Sports

HOOVER, Ala. — SEC Media Days have concluded, and what a busy three day event is was with all 12 head coaches and three players of every SEC team in attendance. Here are links to photo galleries of pictures from the event (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3), and below are videos that I took.

Richt answers my question about pressure and importance of freshman

Aaron Murray talks about Mark Richt and the receivers heading into the 2011 season

Georgia head coach Mark Richt

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino

HOOVER, Ala. — A busy three days comes to an end today with the final day of SEC Media Days. Plenty of news has been made the past two, and it will continue today with Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, and Vanderbilt in the spotlight.

Below is the schedule for the final day of SEC Media Days.

Stay tuned for more updates from today’s festivities and follow me on Twitter for live updates.

9:30-10:10: Alabama HC Nick Saban
10:10-10:40: Alabama RB Trent Richardson, SAF Mark Barron, LB Dont’a Hightower
10:40-11:20: Vanderbilt HC James Franklin
11:20-11:50: Vanderbilt CB Casey Heyward, LB Chris Marve, QB Larry Smith
11:50-12:30: Ole Miss HC Houston Nutt
12:30-1:00: Ole Miss RB Brandon Bolden, DE Kentrell Lockett, OT Bradley Sowell
1:00-1:40: LSU HC Les Miles
1:40-2:10: LSU LB Ryan Baker, QB Jordan Jefferson, WR Russell Shepard

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Today’s live blog will be located here today, as the internet again will most likely be down again at SEC Media Days.

HOOVER, Ala. — Mark Richt averaged 10 wins per year (90-27) in his first nine years as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, however in 2010 the team finished with a disappointing 6-7 record.

“Richt” and “hot seat” were used sparingly heading into the 2010 season, but that is not the case as the 2011 season approaches.

When asked if he paid attention to rumors about his future, Richt said, “I don’t, I know if you walk in the Butts-Mehre Building, there’s not one sense of doom or gloom.”

Richt wasn’t the only Bulldog asked about his status; quarterback Aaron Murray, cornerback Brandon Boykin and center Ben Jones were all asked about Richt’s future.

“We love Coach Richt,” said Murray. “I know for me, that’s why I committed. Richt is a tremendous religious man. He is a man that’s going to make you a better person, not just a better football player.

Murray was picked to the SEC coaches All-SEC preseason first team after a phenomenal freshman season. The 6-1, 211 pound sophomore started 13 games, threw for 3,049 yards on 209 completions and 24 touchdowns to only eight interceptions.

Brandon Boykin, a multi-faceted player who plays cornerback and kick returner, doesn’t pay attention to outside sources.

“As a player, we don’t really look at the media outlets or what they are saying about our coaching staff,” said the Fayetteville, Ga. native. “It’s our job to just go out and play as best we can and focus on each game and the task at hand.”

When asked about Coach Richt on the hot seat and potentially being fired, center Ben Jones said, “That would just crush us if something happened to Coach Richt because of us.”

A lot of what you hear at media days is to be expected, and the Georgia players gave the textbook answer when questioned about what they thought about Mark Richt.

While Richt has the ultimate responsibility of managing the entire team, he cannot step onto the field and make plays. The players will ultimately determine Mark Richt’s future in how they prepare and play in the biggest two game stretch of Mark Richt’s tenure at Georgia.

Although the final prize of winning a SEC Championships and a BCS Bowl Games may be greater, if Richt cannot beat Boise State in the Georgia Dome and South Carolina in the home opener, he might be out as head coach of the Bulldogs.

HOOVER, Ala. — Mark Richt took the podium Thursday afternoon to answer question after question about college football and the 2011 season. Below are some highlights of his time with the media.

On what makes the SEC different from the other conferences:
“If I had to say one word when it comes to the Southeastern Conference, I really would say what separates us from everybody is ‘passion.’the passion of the coaches, players and fans. There’s nothing like it. When you line up to play, you’re going to play a supremely talented team, a supremely well-coached team and a team that is supremely supported by their fan base.”

On his stance of changing the jersey color:
“The jersey change is a great idea if you win, and I think it’s a terrible idea if you lose. I think you’re smart when you win and you’re dumb when you lose.”

On if he addresses rumors about his future:
“I don’t. I know if you walk in the Butts-Mehre Building, there’s not one sense of doom or gloom. There’s only excitement, only guys that are so thankful that we’ve got a new season and a clean slate and the ability to play some great opponents to stat the year.”

On why expectations are high for 2011:
We know we’ve got an outstanding bunch of football players and some outstanding coaches. We know we have a great fan base. We know that six of our seven losses were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter. If we finished better, we’ll have a better season. We’re not getting blown out of the water, we just didn’t win.”

