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SEC Media Days is fun because there’s always some strong statements being made, and Day 3 in Hoover, Ala., certainly provided us with a few.
Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Missouri were on the docket, and here’s a look at the quotes that stood out from the players/coaches in attendance on Wednesday.
BRET BIELEMA
Of course, you know the Razorbacks coach is going to deliver a few. He doesn’t plan them ahead of time. They just come out naturally because that’s the kind of guy he is. The kind of guy who describes his players like this.
1. “Deatrich Wise is a beautiful 6’6″, 270-280 pound defensive end.”
Here’s Bielema talking about the passion of Hogs fans
2. “They let you know in a variety of different ways, yelling Pig Sooie or Woo Pig, a bump, interference that cuts you off of traffic, whatever it is, you know who they are, why they are there and what they love.”
And Bielema certainly doesn’t hold back against other programs, even ones who are in attendance the same day as him at Media Days.
3. “You don’t have to worry whether or not – if I’m going suspend anybody for the first game. It doesn’t come up in our program.”
NICK SABAN
Alabama’s coach and Paul Finebaum got into it during SEC Network’s coverage of the event. This was where it left off, at least on air, when Finebaum questioned why Saban didn’t decide to suspend Cam Robinson.
4. “Because I’m not going to convict them in the public, and you said I was going to get criticized by you and the public and the media because I’m not going to suspend him, and I don’t really care about that. That’s the end of the conversation.”
Saban did talk football, and this was in response to why the Crimson Tide has fallen to the Rebels the last two seasons.
5. “I think if you’re going play well against those kinds of teams who are very prolific offensive teams and play good defense, you got to play good field position, first of all, and we’re going to have to do a better job of eliminating the big play so they don’t score so many points.”
EDDIE JACKSON
Alabama safety Eddie Jackson was asked about Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this season. Watson lit up the Tide, which fielded one of the best defenses in the nation last season, for 478 total yards of offense and 4 TDs.
6. “His athletic ability did some things that we couldn’t stop. He’s a good player and we tried to contain him to the best of our ability. He had some great plays.”
MARK STOOPS
Kentucky’s coach is in his fourth season in Lexington, coming off back-to-back 5-7 campaigns. He’s clearly frustrated with the Wildcats not being able to get over the hump.
7. “We had longer spring practices. We need to have a tougher two-a-days, a tougher camp and continue to expand our capacity to handle more to endure what it takes mentally and physically to compete and to win in this league. In particular, to close the gap on the close games. We’ve been very close. We’re tired of being close.”
MICHAEL SCHERER
The Missouri linebacker provided this gem when asked about his reaction to the loss of athletic director Mack Rhoades, who left for the same position at Baylor.
8. “I said, ‘Really? He just got here.'”
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.
