What the SEC East coaches said on the spring media teleconference

With spring practice in the history books, the SEC coaches have focused their sights on summer plans and gameplanning for the fall.

The SEC East coaches joined the media for a teleconference on Wednesday to update the status of their programs. Satellite camps were also a topic that came up once or twice or one hundred times during the course of the call.

Here’s a recap of what each SEC East coach said on Wednesday:

Jim McElwain, Florida

• On league’s coordinator turnover: “It makes for offseason studies to be nuts. You’re breaking down opponent films that aren’t even your opponents.”
• On satellite camps: “We’ll use it to let our guys get out to places and instruct some camps and do some evaluation along the way.” Said they are in the process of putting schedule together and will roll it out when done.
• On Tennessee being picked to win the SEC East: “I’m sure that they should be and should be the heck out of us. We’re just going to be lucky to show up.”
• On status of suspended WR Antonio Callaway and QB Treon Harris: “Status quo.”
• McElwain’s daughter is getting married in July. He says that’s one of the big things on his plate for the summer.
• McElwain has been spending Sundays grilling on his Big Green Egg. Said he made some pizza the other day. “I’ll tell ya what, it was pretty good.”

Kirby Smart, Georgia

• On summer prep for QBs: “I think it’s hard to evaluate them in the summer towards fall because we’re obviously not out there evaluate… I challenged each one of them in their exit interviews to be a leader… they have to challenge their teammates to be there every day.”
• On what to expect from Ole Miss, who beat him two years in a row as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, after losing players to draft: “I would expect more of the same. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
• On satellite camp ruling and planning: “My reaction is that it kind of is what it is. It’s not a situation where we had a major voice as individuals in the decision process. We were all aware there was a chance this could happen and we’re working through it… You’ve to be selective about where you go and smart about when you go…. Literally I get a text every five minutes about another one. It’s tough.”
• On recruiting against Nick Saban: “It’s not me against him. It’s very rare that Georgia and Alabama are the only two teams recruiting a kid. I wouldn’t say I recruit against him. I’ve got too much respect for him to say that anyway. I felt like I was selling a product at the university of Georgia. It’s never been about what they do or what they’re doing. It’s always been about us and what we have to offer.”

Mark Stoops, Kentucky

• Stoops says his recruiting footprint won’t change too much with the coaching changes. Said Ohio will continue to be an area of emphasis.
• On bringing in JUCO QB Stephen Johnson only to name a returning player the starter:  “Stephen knew where he stood with our program then and he knows where he stands with our program today.”
• On change he’s seen from new starting QB Drew Barker: “I’ve seen a big change in Drew and I want to continue to see that. This was just one semester. He needs to have a great summer… But I’ve seen a maturity in him, both on and off the field.”
• On satellite camps: “We will take part in the satellite camps. I don’t think we’ll overdo it. We want to continue to get players on our campus over the summer… we want to continue to work that angle. But we will take part, we’ll do several in Florida, one in Georgia and in Ohio as well.”

Barry Odom, Missouri

• On Rams leaving St. Louis and opportunity to capitalize on fan interest: “I think it’s important for us to realize and we know how great a city St. Louis is… for us to be able to attract maybe some that are missing the Rams is important to us… I want the University of Missouri to be the team that the entire state follows.”
• On satellite camps: “We think it’s very important to stay on our campus because we’ve got an unbelievable setup for kids to see. We will do one in St. Louis and Kansas City within out state, and then some within areas that we recruit heavily… It’ll be a busy summer. We’ll be in Dallas four or five times. Down into Missisippi, over into Georgia and down into Florida.”
• Odom gave a very detailed history of his relationship with new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. Said they’ve been trying for years to get on the same staff together and that he’s excited about the way that Heupel approaching the game and leads young men.
• A new indoor facility is a top priority for Odom as the Tigers make long-term facility plans.

Will Muschamp, South Carolina

• On previously commenting about potentially winning the SEC East this year: “I led that statement off by saying that there were a number of unknowns on the roster.” Mentioned the unknowns at all offensive skill positions. “I think if we continue to develop we could put ourselves in that position… If I didn’t believe it, I wouldn’t say it. There are just a lot of ifs involved and we need to go find a way to get it done.”
• On satellite camps: “Whatever the rules are is what we’re going to do.” Said he has a plan in place to get off campus to Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
• On hiring OC Kurt Roper again: “I thought he did a really good job (at Florida), but we didn’t get the results we wanted.” Said he doesn’t think Roper gets enough credit for his work at Duke and Ole Miss. Reinforced the idea that they will have an offensive scheme similar to what the Gamecocks had in recent seasons. He believes that will help the transition.
• On Marcus Lattimore in wake of NCAA decision to deny his role: “Marcus is still going to be a part of what we do. He’s going to be a Gamecock forever.”

Butch Jones, Tennessee

• Jones said all 24 players that sat out of the Orange and White game will be back at some point this summer.
• Jones said his plans for satellite camps is continuously evolving giving the growing nature. “Our football team needs to have our coaches around in the month of June as well, so I think there’s a balancing act.”
• On RB Alvin Kamara: “He’s really developed into one of our team leaders. That’s why our players selected him as one of four team captains… He’s really worked very hard at his game from a durability standpoint, to a pass protection standpoint, to being a complete back.” Jones said he challenged Kamara to be a 20-25 carry back.
• On growing expectations: “We have very high expectations internally… I think the expectations placed on this team externally is a direct correlation to the way last year’s team finished. This team has not done anything.”
• On social media for players: “These young people broadcast their emotions and their feelings online. We do educate them… we place a lot of time investment on your personal brand… If you game is loud you don’t need to talk about it.” Talked about keeping things respectful.

Derek Mason, Vanderbilt

• Mason said his team has grown leaps and bounds from where it was a year ago at this time. Said it was about a change in culture and expectations.
• Mason said moving Khari Blasingame from defense to RB has change the entire offensive mentality of his team. Praised his physical running ability.
• On Kyle Shurmur’s spring effort: “What you started to see was a leader emerge.” Mason said it was a continuation of the progress he saw from game to game last season, and made him comfortable naming him the starter coming out of a spring competition.
• On satellite camps: “For me, the satellite camp has never been a big issue. I understand why our conference feels about these camps, and I’m in agreement.” Mason coached under Jim Harbaugh during his time at Stanford. “I think it’s more important for me to get a kid on my campus… that’s how I’ve always felt, it’s never really changed for me.”
• Mason said he thinks satellite camps are more important on the mid-major front than they are for power conference teams. Reiterated that he’s most interested in getting kids to Nashville.

Nick Cole

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.