On pressure and how important freshman and first-year players such as Isaiah Crowell and John Jenkins:
We don’t really expect a freshman to come and carry our program. We expect him to come in and compete. We expect him to learn what to do. If they have the talent base, they’re mature enough to be prepared, we’ll play them.

When it comes to junior college guys like Jenkins, we expect a junior college guy to come in and play. We don’t expect him to redshirt. We don’t expect him to be hanging around a while. We’re expecting Jenkins to come in and play right now and maybe become a starter for us if he can beat out Kwame Geathers.

But there is question we will need help from our freshman class to become a championship team, I don’t have any doubt about that.

HOOVER, Alabama — After a busy first day of action, the second day of SEC Media Days is about to begin, and I will be live-blogging today’s action.

Below is the schedule for the second day of SEC Media Days.

9:30-10:10: Kentucky HC Joker Philips
10:10-10:40: Kentucky OG Stuart Hines, LB Danny Travathan, QB Morgan Newton
10:40-11:20: Georgia HC Mark Richt
11:20-11:50: Georgia QB Aaron Murray, C Ben Jones, CB Brandon Boykin
11:50-12:30: Auburn HC Gene Chizik
12:30-1:00: Auburn DE Nosa Eguae, TE Philip Lutzenchurchen, WR Emory Blake
1:00-1:40: Tennessee HC Derek Dooley
1:40-2:10: Tennessee DL Malik Jackson, RB Tauren Poole, OL Dallas Thomas

Stay tuned for more updates from today’s festivities and follow me on Twitter for live updates.

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Today’s live blog will be located here today, as the internet again is down at SEC Media Days.

HOOVER, Ala. — SEC Media Days began with a bang as Commissioner Mike Slive proposed complete athletic reform in four main areas. Also at the podium were head coaches of Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Mississippi State

Of the four things that Slive mentioned, he wants to take a look at redefining benefits available, strengthen incoming academic standards, modernize recruiting, and improving rule enforcement.

Here is the complete AP release about what Slive wants done.

Below are other headlines that were made during the first day of SEC Media Days.

• Here is a notebook put together by ESPN.com staff that are covering SEC Media Days regarding Day 1.
• Here is my photo gallery taken during Day 1 of SEC Media Days.
• Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes that South Carolina is in a rare place as SEC East favorites.
• Mike Slive wants reform in college athletics, but some of the coaches disagree with his proposal.
• Chris Lowe and Edward Aschoff of ESPN look at Mark Richt’s job future.
• Mark Bradley wonders if Will Muschamp is the next Urban Meyer, or another Ron Zook.
• Don Kausler of AL.com presents SEC Media Days in quotes.

The main podium at SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel

HOOVER, Alabama — The 2011 edition of SEC Media Days is set to begin and I will be live-blogging from the Wynfrey Hotel. Around 900 members of the media from around the Southeast and the nation are in attendance to cover this event welcoming the 2011 SEC football season.

The season will kick off Sept. 1, but the first Saturday of real action is Sept. 3, only 45 days away from today.

Stay tuned for more updates from today’s festivities and follow me on Twitter for live updates.

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2:14 p.m.
Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino has now taken the podium. He really likes the Razorbacks depth and team speed. More from what he said later.

2:00 p.m.
Mike Slive wants global change in college athletics. Of the things he mentioned, he wants what he calls an “Agenda for Change” Of the four things mentioned, he wants to redefine benefits, strengthen academic eligibility, modernize recruiting rules, and improve enforcement process. There is so much to break down from his speech, and I will hopefully post that later today.

1:30 p.m.
SEC Media Days 2011 is officially underway as SEC Commisoner Mike Slive has begun addressing the media

1:12 p.m.
Mike Slive will address the media in about 20 minutes, in the mean time. Here is how I voted for the preseason All-SEC defense.

1:12 p.m.
Mike Slive will address the media in about 20 minutes. In the meantime, here is how I voted for the preseason All-SEC defense.

12:43 p.m.
The media that will be attending SEC Media Days have been asked to fill out a ballot for a preseason All-SEC team along with season predictions and SEC Champion. I will kick things off releasing my preseason first-team All-SEC offense.

12:01 p.m.
Today, I will hunker down in the main media room. There are many rooms for radio, TV, ESPN, and so forth, and players and coaches will rotate between the different rooms. Below is the schedule for players and coaches appearing in the main room.

