Video look at Alabama’s SEC Media Days

Take a look at the madness that was this morning in Hoover. Nick Saban signs autographs, fans cheer and players Dont’a Hightower, Trent Richardson and Mark Barron talk about the year to come. Also sneak a peek at the “I HATE AUBURN” t-shirt that made waves in the hotel lobby. More on that tomorrow.

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In-state team picked to win SEC

The media poll is in and a team from this state was picked to win. Alabama got the nod to win both the West Division and overall title. Here’s the voting.

West Division
Team (first-place) total votes
1. Alabama (111) 924
2. LSU (30) 790
3. Arkansas (23) 717
4. Mississippi State (1) 455
5. Auburn 406
6. Ole Miss (2) 214

SEC champion: Alabama (98), LSU (29), Arkansas (18), South Carolina (14), Georgia (4), Florida (2), Ole Miss (2).

East Division
1. South Carolina (114) 931
2. Georgia (38) 784
3. Florida (12) 731
4. Tennessee (2) 496
5. Kentucky (1) 340
6. Vanderbilt 215

On a side note, a record 1,050 attended media days this year. The previous record was 923 in 2009.

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Dont’a Hightower rocks the houndstooth suit

Dont’a Hightower went with a crimson suit at last year’s Media Days. Today, you can see, was more of a Bear Bryant theme. Your thoughts?

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Saban steps to the podium

It’s game time. Here’s what Saban’s sayin’

• Quick jokes about this being his favorite day of the year. He’d like an award for surviving 10 of these.
• Now talking about positive academic standards at Alabama. “That’s the goal. … That’s why you come to college.”
• “We had a challenging offseason,” he said.
• Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift among those who helped with donations to tornado relief.
• Little better maturity, experience in the offseason.
• Hopes to get both quarterbacks some playing time early in the season.
• On scheduling, Saban said he doesn’t get into picking the other non-conference opponents.
• He doesn’t have an issue playing in-state schools and made it an initiative to do so at LSU.
• Getting technical now with the 3-4 defense. He said Alabama played base 3-4 defense only about 20 percent of the time since other offenses dictated a different path.
• Would like fans on both sides of the Iron Bowl rivalry to act with class after a wild year.
• On Mike Slive initiatives, Saban said he’d like to sit down and talk about the issues.
• He doesn’t understand the purpose of some changes and said some of the issues discussed Wednesday were not discussed with coaches.
• “Not ready to jump out there and support or not support changes,” he said.
• Five championships in the row “speaks to the quality of our league.”
• “We’re the National League of college football.”
• Tide doesn’t have the same kind of dominating players up front as defense so developing the line is a priority.
• He can’t explain why media picked Alabama to win the SEC because other teams have just as many starters returning along with a quarterback.
• “It means nothing,” Saban said when asked how he feels about No. 1 ranking in preseason polls.
• Punters still battling for jobs.
• Kickers will continue with last season’s formula. Shelley kicks shorter field goals and Cade Foster will kick longer ones.
• Saban jokes with reporter from Louisiana who asked if he thought Mike Slive was a dictator.
• Saban challenging defense from the podium to use experience as an advantage this year.
• Saban finished after nearly 40 minutes at the podium.
• Video coming soon.

A few more sights, sounds from SEC Media Day 2

Here’s one more look at today’s action. Get to bed early tonight. Alabama is up first Friday morning.

Also, the blog is warming to the new Google +. If you want to follow through that medium, see my profile here, and I’ll add you to my Alabama football circle. I’m still learning this one, so bear with me.

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A time lapse look at Media Days craziness

Hang out in the lobby, main interview room and hallway at the SEC Media Days in Hoover.

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Video of Gene Chizik at SEC Media Days

Finally, it’s uploaded. Here’s a look at Gene Chizik answering a number of questions at SEC Media Days ranging from the ongoing NCAA probe at Auburn to the Iron Bowl and Toomer’s Corner.

