SEC Media Days. The three days of fun and games in the Wynfrey Hotel at the Galleria in Birmingham (or specifically, the white-flight haven of Hoover). Usually when it’s the day that Alabama is on the slate, the lobbies fill with fans, old and young, waiting to meet and get memorabilia signed by the head coach and the three payers chosen to appear. With the Tide slated for the opening spot on Wednesday — the national champion Tide — the atmosphere was bananas. The Chick-fil-A ran out of chicken. This was REAL, son.
And if you don’t think the horde of beat writers (and more than a few national writers, and the TV and radio types) showing up were on edge enough with a rabid, human crimson tide waiting for them, the SEC dropped the ball on the Internet. All day long, there were lamentations about the lack of wifi, and when it came, it was spotty. There was much gnashing of teeth and hitting of refresh.
But, when the time came, Tide coach Nick Saban stepped to the podium. He pretty much kept it straight, but began getting a little wound up when talking about agents and college football. Mind you, the Bama program has been pretty open with allowing scouts look at film and practices, but Saban seems to be getting ready to shut the door on all NFL types. Then, pimps.
| Saban on rogue agents |
As for the rest, it went pretty much as usual.
| Alabama head coach Nick Saban |
| Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy |
| Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower |
| Alabama running back Mark Ingram |
The next crew up was Mississippi State. Coach Dan Mullen seems to sincerely believe that his Bulldogs are going to be competitive in the SEC West this year, which simply seems bizarre. To the best of our knowledge, the last time MSU was good was when former coach Jackie Sherrill was breaking all sorts of rules. Mullen also defended the spread option, which Saban previously said was not good prep for a quarterback going to the next level.
| Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen |
| Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf |
Third up was SEC East champion Florida. We would say the SEC blew its stash on the first day, but that would be an understatement. Of the first four teams, two are the best in the conference with the best two, most intimidating coaches in the conference. Good job with scheduling. Anyway, Gators coach Urban Meyer addressed agents as well, saying that they keep tight security to keep agent types out, and the only place you’d find one on campus is behind a bush. And he seemed to be indulging in a little schadenfreude when asked about Southern Cal getting nailed with probation shortly after Lane Kiffin taking over.
| Florida head coach Urban Meyer |
| Florida safety Ahmad Black |
| Florida center Mike Pouncey |
Last up was Kentucky and its fearsome twosome, coach Joker Phillips and athlete Randall Cobb. See, Cobb is probably the only player on the Wildcats’ roster that you can name, for the reason that he’s on the field damn near every play in yet another position. For any team playing Kentucky, it pretty much boils down to containing Cobb. Phillips said it himself that Cobb will be all over the field again this season. He also said assistant Tee Martin knows Facebook and former coach Rich Brooks tweets his daily golf score. Riveting.
| Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips |
| Kentucky athlete Randall Cobb |
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back…and it’s not Tim Tebow. Florida coach Urban Meyer turned his Wienermobile around and allegedly told his players that he’s changing his mind and will return as head coach — just not right away.
Meyer informed his football team on Sunday that he is not resigning but rather taking an indefinite leave of absence, according to a team source.
Meyer also informed the football team that offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will be the Gators’ interim head coach. A timetable has not been set for Meyer’s return but he could resume his position as UF head coach as soon as next season.
In all deference to Meyer and his illness and the general thought the Southeastern Conference would lose a major force, our reaction is, “WELL, SHIT.” There were writers in Alabama, including The Birmingham News‘ Kevin Scarbinsky (who likes
One.
Sentence.
Paragraphs.) who said that Meyer’s retirement effectively ceded control of the SEC to Alabama and Nick Saban for the next three years or so. He said it would be like the Crimson Tide in the ’70s. Total domination. Scarbinsky now has the be-jorted Gator Nation laughing in his face, because this epic battle between two intense, dedicated and borderline-batshit insane coaches is not even close to over.
Meyer’s just going to take a vacation. Then he’ll be back, to take his fourth SEC East title in six years.
Florida head coach Urban Meyer was already on his way to becoming, despite Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s success, the next Bear Bryant in the Southeastern Conference. Two national championships and a Heisman Trophy to in just four years — eclipsing what Spurrier did in Gainesville in a decade. This season, the Gators were a game away from another national championship appearance. So, at the end of his fifth season with the team, it’s coming as a shock to everyone in the college football community that Meyer announced he would step down as head coach after the Sugar Bowl.
In a statement released Saturday night, Meyer said:
I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program. I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family.
After consulting with my family, [Florida president] Dr. Bernie Machen, [Florida athletics director] Jeremy Foley and my doctors, I believe it is in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family.