2:00-2:40 ET: Arkansas HC Bobby Petrino
2:40-3:10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis, WR Jarius Wright, DE Tenarius Wright
3:10-3:50: Florida HC Will Muschamp
3:50-4:20: Florida QB John Brantley, DE William Green, WR Deonte Thompson
4:20-5:00: South Carolina HC Steve Spurrier
5:00-5:30: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery, RB Marcus Lattimore, DT Travian Robertson
5:30-6:10: Mississippi State HC Dan Mullen
6:10-6:40: Mississippi State RB Vick Ballard, DT Fletcher Cox, QB Chris Relf

11:44 a.m.
SEC Media Days will be underway at 1:30 ET as SEC Commiossoner Mike Slive addresses the media at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama.

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Photos from Hoover, Alabama

Mike Slive speaking at SEC Media Days

A view from outside the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama

Some say that college football season begins in 46 days, but for some people it begins tomorrow as around 900 media members make their way to Hoover, Alabama for SEC Media Days.

The Southeastern Conference is the nation’s best conference and has won the last five BCS National Championships. With the nation’s best conference, comes the biggest media days for any conference as fans and media members from around the Southeast and the nation make their journey to Hoover, Alabama.

A lot of questions will be asked, a lot of news will be made, and predictions will be made during this three-day event previewing the 2011 SEC football season. For those of you that do not know, the head coach and three players from each team will be available for the media during specified time slots.

Head coach Mark Richt, quarterback Aaron Murray, center Ben Jones, and cornerback Brandon Boykin will be the representatives from Georgia.

Below is the schedule of events for the 2011 SEC Media Days.

Wednesday
2:00-4:50: Arkansas and Florida
4:20-7:00: Mississippi State and South Carolina

Thursday
9:30-11:20: Georgia and Kentucky
11:50-2:30: Auburn and Tennessee

Friday
9:30-12:20: Alabama and Vanderbilt
11:50-2:30: LSU and Ole Miss

Here are some storylines for the 2011 SEC Media Days.

Oversigning: During the SEC Spring Meetings, all head football coaches voted to keep the 28-signee limit. However, the presidents of the schools over-ruled that vote and limited it to 25 as a way to stop oversigning. It will be interesting to hear what coaches like Nick Saban, who is in favor of oversigning, say about it.

New head coaches: Florida head coach Will Muschamp and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin will begin coaching in the SEC for the first time this year. How they have adapted to life in the SEC will be interesting along with what they expect during the 2011 season.

NCAA Issues: Auburn came under fire last year regarding the recruitment of quarterback Cam Newton, who singlehandedly led the Auburn Tigers to a national championship. A week ago, a NY Times report revealed a testy exchange between NCAA officials and Chizik at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Fl. Chizik asked the NCAA  why they have not announced that the investigation was over. The NCAA official responded by saying “You’ll know when we’re finished, and we’re not finished.” Another team facing NCAA issues is LSU with their dealings with Will Lyles (the same person that was involved with Oregon and Chip Kelly). While nothing might come out of either case, it will be interesting if Chizik or Les Miles has any response or opinion on these dealings.

Georgia running back concern: It has felt like every other week a Georgia running back has been suspended, transferred, or been ruled academically ineligible. However, many beleive that Isaiah Crowell will be the one in the spotlight even if Georgia had Caleb King and Washaun Ealey in the backfield. Head coach Mark Richt, quarterback Aaron Murray, and center Ben Jones will all be in Hoover, Alabama and it will be intersting to see how they view the running back position

Predictions: Coming out the final day of SEC Media Days will be the preseason All-SEC team along with season predictions selected by the media. I have already filled out my ballot and will post it tomorrow. Last year the media picked Alabama to win the SEC Championship, but they ended up finishing fourth in the SEC West. The SEC media has attempted to predict the SEC Champion the last 19 years, but they have only been right four times. Obviously, predictions are never perfect, but it will be interesting to see how the media stacks teams up.

Quarterback battles: Georgia sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray is the best returning quarterback in the SEC, and he is one of the few quarterbacks that doesn’t have any major question marks. Arkansas will look to replace Ryan Mallet with Tyler Wilson, Auburn will try to replace Cam Newton with Barrett Trotter, and Alabama replaces Greg McElroy with AJ McCarron. LSU’s position is up for grabs between senior Jordan Jefferson and transfer Zach Mettenberger. Florida will try to get better numbers out of John Bratley during his senior year with new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

Fans: Although around 900 media members will attend SEC Media Days, fans from around the Southeast will also make their trek to Hoover, Alabama. I have never attended SEC Media Days so I don’t know what 900 media members on top of hundreds of fans look like, but it will be interesting to see.

Tomorrow unofficially begins the start of the college football season, and I will be live in Hoover, Alabama covering the event. You can follow me on Twitter @Mike Reiter for live updates from the event.