Chizik brushes off doubts regarding Tigers
HOOVER, Ala. — Auburn coach Gene Chizik is visibly tired of questions relating to possible NCAA violations that may have occurred last season during the Tigers’ run to the BCS Championship.
During his time with the print media at Thursday’s Southeastern Conference Media Days session, Chizik was asked a handful of questions in different ways about the NCAA and rules violations. His answers didn’t vary much, although he did talk publicly about his conversation with an NCAA official that is involved with infractions. (July 22, 2011, Page 8A)
WR Blake confident in Newton-less Tigers offense
HOOVER, Ala. — Auburn set all sorts of offensive records last year during its march to the 2011 BCS championship. Led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton, the Tigers set single-season records for the most points in school history (577), total offense (6,989 yards) and yards rushing (3,987).
Heading into the 2011 season, with Newton and seven other starters from last year’s offense gone, the talk Thursday at Southeastern Conference Media Days was how the Tigers would fare on offense. (more…) (July 22, 2011, Page 8A)
Richt: No doom and gloom around Dawgs
HOOVER, Ala. — Outside of the Georgia football program, the future for veteran coach Mark Richt looks unsettled and precarious to say the least.
Inside the program, the view of Richt is much different. Whether it was sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray or senior defensive back Brandon Boykin, the belief that Richt will turn the Bulldogs’ fortunes around in 2011 is strong. (more…) (July 22, 2011, Page 8A)
Georgia to wear new uniforms
BLOG — HOOVER, Ala. — The second full day of Southeastern Conference Media Days included visits from Kentucky, Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee. (more…) (July 21, 2011)
Slive has big ideas for collegiate athletics
HOOVER, Ala. — The first major news bomb delivered at the annual Southeastern Conference Media Days event wasn’t dropped by a coach or a player. It was delivered at the start of the day by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, who unveiled his thoughts on a new national agenda regarding college football and college athletics as a whole. (July 21, 2011, Page 5)
QB Relf gives Mississippi State fans reason to be excited
HOOVER, Ala. — A big reason for optimism heading into the 2011 season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs is senior quarterback Chris Relf. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Relf has played in 25 games the last two years and thrown for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,200 during that span. His leadership skills have been key for the MSU offense under coach Dan Mullen, who has been impressed with the way his signal caller has improved since his sophomore season. (July 21, 2011, Page 5)
SEC’s Mike Slive announces national agenda
BLOG — HOOVER, Ala. — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive started the annual Media Days event today with a 20-minute proposal regarding new ideas on recruiting and educational requirements for incoming students, among other things. (more…) (July 20, 2011)
Never be surprised by Media Days
COLUMN: HOOVER, Ala. — College football’s unofficial start to the 2011 season gets underway today at the Wynfrey Hotel. The Southeastern Conference’s annual Media Days event is always a big draw and this year is no exception as over 900 credentials were issued to various writers, TV reporters and radio announcers. (Last year’s total was approximately 900 and that was a record that many felt couldn’t be topped.) (more…) (July 20, 2011, Page 6A)
DLs Lockett, Powe tabbed All-SEC by media
Ole Miss’ defensive line is expected to be a strength for the team this year and the improvement and experience shown over the last few seasons was visible in this year’s Southeastern Conference preseason All-SEC team released this morning.
Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe and defensive end Kentrell Lockett, both seniors, were selected to the team that is voted on by the media each year. The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Powe made the first team, while the 6-5, 260-pound Lockett made the second team. Powe was also a first-team member of the Coaches All-SEC team that was released earlier this week. (July 23, 2010, Page 6A)
Mallett, Hogs could be a contender
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett could have avoided the Southeastern Conference’s annual Media Days event if he wanted to. The 6-foot-6, 238-pound Texarkana, Ark., native could be getting ready to take part in an NFL training camp instead of taking questions from a room full of reporters like he did on Thursday.
While the lure of playing in the NFL might have been attractive for a time after the 2009 season ended for Mallett, he ultimately felt like coming back to help the Razorbacks was the right choice for him personally, and the entire program.
Mallett’s return to Arkansas not only helps solidify Bobby Petrino’s tenure at the school, it has elevated the Razorbacks in the pecking order of schools that could win the SEC West title this year, a fact that seems to be the most pleasing to Mallett. (July 23, 2010, Page 6A)
