NASHVILLE — SEC Media Days 2023 came to a resounding conclusion Thursday with Lane Kiffin, Shane Beamer and Josh Heupel on stage, capping a wild week. There wasn’t much news compared to what we’ve seen in the past, but the SECOND is heading into its final season without Texas and Oklahoma.
Now that we know their arrival day, the Sooners and Longhorns were a hot topic in Nashville this week. Although we still have a football season left before they arrive, it’s been interesting to see the number of questions centered around the two Big 12 schools.
For the second time in three months, reporters from Texas and Oklahoma made their presence felt at SEC meetings. There were questions about trips to Norman and Austin, as well as how Josh Heupel would feel about returning to Oklahoma. But the overall feeling I got from SEC officials was excitement for what was to come.
The SEC made clear its excitement about the two teams joining by announcing that SEC Media Days will be held in Dallas in 2024. A nice welcome gift for new members, who won’t have to travel far to the first time. in front of members of the SEC media.
Either it was a nice way to play with both teams, or commissioner Greg Sankey decided to broaden his spectrum. Add to that the fact that MLB will be hosting its All-Star Game in the area around the same time in July 2024 and it will be a full-fledged party in Dallas.
Tennessee surpasses NCAA investigation
The best news in the last three years came last Friday when the NCAA announced it would not punish Tennessee with a bowling ban. Not like it’s actually going to happen after Tennessee Attorney General becomes involved, but the Vols football program can take a deep breath. It’s finally over, after three years.
It wasn’t hard to notice that a weight was lifted off Josh Heupel’s shoulders as he discussed his program on Thursday. Not having to worry about selling out rookies and rival teams using him to their advantage is certainly a relief. Now Tennessee can sell the future, without worrying about the past, which is a three-year drama. Now it’s up to them where they go from here, with the NCAA no longer holding them back.
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel during the Southeastern Conference Football Kickoff Media Day on July 20, 2023 at the Grand Hyatt Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As for Josh Heupel, he continues to say the right things about his 2023 team. Led by quarterback Joe Milton, the Vols will enter the season with expectations, for the first time in several years. Can they capitalize? We’ll find out during the third week of September in Gainesville.
In anticipation of the NIL effect in college football
This problem isn’t going anywhere, at least not anytime soon. Several coaches have spoken about the issue with NIL and how it affects recruiting. Lane Kiffin calls it legalized cheating, while other coaches are too afraid to call it what it really is: a pay-to-play scheme.
True, SEC officials traveled to Washington last month to meet with members of Congress about the ongoing problem, but don’t expect to get any clarification from Capitol Hill just yet. Members of Congress are reluctant to move, while head coaches have no idea what’s next.
In the meantime, expect coaches to continue talking about “free agency” while some complain behind the scenes. Collectives across the country must find a way to keep these players from dropping out of school, while coaches must recruit even harder because of the money on offer. It’s certainly a difficult situation for everyone, especially if you’re not adjusting to the new world of college football. Over the coming months, keep an eye on lawmakers.
The SEC football season is just over a month away
Thank goodness we’re getting closer. The start of college football has unofficially begun with media days across the country, as fall camps begin in two weeks. The first month of the season will tell us a lot about the current slate of SEC leaders.
LSU looks to start the 2023 season with a win against Florida State, which didn’t prove to be the case last season in New Orleans. We host Alabama and Texas in Tuscaloosa, while Texas A&M will travel to Miami. Fortunately, the conference has a decent non-conference schedule in place, with the North Carolina and South Carolina games on the same Labor Day weekend.
It all starts with Vanderbilt hosting Hawaii, then Florida traveling to Utah for the first Thursday night game of the season.
But if you’re a fan of the division format, I hope you enjoy this final season. Starting in 2024, the SEC will move away from the East and West divisions, with the two teams with the highest winning percentage playing in Atlanta. Yes, it’s different, but with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, it’s about time.
Journalists were typing their last words of the week, the radio was broken and coffee was seeping through our pores. Another week of SEC coaches talking about themselves was over. We now await the kickoff of what should be a defining season for this conference, as Georgia seeks a three-peat.
Talk season has now begun, with the pad breaking out not far away.
