When your gathering of football coaches and assembled media reaches its fourth day, people can get a little tired…a little weary. Some of the media left the SEC Media Days early to go to other events. But the coaches are there and they are ready to talk about their programs and they deserve our utmost attention. Day 4 of the SEC Media Days:
SEC Media Days, Day 4; Some Frank Discussions
Will Muschamp; South Carolina
Muschamp is one of the high profile hires in the nation as he moves over from his defensive coordinator position at Auburn to take over the Gamecocks program that saw Steve Spurrier retire abruptly in the middle of the 2015 season. Muschamp knew the room was running on fumes in day 4.
- “You guys look rough,” he said to the assembled media. “Come on! We’re in the 4th quarter now!”
- Muschamp thanked his predecessor, Spurrier for what he had done for the South Carolina football program, but he also knew that Spurrier had played a certain role at these events. “I’m not as entertaining as him.”
- Muschamp doesn’t have to be entertaining. He just has to win. The South Carolina program struggled in the last two years of the Spurrier era and the new coach said his entire theme was simple. He was going to focus on effort, toughness and discipline.
- “I don’t have an ego. I just want what’s right for South Carolina.”
- Ironically, he said the offense was going to be, “similar schematically to Spurrier’s to make the transition smoother.” Even in his retirement, the presence of the Head Ball Coach can still be felt.
Les Miles, LSU
It is no secret that Miles is a character. He is good for his story telling and his “quotability.” Last year, he didn’t feel much like answering questions at this event, so his opening statement went on for nearly 20 minutes, so that he only had 10 minutes left for questions and answers. He started with a quick one-liner this year.
- Upon walking into the library-like silence of the room, Miles said, “Thank you so much for the applause.”
- After that, he turned quite contemplative and somewhat emotional as he discussed the police shooting in Baton Rouge last week that was followed by several nights of protests and civil unrest. “We met with our entire staff. It was not about our role as coaches or staff, but more or less who we are as people.”
- “We had a team meeting and just started to brush the surface of issues. It has to continue so as to get deeper. Change is necessary and it comes through all of us.”
- “I want our players to have a platform to effect change. They are students, football players and role models and society chases them for answers. I want to put them in a position to have the greatest positive impact because Baton Rouge is our home.”
- He went on to discuss football and I know what football means in Baton Rouge, in Louisiana, in the SEC and in the south as a whole. Seriously, though, after hearing those words from a man who was hours away from being fired at the end of last season, does his two deep rotation at wide receiver really matter right now? When camp starts soon, every element of football will get the appropriate hyper attention we all give it; but for today, much respect Coach Miles.
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss
Things are anything but serene in Oxford as the school has been under an extensive investigation by the NCAA around eight Level 1 violations. The school has filed its response to the inquiry, but it is likely the self-imposed penalties will not be enough for the NCAA. Freeze was not going to be able to answer questions about the specifics, but he did not hide from the topic in general terms.
- “I remain confident in who we are and our core values and how we do things. As the head coach, I understand that I am to be held accountable for the things that happen within our building and even the things that happen outside our building.”
- Some of the newer problems were uncovered on NFL draft night with regards to Laremy Tunsil and his now famous bong video that got posted that day. Tunsil made it worse at the post-draft press conference when he admitted to cash payouts from a member of the football staff. Freeze said he was devastated that day and had to keep reminding himself that it was “draft night, not draft life and that things would move on.”
- He said he felt like it was also a good time to be reflective and to take stock of the entire program. He gave his coaches an anonymous survey to fill out, saying he wanted to know what it would take to make the job a “10.” The biggest criticism that came was his own game day management. “I can be a bit sarcastic with the coaches so I need to work on that.” That’s the trouble with asking people about your management skills. They are likely to tell you. It’s why I never ask.
- Freeze talked about what it meant to go to back-to-back New Year’s 6 bowl games and particularly last season’s Sugar Bowl, a 48-20 route over Oklahoma State. “I really have had that on my bucket list, at #7.”
- If he had thought about it, his bucket list probably would have included the return of veteran quarterback Chad Kelly, who threw for 4,000 yards last season. Kelly contemplated leaving for the NFL, but ultimately came back for his final season at Ole Miss. “I love Chad Kelly’s work ethic,” Freeze said. “He is a gym rat and studies film like crazy.”
- Freeze admitted that Kelly is, to a large degree, a system quarterback and that his future in the NFL depends on being with the right program because he has Attention Deficit Disorder. Freeze said the Rebels have had to simplify their play calling verbiage so as not to overwhelm Kelly. He said they have it down to a science, but Kelly’s potential at the next level depends on finding a team willing to do the same thing.
Wrap
Another year of SEC Media Days has come and gone and they never fail to disappoint. We have had coaches with PR disasters, coaches trying to avoid PR disasters, plenty of strong, early season football talk and a coach with his heart at home where it belongs. Hope the season lives up to this week.
Main Photo:
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 08: Head coach Les Miles of the LSU Tigers looks on from the sideline against the Alabama Crimson Tide during a game at Tiger Stadium on November 8, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
