Caldwell Is Going To Win “Mr. Media Days” Honor

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Just seven coaches down, but we can go ahead and declare Robbie Caldwell as “Mr. Media Days” for this year’s gathering.  The best anyone can do is tie Vanderbilt’s personable interim coach for the title.

When national pundits like ESPN’s Pat Forde say, “By far the best press conference in SEC history by a brand-new head coach,” you know the guy has made a positive impression.

Bobby Johnson was a class act, but his media sessions were short-lived.  No one had questions for him.  They didn’t care.  Last year on the SEC’s weekly teleconference I once asked Johnson a question simply because I felt bad that no one else had.  It was a pity question for an SEC head coach.  Seriously.

Well, that won’t be the case with Caldwell.

Was he friendly?  So friendly and folksy that I expected the Darlings to show up and break out their bass, fiddle and jug behind him.

Was he entertaining?  The man talked about working on the “‘seminating crew” at a turkey farm.  He drew laughs from the beginning of his session til the end.  He also showed true excitement over the opportunity now in front of him.  In addition, he had very warm remarks about Vandy recruit Rajaan Bennett who was killed before ever arriving on campus.  Caldwell actually got applause at the end of his session.  Unprecedented.

Was he honest?  Did I mention the part about the inseminating crew?  Caldwell emphasized the fact that he’d gone from lining playing fields to being a head coach in the SEC.  You couldn’t be more honest.

Personality — 5
Speaking Skill — 5
Honesty — 5

Total score — A perfect 15. 

I have no idea if Caldwell can coach.  And he’ll certainly have a hard time proving he can with Vandy’s roster.  But for a man who was having to replace a classy, popular coach in Bobby Johnson, Caldwell just hit a massive home run in his first-ever major press conference.

All hail, Robbie Caldwell… the surprise star of SEC Media Days.