The Final Day of SEC Media Days brings forth Georgia, Ole Miss, Bama, and Kentucky. It's been an interesting week for the SEC, but without major star players and a Heisman Trophy winner, the week has lacked the spark of past media days.
Mark Richt is heading into his 14th season at UGA, and it's hard to understand why a guy like this doesn't get more respect. He hasn't managed to bring the crystal to Athens, but he's averaged 10 wins a year for more than a decade. Georgia has been picked by many to win the East this year, and they'll likely be favored in every game this year with the exception of South Carolina and Auburn, the latter of which they get at home.
The loss to Clemson stung last year, but they'll get a chance for revenge Between The Hedges right out of the gate on August 30th. The loss of Aaron Murray is going to be huge, but considering how they bounced back when Matthew Stafford left for The Motor City I think they'll do just fine. Todd Gurley returns as arguably the best running back in the league, and should be a nightmare for SEC East defenses.
Batting 2nd was Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze. Freeze won 7 games in his first year and 8 in his second. The fans in Oxford truly believe this is the year the Rebels take the next big step. However, they play in the toughest division in the toughest conference in college football. Having to play LSU, Bama, Auburn, a pesky Mississippi State, and now Texas A&M every year doesn't make up a recipe for success.
Freeze in an early interview told reporters he initially thought his team wouldn't get to a bowl game until Year 3 when he got the head coaching job, but improvement from the start has raised expectations. The best freshman class in Ole Miss history saw a lot of playing time last year, and will likely see even more playing time this season with Treadwell, Tunsil, Engram, Conner, and Robert Nkemdiche all being starters.
"This is your time, Bo," Freeze said when asked about how vital Bo Wallace will be to the Rebels success this year. Wallace vastly improved from his first season statistically, playing well at times, LSU and Texas, but struggling against Mississippi State and Bama. He's the key for the Rebels; if he plays well, they'll be fine. If Wallace struggles, the Rebels season could be a major disappointment.
This picture sums up the passion Bama fans have for Nick Saban. With Hoover, Alabama being in close proximity to Tuscaloosa, Crimson Tide fans swarm to SEC Media Days every year. Bama's let down at the Iron Bowl, and awful performance against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl have left a horrible feeling in the stomach of Crimson Tide fans. Regardless of gender, die hard fans have difficulty accepting losing after 3 recent National Championships.
Bama is picked to win the SEC again this year, which should not come as a shock to anyone. They consistently have had the best recruiting class in the nation, and have a coach who is almost uniformly revered as the best coach in college football. It's National Championship or bust, and Saban expects nothing less than another ring on his finger in January.
The biggest question for the Tide is at QB with FSU transfer Jacob Coker likely the starter under center. Bama QBs have largely been game managers relying on a superb defense and an excellent running game. Even if he isn't stellar, it's hard to fathom this team winning less than 9 games, and you can guarantee they are going to be ready for the Iron Bowl for 60:00 minutes.
Rounding out SEC Media days was 2nd year Kentucky coach Mark Stoops. Stoops joked about being picked last in the SEC East, which is about the best you can do when few believe you'll be able to make a bowl game. Kentucky has been plastering "Change the Game" signs in support of their football team, but most aren't sure if that means they want Kentucky football to be more like Kentucky basketball or it's a suggestion to viewers watching the game at home.
Kentucky went 2-10 last season and was was 0-8 in conference play. Stoops tried his best to play up the diligence and effort his team has been putting in during the Spring and how much they've grown from last year. The flat out truth is, it's going to be another rebuilding year for the Wildcats.
SEC Media Days have come to a close and we're just over a month away from the start of football. I'll be making some predictions as the season gets closer, but as Spurrier pointed out this time of the year is "Talkin' Season." The week was filled with predictions and forecasts, but really and truly there wasn't nearly as much rhetoric and smack talk as previous years. Going forward though, enjoy the weekend as the British Open and Tigermania sucks the world back into golf.
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