Every July, the SEC commissioner and conference coaches gather in Alabama to talk SEC football, coaching plans and any changes that have taken place since last season. The event will take place July 14-17 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama. Check utdailybeacon.com for live coverage during the conference. In the mean time, Daily Beacon contributor Nathanael Rutherford breaks down the top three things to watch for during media days.
Should the NCAA Pay Players?
Whether or not college players should be paid via stipends, increased scholarships or pay checks has been up for debate for quite some time. With the football players at Northwestern University seeking to form a union, the topic has reached new heights.
At last year’s SEC Media Days, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier stated the conference as a whole is willing to pay their players and even had a dollar amount already picked out. A decision has yet to be made, and if last year’s media days are any indication, this topic will be discussed at length once again.
Who Will Butch Jones Bring?
Every coach brings three players with him to the SEC Media Days, and those players are usually considered to be the leaders of the team for the upcoming season. Last year, the new Tennessee head coach brought along junior Antonio “Tiny” Richardson and seniors Ja’Wuan James and Jacques Smith. Each of them were veterans who looked to play a major role for the team in 2013. This season, however, the three players joining Coach Jones appear to be more of a mystery.
The only obvious player to bring this year’s roster is senior linebacker A.J. Johnson, and it would make sense to bring linebacker/defensive end Curt Maggitt. If Jones decides to bring senior quarterback Justin Worley, that will likely be an indication of who is leading the quarterback race.
How Will the SEC Handle Identity Change?
The SEC was a quarterback-driven league in 2013, led by players like A.J. McCarron, Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, Connor Shaw and of course, Johnny Manziel. But all five of those quarterbacks have moved on to the NFL, leaving a void of superstar quarterbacks in the SEC, changing the league’s identity. Look for it to return to the gritty image the SEC was known for before last year’s high-flying season. Auburn’s Nick Marshall and Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace are the most high profile quarterbacks in the 2014 season, but running backs are stealing the show so far this offseason.
The talk in Georgia is all about All-SEC running back Todd Gurley, South Carolina is gushing over rising junior Mike Davis, Alabama sports another loaded backfield and the Vols are obsessed with the addition of five-star running back Jalen Hurd to the roster. The players accompanying coaches at the Media Days this summer will likely be smaller in stature than last season, but don’t expect them to bring less attention.
Nathanael Rutherford is a rising junior in English. He can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter at @Mr_Rutherford.
