SEC Media Day Three: Continuing Coverage

GEORGIA: Mark Richt gave the shortest Q&A session of Media Days. Evidently the Dawgs are just as boring as Richt was. Only two things really stood out in Richt's comments. First, he enjoys being discounted this season. No one is really talking much about Georgia. South Carolina and Kentucky are resurgent programs. The Gators are the defending national champ. No one is really paying attention to the Dawgs. Richt said he understood why the attention is on those story lines and doesn't mind being virtually ignored in Hoover. He also said he didn't mind that not one of his players was selected 1st team All-SEC by the writers in Hoover. Second, when asked what effect the text messaging ban will have on UGA's recruiting, he said they would "text the heck out of 'em" until the ban takes effect. UGA will try to make sure they don't get "outworked" for a recruit during that period. Contact is severely limited after the ban comes into effect, so Richt said the period before the ban is crucial.

OLE MISS: Coach O thought the Rebs "are starting" to act like the championship teams he coached at USC. Like Sly Croom, Orgeron talked about the Rebel's close losses last year and hoped to make more plays this year to win tight games. Coach O had some curious sayings. He said his new defensive coordinator, John Thompson was a great coach of the "back end" and he was good at coaching the "front end." I'm not sure if I want to know what that means. As a side note, why did Orgeron pick Thompson, a guy who was essentially fired by Spurrier two years ago because his defense was so bizarre and ineffective?

Coach O admitted that naming Bret Schaeffer was a mistake and it was done for "recruiting purposes." The QB race at Ole Miss is now "open." The O line should be strong for the Rebels and Orgeron was excited to have some "three hundred poundas" up front on the defense.

LSU: Miles was in the crosshairs for his previous comments about Alabama and the Pac-10. Les wasted no time apologizing for his Bama f-bomb and was conciliatory toward Bama. He insisted that the Bama game was simply another game that LSU would prepare for it as it would any other. One reporter asked how Les would convince his fan base of that. Les also attempted to clarify his Pac-10 comments. They were meant to bolster the now downtrodden reputation of the SEC in the offseason, not to slight the Pac-10, and that it's easier to win a conference that doesn't have a championship game. Uh, OK, Les.

Miles has a reputation of being a buffoon, but I thought he did a good job. He down played his prior controversial comments even though he was asked about them repeatedly. Nick Saban was mentioned in about half the questions asked of Les. He deftly deferred when asked who would win a boxing match between he and Saban. Les seems to realize that he should beat Saban this year and maybe he should just shut up and coach.

Like Bobby Johnson, Les said he was in favor of an early signing period for football. Those are the only two coaches that support the early signing period, although I don't think Mark Richt was asked about it. Miles also said the Tigers enjoyed "getting to the back end."

One last note, expect LSU to return some kicks for touchdowns this year. The new kickoff rule should really help LSU's dwarf burner, Trindon Holliday, to blaze on kickoffs because he will get more returns.

TENNESSEE: Phil sounded like a coach that is still looking for something in his team. Other than Erik Ainge, his skill position players are still largely unproven. Phil talked about his relationship with Pat Summit and that her success is tied to superstar players. Does UT have a superstar to ride to a championship? Phil said Ainge has a chance to be a superstar, which means he isn't one.
Phil sounded like he recognized that receiver is a weak link. UT will emphasize the run, but Phil sounded unsure. He liked his backs, but he didn't sound confident in his line. The defense, however, sounded solid. The only think Phil was concerned about was D tackle. Look for the old style UT strategy: run it effectively, grind it out, and play good defense.