SEC Media Days 2022 Review

The 2022 SEC Media Days have wrapped up for the 2022 off-season. Here’s a few thoughts and notable statements from the four day gathering.

Nick Saban- Alabama Crimson Tide

The Crimson Tide head coach was back in front of the microphones today during day 2 of SEC Media Days where once again the hot topic was name, image, and likeness. Saban said despite the controversy around the current NIL structure he does believe the NIL help’s student-athletes across the nation to gain not only value for themselves, but also their university.

However, Saban did follow that up with this remark, “I think when it is used in recruiting and then players start making decisions based on promises that were made that are based on name, image and likeness… I’m not sure that is a good thing. So I do think there needs to be some guidelines in that.”

Coach Saban wrapped up his interview at SEC Media Days by saying, “There is no competitive sport anywhere that doesn’t have guidelines on how they maintain competitive balance. I think that’s important to college football. I think it’s important to fans. That’s why they have rules in the NFL”

Clark Lea- Vanderbilt

After a turbulent 2-10 campaign in 2021, Lea remarked on a number of takeaways from his first year at the helm of the Commodore program. He noted the correlation between his personal development and that of his team, among other lessons gleaned from year one.

“One of the things that becomes a reality when you’re in this role is your development begets team development,” Lea said. “The better I am in my job, the better that everyone else in the program can be in theirs. I think specifically to address where I want to be better is a cohesive strategy for each game where we’re looking at the complementary aspects of playing winning football, and I’m doing everything I can to put the best competitive product on the field. I need to be on top of it in terms of empowering all three phases to interlock and to become a force on Saturdays.”

He also named a starting quarterback for next season.

The biggest news from the press conference was Lea’s announcement of Wright as the starting quarterback heading into Vanderbilt’s opening matchup against Hawaii. Wright took over the lead role from incumbent Ken Seals halfway through the 2021 season and never looked back. The announcement marks the first time since 2018 that the Commodores will have a clear QB1 heading into training camp, when Kyle Shurmur entered into his senior season.

Josh Heupel- Tennessee

The big question for Heupel- NIL deals and how they affect the landscape of his program and college football as a whole. He stated-

“It’s an opportunity to educate and empower our student-athletes, which is what college football and the collegiate experience is all about. I think it’s dramatically changed the way that young people come into your program, how thoughtful they are about every situation that they’re involved in, how they’re portrayed in what’s out there on social media, the decisions they’re making every night of the week. I think in those ways it’s such an empowering tool for our student-athletes. I just go back to myself as a player. Certainly the most powerful thing that I had was my teammates and the logo that I was playing for. At the same time, though, I think I was creating some value there, too. I would have liked to have had an opportunity to have been afforded to take part in NIL. Would have liked to have worn my starting left tackle jersey or worn his shirt. I look at my own kids, Jace and Hannah, that get a chance to run around the house or run with their friends and wear a Cedric Tillman and Hendon Hooker shirt or jersey. I think there’s empowering opportunities through NIL.”

Kirby Smart- Georgia

The Georgia head coach says that his team has a ton of talent. The only thing they are lacking is experience. Coach Smart says his players are hungry to replace the great players from the team last year. Smart believes his staff at Georgia right now is the best he has ever had and believes he has a very deep quarterback room. He thinks it will be a strength of their program. Smart says that starting quarterback Stetson Bennett is a great leader in the locker room. Coach Smart believes his defense will be great once again, even though they lost so many players to the NFL. Smart believes that NIL is outstanding for student-athletes, but there needs to be a better way to regulate it.