I’m proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida. I’m very appreciative for the opportunity I’ve had to be a part of a tremendous institution – from Dr. Machen to Jeremy Foley and the entire administrative staff at UF. I’m also very thankful for the chance to work with some of the best assistants in college football and coach some of the best college football players and watch them grow both on and off the field as people. I will cherish the relationships with them the most.
If you doubt the frenzy that happened when it was announced via Twitter and on TV in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Florida athletics Web site, GatorZone.com, was virtually inaccessible.
Meyer’s record in the nation’s toughest football conference has been nothing short of amazing. With one game left to go, he has a 56-10 overall record (84.8 percent) and a 32-8 SEC record (80 percent). Along with the two national titles and quarterback Tim Tebow‘s Heisman, there have been two SEC championships three SEC East titles. Against Gator rivals Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State, he is 14-1. There were five years and $20 million left on his contract, not to mention near-certain bonuses for championships and other incentives.
Initial reportage has been murky as to the true cause of Meyer’s decision. The rumor coming out at the beginning was that it was a health issue. Other sources said it was a lifestyle issue, and yet another rumor has it that Meyer told his players it involves a heart condition. Whatever it is, being a major football head coach (or a coach period, in many instances) is definitely not a healthy occupation.
The Florida program is, definitely, thrown into some measure of absolute chaos. We’re sure Meyer will try to help out with the coaching search and soften the blow for the program, but the damage is done. Recruiting goes in to serious overdrive after the bowl game, a number of quality assistants have taken other jobs and Tebow is leaving school, along with other high-level starters.
It’s too early for fans of Georgia and Tennessee (and oh, Carolina) to expect a significant drop in the Gators’ talent or results. Meyer’s years at the university have stocked the cabinet pretty well. Florida is also at the perfect spot to get a great coach. Great players, years of winning, on TV every week and a pipeline to the NFL. But, you never know. It takes the right mix of coach and program to create a consistent winner.
The salaries of all Football Bowl Subdivision coaches went out, and, it may shock you, but Alabama head coach Nick Saban was not No. 1. Yeah, it surprises us too, considering that the sky fell on the Bama administration when it was announced that Saban would pull nearly $4 million a year when he was hired. Supply and demand, fellas. How many people can recruit top talent and win national championships at the college level? Precious few. Hence.
You may not realize it, but the Armani Bear is fourth among FBS coaches in salary. He isn’t even tops among SEC coaches. Florida coach Urban Meyer, who earned his long green by winning two national titles in four years and having a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback is No. 3 in the country, officially getting $100,000 more than the next guy to get bronzed in the plaza in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll is taking the most bank, with waste-of-space Charlie Weis of Notre Dame at No. 2.
It’s not surprising that the two most well-known football teams among private universities lay out the most cash. Carroll has earned it, in spades. Weis, not so much. Even though Alabama has Knute Rockne to thank for Frank Thomas, the Notre Dame Box and three national championships, we’re pretty thrilled at the tarnished dome sending multi-millions toward yet another coach that will try to get the Irish to its fourth 10-win season in 15 years.
Somewhere, Beano Cook is crying.
FBS Coaches’ Salaries
1. Pete Carroll, USC Pac-10 $4,400,000
2. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame Ind. $4,200,000
3. Urban Meyer, Florida SEC $4,000,000
4. Nick Saban, Alabama SEC $3,900,000
5. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Big 12 $3,800,000
6. Les Miles, LSU SEC $3,800,000
7. Jim Tressel, Ohio State Big Ten $3,500,000
8. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Big Ten $3,030,000
9. Mack Brown, Texas Big 12 $2,910,000
10. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas SEC $2,900,000
11. Mark Richt, Georgia SEC $2,900,000
T12. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan Big Ten $2,500,000
T12. Bobby Bowden, Florida State ACC $2,500,000
T12. Gary Pinkel, Missouri Big 12 $2,500,000
T12. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss SEC $2,500,000
T16. Mark Mangino, Kansas Big 12 $2,300,000
T16. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech ACC $2,300,000
18. Greg Schiano, Rutgers Big East $2,250,000
T19. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech ACC $2,100,000
T19. Butch Davis, North Carolina ACC $2,100,000
T21. June Jones, SMU C-USA $2,000,000
T21. Lane Kiffin, Tennessee SEC $2,000,000
T21. Gene Chizik, Auburn SEC $2,000,000
24. Al Groh, Virginia ACC $1,875,000
