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2016 SEC Media Days: Day 1 Recap

Talal Elmasry

By Talal Elmasry

Published:

The SDS crew is on site this week in Hoover, Ala., covering the 2016 SEC Media Days. If you missed the coverage today, here’s your Day 1 recap …

The unofficial start of the SEC season began with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey kicking off the Hoover festivities in very classy fashion, although his stay on the podium was rather brief.

Sankey spoke out about a tumultuous past week filled with outcries against police brutality and brutality against police, and it was appropriate considering related incidents occurred in SEC footprints, the states of Louisiana and Texas.

Meanwhile, he paid tribute to the legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, and the Hall of Famer’s ability to marry strong academics with strong athletics.

It wasn’t long before Sankey brought everyone in the room together to bask in the incredible accomplishments of the SEC, which unveiled a new SEC Championship Game logo and SEC slogan.

Here’s a look at the slogans that it barely edged:

https://twitter.com/SDS/status/752567523611140096

And here’s a look at the snazzy new logo:

Clean. No complaints there.

Then, it was time for the representatives of the three schools scheduled to appear on Day 1: Auburn, Florida and Vanderbilt. Here’s a look at what went down with respect to those teams.

AUBURN

For coach Gus Malzahn, he was welcomed by Alabama fans just waiting to deliver a phrase he’s heard 2,000,000 times too many.

Not long after, Malzahn informed the media that his four players that were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges back in May — DE Byron Cowart, WR Ryan Davis and DBs Carlton Davis III and Jeremiah Dinson — have been punished but won’t miss the team’s huge season opener against 2015 national runner-up Clemson or any game for that matter.

Malzahn also pointed out that former four-star defensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho will be switching to the offensive line because of sufficient depth on the defensive front.

Other than that, here’s a brief summary of the rest of Malzahn’s presser:

https://twitter.com/SDS/status/752592307589902339

What Gus Malzahn said
What Auburn players said

FLORIDA

Jim McElwain seemed ready to field the questions about receiver Antonio Callaway and quarterback-now-receiver Treon Harris. Unfortunately, he didn’t have definitive answers for the media.

However, Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun (mighty fine publication) reports that the pair could return three weeks from now.

The somewhat goofy McElwain brimmed with optimism, letting everyone know that “Things are good at the University of Florida, and that’s the way it should be.” He’s also anxious to revive a Gators passing game that crashed to Earth without a trace towards the end of last season.

https://twitter.com/SDS/status/752588574554456064

McElwain was asked about Florida State handing out state championship rings after the Seminoles beat both the Gators and the Hurricanes last season. While many expected him to take a shot at FSU, he unexpectedly took the opportunity to take a dig at his own program, which he’s criticized in the past for not spending enough money on football.

“I don’t know whether our administration has it in our budget to do that.”

Considering Forbes valued Florida’s football program at $72 million back in December, I highly doubt that.

While McElwain refrained from any trash-talk towards his rivals, some of his players such as Jalen Tabor and Jarrad Davis had a field day with Tennessee, and Vols fans responded.

What McElwain said
What UF players said

VANDERBILT

If you ask Twitter, coach Derek Mason was the winner of Day 1, both with his words and fashion.

https://twitter.com/SDS/status/752609944441131008

Mason reeled off plenty of noteworthy quotes, and they were in relation to sensitive questions in these present times. This one was in response to a question of whether coaches and student-athletes should use their platforms for causes they believe in or for ways to unite.

https://twitter.com/SDS/status/752615836058255360

The next one was in response to whether he feels added pressure to succeed being an African-American head coach.

https://twitter.com/SaturdayJC/status/752612810861998081

Mason wasn’t the only one making bold statements. According to one reporter, Commodores running back Ralph Webb has no doubt about the team’s chances of starting SEC play 1-0.

Talal Elmasry

Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.

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