ACE REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: SEC MEDIA DAYS #3

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Report #3 from Hoover, AL

Fulmer’s Subpoena Didn’t Match Subpoena Provided To The Media; Slive Ticked By Stunt

The subpoena delivered to Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer was not the one disseminated to the media at the Wynfrey at the SEC Football Media Days.
           
Bud Ford, Tennessee’s long-time sports information director, said he saw the media copy around radio row and the one handed to Fulmer when he arrived Thursday morning.
           
Ford said Fulmer’s papers don’t have Fulmer’s name on it, nor does it have the signature of the man who served it.
           
Ford said he never saw the man who handed the paper to Fulmer. Fulmer denied seeing anyone approach him as he arrived in his vehicle, but later admitted a man “threw” a piece of paper at him that Fulmer didn’t look at until he was leaving Birmingham.
          
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive was angry about what happened.
          
“I was disappointed for couple of reasons,” Slive said. “One, it was just an unnecessary distraction in an otherwise really upbeat three days of celebrating the great SEC college football and this is a particularly a great time in our history.
        
“It also bothered me because it’s old stuff. We’re in a new era. We’re probation free in every sense essentially and we’re celebrating probably the greatest period in our history. This is stuff that’s behind us. It’s over. It’s history.
          
“Was I annoyed? Yes. Was I disappointed? Yes. Was I angry? Yes. But that’s yesterday and we’re moving on.”
         
Slive said he had no inkling it was about to happen.
         
Slive was asked if there is any consideration to move the SEC Football Media Days to another site.
        
“Our current plans are to stay, but I tell people, this didn’t help,” Slive said.
         
The SEC has a contract to return to the Wynfrey for another year. But that contract could easily be broken, an SEC official said.
          
Slive would not speculate on another potential site.
            

Spurrier Takes Humorous Shot At The Media

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was asked how much he pays attention to height, weight and speed in the recruiting process.
           
The short answer: Not much.
            
He said the Gamecocks have commitments from a couple of linebackers who are about 6-feet tall.
            
“I sent out a memo, no more 6-foot linebackers,” Spurrier said in the print room. “Let’s get some 6-2 or 6-3.
             
“It’s like going after girls, I guess. You get the best one you can. Some of you guys have good-looking wives, which is unusual.”
             
Spurrier said South Carolina “should do some good” in the next three or four years. And he said the Gamecocks have “better athletes than I’ve ever had” at USC.
      
“When I got to Florida (1990), we had a team ready,” Spurrier said. “Kind of like what Urban Meyer inherited.
     
“We had ballplayers there. It wasn’t quite like that at South Carolina. It wasn’t bad, but not like at Florida. We haven’t had an offensive or defensive lineman drafted.”
 

Spurrier’s Take On Petrino And NFL

Spurrier was asked about Bobby Petrino returning to college after spending a short time in the NFL.
         
“He had about as much fun as I did in the NFL,” Spurrier said. “When he first went, I said I’ll give him two years. He almost made one.”


Brooks Blasts Academic Argument

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks blasted those that argue against a Plus One format in college football by saying academics is an issue.
        
“For presidents to say class attendance is a problem for players is ridiculous,” Brooks said. “Football players miss less class than athletes in any other sport, period.”

More Plays Now Reviewable Under Instant Replay System

Rogers Redding, supervisor of SEC football officials, talked about rules changes that will be implemented this season.
          
While we have addressed a number of new rules, some others have been passed during the offseason.
           
Instant replay has added two renewable plays. One regards field-goal attempts. Review can be used for a field goal try to determine if it went below or above the cross bar and it the ball went inside or outside the upright – provided the ball is lower than the top of the upright.
           
Also, when a runner fumbles after being ruled down and the ball is recovered immediately, the play may be reviewed. Previously, when a whistle determined the runner down, it could not be reviewed.
            
Also, if a head coach’s challenge is successful, he may have one more challenge during a game provided he still has a timeout available. An unsuccessful challenge results in a timeout assessed the team.     

Richt Sets Goals He Can Control

While many project Georgia to win its first national title since 1980, coach Mark Richt is careful not to get caught up in such a goal.
           
“Our goals are always set to win the East Division and the SEC,” Richt said.
           
He said he doesn’t set a goal of winning a national championship  because you could go undefeated, like Auburn in 2004, and not get a chance to play for the Sears Trophy.
           
“It’s hard to set goals you can’t control,” Richt noted. “We try to set goals we can control.”  

Caldwell Was Worried About Saban Hire

Alabama center Antoine Caldwell wasn’t sure what to think when the Crimson Tide hired Nick Saban.
         
Caldwell had heard the story about how Saban ripped into one of his Miami Dolphins players with such venom, it made the player cry.
         
“Actually when I first heard he was hired, I was like, `Oh my goodness,”’ said Caldwell. “If he can make a grown man cry, I don’t know what he’s going to do to us.”
           
Year One under Saban was interesting.
          
“Kind of a whirlwind,” Caldwell said. “Deer in headlights look. Kind of didn’t know what to expect. Everybody was kind of a step slow with everything because we didn’t know how to adapt to anything he was bringing.”
           
Not that players have adapted to Saban’s style, Caldwell said the team is “light years ahead of where we were last year.”
            

Extra Points

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he has seen 47 head coaches in the SEC since he was hired in 1992.

Fulmer said defensive end Robert Ayers has been an “underachiever” during his career but is hoping for a breakout season from the talented senior.

Ayers said the toughest offensive line he’s faced belonged to Mississippi State. “They were mean, like they were mad at us, trying to kill us,” Ayers said. “They play smash-mouth football down there.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt said this season he’s facing coaches who have won nine national championships.