SEC Media Days: Day 1

Today marked the start of SEC Media Days.  With an off season that was relatively quiet compared to most years, there hasn't been a whole lot of hype going into the 2014 Football season.  The run of 7 straight National Championships came to an end in an EXTREMELY GOOD National Championship game in Pasadena with Florida State taking the trophy from the SEC with a last minute touchdown drive against a surprising Auburn Tigers team.

Mike Slive or as he's known outside the SEC, "Emperor Palpatine" took to the podium first to deliver his State of the Conference speech.   Naturally, he highlighted all the conference's accomplishments, while also taking jabs at the NCAA.  Slive again called for reform in the NCAA, but many ultimately believe that if severe reform doesn't occur, the 5 major conferences will bolt and form their own organization.  

While this year will see the beginning of a 4 team playoff, an 8 team playoff is clearly inevitable in the foreseeable future.  Slive went on to advertise for the upcoming SEC Network, and lobby for additional networks, COUGH! (TIME WARNER CABLE) to make coverage available.

Up next was Gus Malzahn, who straight up challenged Mike Ditka for 1980's awesomeness coaching supremacy with his sweater vest during the National Championship game.  This is the most dad outfit I've ever seen on the coaching sidelines.  You know this guy wears Brut and carries an empty coke bottle to spit in throughout the day.  

Auburn was less than a minute away from pulling off a miracle last season after narrowly edging Georgia in "The Miracle On the Plains" and shocking BAMA with the "Kick Bama Kick" field goal return, but ultimately fell short against Publix Enemy No. 1, Jameis Winston and the FSU Seminoles.  One of the biggest stories for Auburn was the absence of QB Nick Marshall who was cited for marijuana possession on Friday, and was wisely told to stay home.

Malzahn, when asked about Marshall stated, "it's a privilege and a reward to represent your team at SEC Media days, and last Friday he lost that privilege."  Does this mean Marshall won't play against Arkansas in the season opener?

Will "If I don't win 10 games I'm gone" Muschamp was up next.  Florida vastly underachieved last year, but that was largely due to a ton of injuries rather than the actual product they put on the football field.  This is a program that in the last 20 years has consistently shown it can be successful and many expect the Gators to bounce back this season.

Muschamp knows his job is on the line, and I think this team will be vastly improved, because they couldn't get much worse than last year.  Are 10 wins possible?  Maybe, but this team definitely goes bowling in 2014.  More than once he mentioned how balanced Duke was as a football team.  That's right.  A head coach at Florida, praised Duke football and upheld them as a model for what the Florida Gators want to accomplish going forward. 

One thing Florida has going for it: two former QBs working for the SEC Network in Jesse "The Bachelor" Palmer and Timothy Tebow.   So they are sure to get praise going forward, but winning the SEC East isn't as easy you'd think with South Carolina and Georgia still being the class of the division.  Meanwhile, Mizzou has shown it belongs in the league with an impressive SEC East crown last year, and Tennessee is quickly rebuilding with some elite talent thanks to Butch Jones's recruiting.  While Muschamp has been known for his tenacious defense, Florida clearly needs to improve on offense going forward, especially when you're blocking your own players.

Last on the podium today was the newest SEC Coach, Derek Mason, from Vandy.  James Franklin set the standard for Vanderbilt football.  Vandy isn't going to win 10 games a year, but as someone who watches his team play Vandy every year, no coach scared me more than James Franklin.  I couldn't be happier to see him go to Penn State.  

Derek Mason comes to the SEC from Stanford, which can line up and knock heads with any team in the country.  The Rose Bowl between Stanford and Michigan State was like watching two giants slug it out in the trenches for 4 quarters.  It was a football purist's dream.  I think Mason will bring some physicality to Vandy, but it's going to be mighty tough to replace James Franklin.  When he left, Vanderbilt fans were heartbroken and terrified of going back to 2-10 seasons. 

Vandy has been picked by many to finish last or next to last in the East.  But Mason came out of the gate hot, saying "The time for us to compete for an SEC East title is now."  While Vandy boosters will love this enthusiasm, the analysts will not.  They'll be quick to point out that Derek Mason is just trying to rally the troops, and he can't possibly think that Vandy is going to win the SEC East this year.

Day 2 starts tomorrow with the always hilarious Steve Spurrier up first.  So be sure to set your DVR and check twitter for some awesome jabs at other SEC teams.