SEC Media Day Two: Continuing Coverage

VANDERBILT: Bobby Johnson was pretty dry. He stated that Vandy is trying to become more competitive and has come a long way in recent years. Usually, you could count on Vandy making a mistake late in a close game to lose it. Johnson said that was not the case last year. He talked about Vandy's big road wins recently, but that they need to do better at home. He mentioned that they have sold more season tickets this year than ever before, so that should help the atmosphere in Nashville.

Johnson also said he favored an early signing period for recruiting, a view that has so far been in the minority of SEC coaches. Johnson liked the idea of letting a kid sign if his mind was made up. The coaches can stop "babysitting" the recruit and the teams can find out which early commitments are genuine. Also, the football program doesn't have to spend more money to keep track of signed prospects, a concern that is acute with Vandy's athletic budget.

ALABAMA: Too much good stuff for a few paragraphs. Saban will get a whole entry later.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: For all the problems in Starkville, Sly Croom gave a surprisingly upbeat and positive press conference. He noted that they open the season with preseason behemoth LSU and said he wouldn't have it any other way. Sly noted that State is making some progress. Last year State was close to winning some games in the fourth quarter (including against my Bulldogs) just to come up short late. Sly tells his team that he just wants to have a chance in the fourth quarter and if they do, he thinks they'll start winning some of those close games. Sly, the SEC coach closest to a pink slip, recognized that MSU still has a ways to go to be the competitive team State fans want. Sly needs a big win this year and the Egg Bowl.

FLORIDA: Urb described a team of mystery. The Gators return some exciting offensive skill players and a good line, but he doesn't know how consistent they will be. As for his defense, he didn't know much. The defense is skilled and talented, but Urb doesn't really know how the defense will play together or how tough they'll be. One thing Urb knows for sure, he loves Percy Harvin. He said he could talk hours about Harvin. I prefer to block him out of my mind, numb with fear. Urb has the talent, but even he acknowledges that the development of that talent will tell the story of the Gator's season.

Urban was predictably upset about the text messaging ban. He thinks its akin to telling coaches they can only call with rotary phones. Urban doesn't think letters and phone calls are enough these days to develop a relationship with potential recruits. Urb will be breaking keys on his phone until August 1 to develop those relationships.

Urban did request that Pat Dooley punch a reporter in the mouth for asking what will happen if Timmy Tebow gets hurt.