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The media loves a coach that can give a good quote, and some of the nation’s very best talkers reside right here in the SEC.
So in honor of the end of SEC Media Days, let’s wade through all the coach speak to unveil the five most quotable coaches in the league.
5. Nick Saban, Alabama
While he’s usually stuffy and full of coach speak, Saban has gifted us with several good quotes over the years. Saban’s distaste for the media often brings some heated exchanges that can include his infamous “death stare.”
He’s not often funny, but what makes Saban an underrated quote is his willingness to be a voice for the entire sport.
An example is his take on what the first year of the College Football Playoff did for college football as a whole.
“I learned what I feared the most would happen. All the attention, all the interest would be about the four teams in the playoffs, which is exactly what happened, which was great to be a part of.”
“But what I was most fearful of is college football is unique. A lot of young men get a lot of positive self gratification from being able to go to a bowl game and that’s always been a special thing. That by having a playoff we would minimize the interest in other bowl games, which I think is sort of what happened and I hate to see that for college football.”
4. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
Mullen brings a quirky sense of humor to the podium, creating some underrated quotes.
Most recently, Mullen dropped some great quotes on SEC Media Days about his footwear.
“I try to be swagged up in footwear. I’ve got a little sock game going today too. You know what, I was talking to the guys at Adidas like, hey, this is the hottest shoe. I’m like, well, I’d like to wear kind of cool shoes, I think, when I go somewhere. I don’t go too overboard with the suits sometimes, little more conservative that way, but with the sock game and the shoe wear, I try to have some swag on any time I do that stuff.”
Last year, Mullen dropped this line on ESPN’s College Gameday in response to a “mean Tweet” that said he looked like Cousin Eddie from the Vacation movie series:
3. Bret Bielema, Arkansas
After his performance at the last two media days, Bielema has made a strong case for being considered one of the league’s best quotes. In 2014, Bielema dropped what may have been the quote of the year when speaking about one of his defensive tackles:
This year, Bielema’s quote about beating Texas in last season’s bowl game brought the house down.
“It was a proud moment. Borderline erotic.”
2. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
Ahh, the man who gave us “You can’t spell Citrus without UT” and “Free Shoes University” will forever belong near the top of these rankings. Even though Spurrier is getting up there in age, the Head Ball Coach can still drop a quote with the best of them.
Even coming off a mediocre 7-6 season in 2014, Spurrier brought the hurt to Tennessee and Arkansas at SEC Media Days this year.
“We were 7-6, same as Tennessee and the same as Arkansas, and I think they’re sort of celebrating big seasons last year. So we were celebrating also. We were doing some cartwheels and high fiving after that Independence Bowl game because it was a year that could have gone real south, and guys hung in there and somehow or another found a way to win the game.”
Here is our list of Spurrier’s top 10 quotes.
1. Les Miles, LSU
Like any good entertainer, I’m sure Les would tell you it is all about the delivery. You never know what Miles is going to say from one question to the next, and you’re always on the edge of your seat waiting for what could be the next classic “Madhatter” moment.
Last year, Nola.com compiled a top 10 list of Miles’ best quotes. Here’s an excerpt following the LSU/Tennessee game in 2010:
“You just witnessed something I’ve never seen in my entire life. They just called that team (Tennessee) the winner. They said whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, (whistles) come back here. Then they called us the winner. I’m a tell you right now as an experience, dammit, I’m going to enjoy that one as much as I hate to admit it.”
Here’s a video highlighting some of his best work through the years:
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
