches, of which there are none in Austin. “It was miserable. I hated it. But it was great fun,” the Mad Hatter said. Part of his conference did include another grass joke, something that will seem to be a running joke until he leaves the SEC.

3. Florida’s 2014 Media Guide: An Accurate Depiction Of 2013

SEC Teams released their media guides, along with their covers, which has been overly critiqued by fans and media alike. One that gained some social media attention was Florida’s, which described just how well last season went.

The designer certainly had good intentions, but the overly hot yellowish-orange in the crowd shots made it seem like the stadium was literally on fire, which is more than we can say for the 2013 edition of Florida Football.

2. Nick Saban Stumps On Discipline

Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, this is the fourth Saban mention in this top ten countdown, but this one rightfully so. Saban announced at media days that Kenyan Drake and Jarran Reed, two players that were arrested this offseason, would not be kicked off the team and would be suspended indefinitely until the coaching staff decides it’s appropriate. Drake was arrested for impeding a criminal investigation, while Jarren Reed was arrested for DUI. Saban used the two examples as part of his stump speech regarding player discipline. Via the Crimson White:

"“I think discipline is ‘Here is something that you want to do, here is something that you know you’re supposed to do that you really don’t want to do. Can you make yourself do it? Over here is something you know you’re not supposed to do, but you really want to do it. Can you keep yourself from doing it?“I want you to know that there’s not one player, not one player, since I’ve been a head coach that I kicked off the team that ever went anywhere and amounted to anything and accomplished anything, playing or academically,”"

It certainly speaks to Nick Saban’s method of punishment. The easy action is not always the smart one. It was a statement well said.

1. Mike Slive Declares War On The NCAA

Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

The top moment in the 2014 edition of SEC Media Days had to be right on Day One. During SEC Commissioner Mike Slives ‘State of the SEC’ speech, he sent a clear and detailed ultimatum for the NCAA. The terms? Provide scholarships for full cost of attendance and medical coverage for its athletes both during and ofter their playing career. Otherwise, Slive said it will be forced to look at other options with other conferences. Again, via the Crimson White:

"“As I have said before, if we do not achieve a positive outcome under the existing big tent of Division I, we will need to consider the establishment of a venue with similar conferences and institutions where we can enact the desired changes in the best interest of our student-athletes,” Slive said."

Are the conferences getting bigger than the NCAA can handle? Maybe. But it seems like if the NCAA won’t do anything, the SEC will.