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Gene Chizik steps to the podium

The coach of the defending national champion Auburn Tigers takes his turn before a room of sports writers. Here’s what Gene Chizik said.

• It’s been quite a year, he said. Not many people in this room last year expected he’d stand here a defending national champion.
• That’s what makes college football fun, he said.
• There will be a lot of new faces to get used to this fall.
• The room filled up for this one. Not so packed for Joker Phillips this morning.
• He likes the energy of competition with so many jobs to fill.
• No mention of NCAA issues in the opening statement. Moving on to questions.
• Michael Dyer succeeded because he wasn’t rushed into full-time service as a true freshman last season, Chizik said.
• Recruiting incoming freshman Tre Mason was important since running backs were needed.
• Video coming soon of Chizik facing a number of NCAA-related questions.

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Lobby crowds still small ahead of Auburn’s visit

The typically large crowds in the media days lobby haven’t materialized yet. Auburn should be here soon, so that could change soon.

Live on the scene: SEC Media Day 2

Annnd we’re back. The thrill and excitement of podium Q&As just resumed in Hoover and The Daily Bama Blog is here to bring the action to your office computer, laptop or mobile device.

Kentucky coach Joker Phillips is on the stage kicking things off at the sportswriter-unfriendly time of 8:30 a.m. The main room is filling in slowly this morning since the heavyweights are still in the wings.

Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn come later this morning, so the story lines should pickup later on.

We’ll be here bringing you the news, so set the bookmark and refresh liberally. Our Twitter feed will also update from time to time. Also check out our video from yesterday’s opener.

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Video of SEC Media Days

Here’s a look inside SEC Media Days including Florida coach Will Muschamp and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore.

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Some afternoon notes from SEC Media Days

The program is moving right along here at SEC Media Days in Hoover. Here’s a few highlights.

• Will Muschamp has a sense of humor. He answered a few questions bluntly, drawing a few laughs. When asked what it’s like being a Georgia guy coaching at Florida, he blankly said “I’m from Florida.” He did after all, grow up in Gainesville.
• Muschamp said he learned a lot about program management from his time working under Nick Saban.The organization is structured a lot like Saban’s.
• Deonte Thompson said Muschamp is “wild” in practice and really likes his chest-bumping  energy.
• Steve Spurrier on Stephen Garcia: “He and Conner Shaw will battle it out.”
• Spurrier said recruits like Jadeveon Clowney usually go to schools like Alabama. It was huge for a school like South Carolina to land him. He also said USC was the first without a national title to land a No. 1 recruit.
• Steve Spurrier speaks bluntly about Stephen Garcia: “We don’t want to kick him out for stupidity.”
• More updates on Twitter.

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Live blogging SEC commish Mike Slive’s opening statement

The commissioner of the SEC is at the podium to open SEC Media Days 2011. Here’s what he is saying.

• The rumors of retirement are not true, he said laughing.
• Now running down list of achievements/championships from last season.
• But it’s not business as usual because of negative stories/scandals in college sports. Jumping right into the deep end.
• Web moving real show again this year.
• Slive set out three-point plan to improve academics. More on that later.
• Now talking about recruiting and how it should be overhauled to fit the modern world.
• Enforcement should focus on the bigger problems instead of the minor infractions, Slive said.
• Time to get rid of third parties and “handlers.”
• NCAA enforcement should be restructured to focus on what’s really important.
• He wants to restructure rules so coaches can talk to recruits on day they’re evaluating. That’s eliminate the “bump rule” that Nick Saban’s been accused to violating in the past.
• Athletics is not a detriment to the college environment, Slive said. It enhances it.
• Running down a list of inspiring stories from last year.
• There will be a new documentary series on ESPNU focusing on the SEC. It’ll be a 30 four 30 style series called “Storied.”
• Slive is now finished.

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Looking back at last SEC Media Days

This year’s version of SEC Media Days starts Wednesday in Hoover. In all honesty, it’s way overblown — like the build up to a bowl without the game.

But since it’s almost here, take a look back at last year’s version.

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