25. Bo Pelini, Nebraska Big 12 $1,851,000
T26. Jeff Tedford, California Pac-10 $1,850,000
T26. Steve Sarkisian, Washington Pac-10 $1,850,000
T28. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M Big 12 $1,800,000
T28. Art Briles, Baylor Big 12 $1,800,000
T28. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina SEC $1,800,000
T28. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State Big Ten $1,800,000
T32. Ralph Friedgen, Maryland ACC $1,750,000
T32. Mike Leach, Texas Tech Big 12 $1,750,000
T34. Chip Kelly, Oregon Pac-10 $1,500,000
T34. Joe Paterno, Penn State Big Ten $1,500,000
T34. Randy Edsall, Connecticut Big East $1,500,000
T34. David Cutcliffe, Duke ACC $1,500,000
T34. Randy Shannon, Miami ACC $1,500,000
T34. Jim Leavitt, USF Big East $1,500,000
40. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville Big East $1,450,000
41. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin Big Ten $1,400,000
42. Ron Zook, Illinois Big Ten $1,350,000
T43. Dave Wannstedt, Pitt Big East $1,300,000
T43. Gary Patterson, TCU MWC $1,300,000
T45. Danny Hope, Purdue Big Ten $1,250,000
T45. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA Pac-10 $1,250,000
T45. Pat Hill, Fresno State WAC $1,250,000
T45. Rich Brooks, Kentucky SEC $1,250,000
T49. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati Big East $1,200,000
T49. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest ACC $1,200,000
T49. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State SEC $1,200,000
52. Skip Holtz, East Carolina C-USA $1,160,000
T53. George O’Leary, UCF C-USA $1,150,000
T53. Paul Rhoads, Iowa State Big 12 $1,150,000
T55. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State Pac-10 $1,100,000
T55. Todd Graham, Tulsa C-USA $1,100,000
T55. Tom O’Brien, N.C. State ACC $1,100,000
T55. Greg McMackin, Hawaii WAC $1,100,000
T55. Dan Hawkins, Colorado Big 12 $1,100,000
T55. Mike Riley, Oregon State Pac-10 $1,100,000
T55. Bill Snyder, Kansas State Big 12 $1,100,000
T55. Doug Marrone, Syracuse Big East $1,100,000
T55. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt SEC $1,100,000
64. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Big 12 $1,050,000
65. Mike Stoops, Arizona Pac-10 $1,025,000
T66. Frank Spaziani, Boston College ACC $1,000,000
T66. Dabo Swinney, Clemson ACC $1,000,000
T66. Tim Brewster, Minnesota Big Ten $1,000,000
T66. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford Pac-10 $1,000,000
70. Tommy West, Memphis C-USA $950,000
71. Chris Petersen, Boise State WAC $900,000
T72. Bill Stewart, West Virginia Big East $800,000
T72. Larry Fedora, Southern Miss C-USA $800,000
T72. Steve Fairchild, Colorado State MWC $800,000
T72. Brady Hoke, San Diego State MWC $800,000
T76. Dave Christensen, Wyoming MWC $750,000
T76. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy Ind. $750,000
T76. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Big Ten $750,000
T76. Mike Locksley, New Mexico MWC $750,000
T80. Kevin Sumlin, Houston C-USA $700,000
T80. Kyle Whittingham, Utah MWC $700,000
T82. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU MWC $650,000
T82. Stan Brock, Army Ind. $650,000
T82. Bill Lynch, Indiana Big Ten $650,000
T85. Paul Wulff, Washington State Pac-10 $600,000
T85. Bob Toledo, Tulane C-USA $600,000
T85. Troy Calhoun, Air Force MWC $600,000
88. Al Golden, Temple MAC $575,000
89. Mark Snyder, Marshall C-USA $500,000
90. Mike Price, UTEP C-USA $475,000
91. Dick Tomey, San Jose State WAC $460,000
T92. Mike Sanford, UNLV MWC $450,000
T92. Tim Beckman, Toledo MAC $450,000
T94. David Bailiff, Rice CUSA 2 $400,000
T94. Frank Solich, Ohio MAC $400,000
T94. Derek Dooley, La. Tech WAC $400,000
T94. Gary Andersen, Utah State WAC $400,000
T94. DeWayne Walker, New Mexico State WAC $400,000
99. Mario Cristobal, FIU Sun Belt $390,000
T100. Chris Ault, Nevada WAC $375,000
T100. Howard Schnellenberger, FAU Sun Belt $375,000
102. Neil Callaway, UAB C-USA $360,000
T103. Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois MAC $300,000
T103. Larry Blakeney, Troy Sun Belt $300,000
T103. Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee Sun Belt $300,000
T103. Dave Clawson, Bowling Green MAC $300,000
T107. Butch Jones, Central Michigan MAC $275,000
T107. Bill Cubit, Western Michigan MAC $275,000
T107. Todd Dodge North Texas Sun Belt $275,000
110. Turner Gill, Buffalo MAC $265,000
T111. Stan Parrish, Ball State MAC $250,000
T111. Robb Akey, Idaho WAC $250,000
T111. Ron English, Eastern Michigan MAC $250,000
114. J.D. Brookhart, Akron MAC $245,000
115. Charlie Weatherbie, La.-Monroe Sun Belt $205,000
T116. Rickey Bustle, La.-Lafayette Sun Belt $200,000
T116. Steve Roberts, Arkansas State Sun Belt $200,000
T116. David Elson, Western Kentucky Sun Belt $200,000
T116. Mike Haywood, Miami (OH) MAC $200,000
120. Doug Martin, Kent State MAC $170,000
Day Two of SEC Media Days ended up all about Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, and whether or not he has taken advantage of the savage beauty that walks across campus in Gainesville. In response to blogger/author/attorney/unrepentant Tennessee fan Clay Travis‘ question as to whether he was “saving himself for marriage,” Tebow answered in the affirmative.
