The 2015 SEC Media Days kicked off Monday, but it officially doesn’t start until today. The reason for that? Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is set to arrive and his presence alone brings a rock star mania atmosphere akin to The Jackson Five in the 70’s. Saban however, is no stranger to this treatment and it pretty much comes with the territory as coach for Alabama — especially when that coach has brought three national championships back to the storied program and is college football’s highest paid coach.
If the past is an indicator of what to expect from Saban at Media Days, this year should be no different and definitely just as entertaining.
While he may not provide the humor of Steve Spurrier and the swag of Dan Mullen, Saban will unquestionably use this platform just as he has in the past to address whatever he feels compelled to do. None more intriguing than the 2010 Media Days when he infamously compared college football agents to pimps in how they prey on young athletes and use them solely for their benefit with no regard to their true well-being.
This year, the proverbial elephant in the room will be the quarterback situation in which 5th-year senior Jake Coker is expected to battle redshirt freshman David Cornwell in another action-filled fall camp similar to last season with Blake Sims. I fully expect this to be the theme of this press conference, and I expect Saban to deliver a strong message about what to anticipate, as well as why the media should shut up and let him figure it out.
So far, questions have been asked to coaches such as Spurrier and Mullen about their position and take on the removal of South Carolina’s confederate flag. While Spurrier praised the decision, Mullen was less forthcoming with information and tap danced around the subject which has been an ongoing issue in the state of Mississippi. Don’t be surprised if Saban too is asked to give his thoughts on this polarizing issue.
In all, Today will be all about Alabama. After Saban, seniors Kenyan Drake, Reggie Ragland, and Ryan Kelly will be the focal point and receive questions about the upcoming season. If you want more proof of Saban’s impact, there’s currently a line outside the door of the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, AL — enough said.
Brandon Williams is an Editor and Columnist for Touchdown Alabama. You can follow him on Twitter, @TFRdotNet, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
