... and you can say, "Holy [expletive]! Football's about to start!"
With that in mind, here's a look at Media Days. First off, it's worth noting that the best, most definitive look at Media Days came from my old college friend Dennis Pillion, sitting with Orson Swindle from EDSBS. Observe:
Top five moments from SEC Media Days 2010
— Unfortunately, the primary talk of the week revolved around off-the-field issues: agents, barroom brawls and so forth. Everyone agrees there's a problem; nobody seems to know how to handle it (well, except for Grambling's coach). In what was undoubtedly the only interesting thing he said all week, Gene Chizik offered a somewhat different take on the matter:
“A lot of this has got to go back on the young guy. I mean, he’s got to have an allegiance to his school, he’s got to have an allegiance to his teammates, he’s got to have an allegiance to his football team and his coaches and his university.”
A fair point. It doesn't seem, based on all empirical evidence, that Marcell Dareus would ever be confused with a Phi Beta Kappa. But for him (and all these other guys) to say he had no idea anything untoward might be going on? What, is he autistic? Come on.
While we're here, the RBR crowd has dissected this matter about as well as anyone since it began — here's their latest. And the other place to turn for solid info is Gentry — he answers most every question here. And I can't answer anything better than they have, so let's move on.
— Because the media covering the SEC rarely thinks creatively, the overwhelming picks from Media Days were (naturally) Alabama and Florida. I'll say again what I told Jamie in Wednesday's post: Alabama and Florida aren't invincible and both have visible flaws ... I just can't decide who's going to beat them. For a whole season, I mean.
— The natural challenger to Florida in the East should be Carolina, right? Um, right? Well, after examining their schedule, here's what's clear: they must beat Georgia in Columbia in Week 2. If they don't do that, they're pretty much out. And they have to split their two-week stretch vs. Auburn and 'Bama. If they can do those things ... they have a chance — repeat, just a chance — to play for the East in Gainesville in November.
(Georgia's schedule, on the other hand, sets up much better: survive the early three-week stretch of @Carolina, vs. Arkansas & @State unscathed or with 1 loss, and it's likely they're playing Florida for the division. Again. I know, boring.)
— Two other fun coach-related links: Dan Mullen and Nick Saban traded barbs about the spread (or something); and TSK examines Les Miles' strange phrasing.
That did not go beyond my scrutiny. ... I can promise you that those situtations, some of those situations I'd never run into in coaching. Some of those situations I was, even though prepared for, had not envisioned the time constraints.
If this sounds familiar, this is why.
Well-played, sir.
— Finally, I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't share this: Dr. Saturday compares Julio Jones to AJ Green, just for fun. This gives me an excuse to do this:
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