That led to widespread ass-paddling of Travis, from people accusing him of attacking Christians (Travis is Baptist, by the way), to going after him for being unprofessional and everything in between. Kind of amazing how that story ruled the day, considering Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Mark Richt and the Right Rev. Houston Nutt also took the podium.
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, who we’ve never particularly enjoyed, had this to say:
I don’t know if you were insulted. I was. I didn’t come halfway across the country to have to listen to some clown try to TMZ himself into the moment.
Tebow? He’s too SpongeBob SquarePants to know he was violated:
“I understand that I’m going to get some off-the-wall questions, and this was just another one.”
The statement was texted back to some reporters after Tebow wasn’t allowed to speak further about the question. He was rushed down a back exit, out of the hotel when word got out that some reporters were waiting outside an interview room to follow up with Tebow about his admission.
All I wanted to ask was why the heck did Tebow answer? He’s so honest and genuine that he was an easy target. He’s also so honest and genuine (and maybe naïve) that he laughed it off.
The Christian Right will be happy. Anyone else with a shred of decency should be outraged.
This is “news” only because arguably the nation’s best player was involved. A large part of the public can’t believe he’s this perfect. Skepticism is healthy and fine, but not when it comes to the timing of someone’s first sex act.
We think it was a legit question. Not a print reporter question, but definitely at least a blog-worthy question, considering how Tebow wears his faith on his sleeve. And eye black. If you didn’t want the media poking around like that, don’t let cameras follow you around on mission trips, and don’t go to a high-profile school. This is the SEC.
In other news, NICKSABANOMFGHE’SCOMINGDOWNTHEESCALATOR! Sign my Daniel Moore print!
| SEC Media Days 2009: Nick Saban |
According to The Birmingham News, “Rabid autograph seekers descend upon the Wynfrey every July, wearing ‘Got Nick?’ T-shirts, clutching Sports Illustrated covers, and reacting in awe upon seeing their football coach. If Alabama football ever held a ‘Star Trek’ convention, surely it would resemble this.” Interviews! There’s the coaches, QBs Tebow and Jevan Snead, and wrap-ups with EDSBS/The Sporting News‘ Spencer Hall and The Press-Register‘s Gentry Estes.
| Florida head coach Urban Meyer |
| Florida quarterback Tim Tebow |
| Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt |
| Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead |
| Georgia head coach Mark Richt |
| Alabama head coach Nick Saban |
| EDSBS‘ and The Sporting News‘ Spencer Hall |
| The Press-Register‘s Gentry Estes |
Venerable ol’ Sports Illustrated, of cover jinx fame, chose to send out its SEC preview edition with multiple covers. According to a news release by SI, the magazine will be doing four — Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
And, here’s the pitch: “Sports Illustrated Presents has published a special collector’s issue previewing the 2009 SEC football season. The 108-page magazine, with a limited press run of 321,899 copies, has arrived on newsstands and at area retailers, including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Books a Million, Barnes & Noble, Kroger, Publix, Sweet Bay, Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly and major airports, throughout the southeastern United States. The special edition, which will be sold at a price of $7.99, features regional covers with four of the conference’s top coaches.”
We’re convinced, though, that every time you look at Kiffykins on a magazine cover, you get that much closer to a nasty condition of the herp.
Behold:
