You knew Wednesday was going to be wild for SEC Media Days with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns rolling into Dallas. However, the Florida Gators and Mississippi State Bulldogs were there too, and they may have managed to make even more news. Here are our biggest takeaways from the third day.
Billy Napier is giving up
What else can you say? The Florida head coach said the Gators are still a “work in progress.” He’s in his third year! Sorry, but by this point, he should expect to have them competing for championships. It’s almost hard to watch because Billy Napier is such a good person, but at the end of the day, UF is likely moving on after 2024.
MSU jabs at Ole Miss during SEC Media Days
The Mississippi State Bulldogs aren’t scared of their in-state rivals. New head coach Jeff Lebby called Lane Kiffin’s antics toward him on social media “childish,” and MSU linebacker John Lewis trashed their “Come to the Sip” phrase, noting that he believes the Bulldogs own the state. Lebby is a brilliant offensive mind and now has his players talking. He may be ready to make a first-year splash.
Kalen DeBoer’s players’ coach mentality may work
Nick Saban’s replacement for the Alabama Crimson Tide entered SEC Media Days on the hottest recruiting streak in college football and fleshed out his idea that the program should be “player-led.” That’s not how Saban ran it, but it could be what this team needs to play more loose, and with this momentum, morale could prepare them for something special.
Texas QB controversy leaked at SEC Media Days?
Steve Sarkisian made a bizarre statement when he said at SEC Media Days that Texas would need both Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers. Why would they need Manning this year? If things go right, he’ll never play. Did Sark accidentally leak a quarterback controversy between the two? Is Manning that good? Could Ewers be struggling?
Longhorns thirsty for attention
Speaking of Texas, they tried to generate a ton of flash, as they do, at this event. They just can’t help themselves. Perhaps the Manning-Ewers point was another way to steal headlines. Sark also said there was a “police escort” for the team from the airport to media days, but how does that make them unique? Texas clearly just wants to gin up stories.
