SEC Media Session Grades

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For the past three years, we’ve brought you post-Media Days grades for each of the SEC’s 12 coaches.  For kicks, we grade each on

1.  Personality — Is he friendly?  Or does he seem combative or condescending?

2.  Speaking Skill — Is he boring or entertaining?  Was he interesting?

3.  Honesty – Is he evasive?  Does he answer questions or redirect them?

We use a 1-5 scale in each category.  Below are this year’s scores:

Hardly scientific, I know.  I’m guessing the fans of each school though their guy was a 15.  And that’s fine.

But I’m typing away trying to follow their answers.  I only care if they’re interesting or boring, honest or evasive.

Here’s the breakdown:

Steve Spurrier — Funny what winning will do.  Last summer Spurrier was lifeless.  This time around he was upbeat, funny, not afraid to disagree with the commissioner’s proposal.  He had more than one good line.  And he wasn’t snippy with anyone.  The Ol’ Ball Coach is back and better than ever (’cause he wasn’t snippy with anyone).

James Franklin — It was easy to see why Franklin has been winning fans and recruits over.  The guy is sharp.  He’s focused.  He was the best first-time coach I’ve seen run the Media Days gauntlet.  In the end, I was left wanting to hear more.

Derek Dooley and Mark Richt — Dooley got a boost in the honest category because he didn’t dance around many topics.  He’s an entertaining speaker and he’s intelligent.  Richt once again got a top grade for personality.  The guy would be the best neighbor ever.  Richt danced around the hot seat question just a bit.

Dan Mullen – In his third year, Mullen seemed more comfortable than ever.  But the guy can take a 10-word question and turn it into a 500-word answer.  He’s also a fast-talker in Seinfeld-ese.

Les Miles, Will Muschamp, Houston Nutt, Bobby Petrino, and Nick Saban — Miles was friendlier than normal but he still has a tendency to ramble around.  It’s better to hear him than to read a transcript of him.  Muschamp wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t the warmest guy either.  There’s a bit of Saban in him.  Saban took some shots at the media and let his guard down only once.  But his answers regarding the Iron Bowl rivalry were perfect.  Nutt was himself.  Part coach, part evangelist, part used car salesman.  He was friendly, but he redirected one MSU question after another.  Petrino was more affable than he usually gets credit for being.  But he’s got a monotone voice that prevents him from being a real good listen.

Gene Chizik and Joker Phillips — He might have had good reason to be a block of ice, but Chizik showed little warmth.  He also must do a much better job in living rooms and locker rooms than he does behind a podium.  Pretty bland speaker.  But we’ll credit him for not losing his composure while dancing around NCAA questions.  Phillips seems like a very likeable fellow.  He’s just not much of a public speaker.  I didn’t mourn his exit from the stage.