At SEC Media Days, the unexpected is expected from characters like LSU coach Les Miles and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier.

That duo certainly lived up to its hype, but noteworthy remarks rained in from a handful of sources as all the league’s coaches and some of its best players gathered in Hoover, Ala. for the annual pre- eason meeting.

The biggest war of words actually took place between a pair of the league’s four new coaches.

New Arkansas coach Bret Bielema thinks that no-huddle, hurry-up offenses create a safety hazard for opposing defenses that must remain on the field for several consecutive plays.

First-year Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who will install a fast- paced offense for the Tigers in 2013, thinks Bielema’s concern is laughable.

“When I first heard that, to be honest with you, I thought it was a joke,” Malzahn said. “As far as health or safety issues, that’s like saying the defense shouldn’t blitz after a first down because they’re a little fatigued and there is liable to be a big collision in the backfield.”

Bielema followed Malzahn at the podium and clarified loudly that he is “not a comedian.”

“All I know is this: there are times when an offensive player and a defensive player are on the field for an extended amount of time without a break,” Bielema said. “You cannot tell me that a player after play five is the same player that he is after play fifteen.

“If that exposes him to a risk of injury, then that’s my fault.”

Auburn’s high-octane attack will meet the Razorbacks’ “normal American football” style on November 2.

Time to clean it up

In his annual speech on the state of the league, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive addressed the recurring off-the-field issues that have plagued the league’s current and former players in the offseason.

Though a saga that has former Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez facing murder charges was not addressed specifically, Slive and current Florida coach Will Muschamp both mentioned the underlying issue of student- athlete behavior.

“At the same time we talk about our successes on the field and in the classroom, we cannot ignore the recent off-the-field incidents involving both current and former student-athletes,” Slive said, before continuing on to mention that the “vast majority” of SEC athletes conduct themselves at a high level.

“We are not nai?ve enough to think we can put an end to all unacceptable behavior,” he added. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t continue to try, try and try.”

Muschamp took an opposing view to Urban Meyer—the Ohio State coach who was at Florida when Hernandez played for the Gators—and said that responsibility for player behavior falls on the shoulders of the coach as much as the player.

“I can’t possibly know everything that happens every single night with our football team,” Muschamp said. “You also can’t stick your head in the sand and pretend everything is okay either. You need to be very aware of the kind of guys your guys are hanging out with.

“But you’re 100 percent responsible for every student-athlete on your football team.”

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s James Franklin declined to comment on an ongoing investigation into an alleged sexual assault that has resulted in the dismissal of four Commodores players.

Manziel Mania

Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel appeared at SEC Media Days on Wednesday before flying to New York for the ESPY’s.

The Texas A&M sophomore quarterback tried to deflate speculation surrounding his maturity and ability to handle the publicity that accompanies winning the biggest award in college football.

“I’m learning every day,” he told reporters. “There are situations you learn to shy away from. I used to be a person that watched ESPN and Sportscenter all day, every day. I shy away from it now, articles and things on Twitter, I try to shy away from it.”

Oh, Brother

The first question that new Kentucky coach Mark Stoops fielded during his time at the main podium stemmed from recent remarks made by his brother and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops that undermined the SEC’s perceived unquestioned authority as the nation’s premier conference.

“That’s got to be my first question?” Mark Stoops asked rhetorically. “Yeah, I certainly understand Bob defending his conference. I just left the ACC. You know, I think everybody’s going to defend what they’re doing in their conference.

“With that being said, I don’t think any of us need to defend what’s going on here in the SEC. The success we’ve had in the SEC speaks for itself.”