What they said about Alabama at 2024 SEC Media Days: Day 3

DALLAS – Alabama made the rounds at SEC Media Days on Wednesday, July 17, and there was plenty said about the Crimson Tide on Day 3 inside the Omni Dallas Hotel. To keep things rolling on Wednesday, Florida, Mississippi State and Texas also took the stage.

Below is a roundup of what opposing coaches and players said about UA at SEC Media Days.

TEXAS COACH STEVE SARKISIAN

On former Alabama head coach Nick Saban…

“Next I want to talk briefly about Coach Saban. I know everybody has been coming up talking about it, and you know you’ve impacted a lot of people who have been up on this stage. No one have you impacted more than me. I would not be standing here today without you and what you’ve meant to my career, to my life, and I can’t thank you enough, and the impact that you’ve had on our game has been second to none, and I just can’t thank you enough. I want to be able to publicly do that to you, Coach. Thank you very, very much.”

On if the Red River Rivalry is better than the Iron Bowl…

“Well, I think this, and I’ve been fortunate. Like I said, I’ve been part of the Iron Bowl. I’ve been part of the Apple Cup in Washington. I’ve been part of SC-UCLA. I’ve been part of some great games.

“This is the most unique game for sure that I’ve ever been a part of. When you pull into the State Fair and you start smelling those corn dogs and turkey legs and there’s fans from both teams and then you get in those locker rooms and the locker rooms literally are 20 feet apart and you’re staring at each team, and one goes first, the next one goes next, and it can get a little contentious in there, but that’s okay.

“As we come out, when we come out of that tunnel — and that’s OU’s tunnel — and we’re staring at a sea of burnt orange, you just want to get there. It’s a unique game because half of the game is a home game. The other half of the game is a road game. I had to learn that the hard way in year one. We got stuck in OU’s end, and we were false starting. We couldn’t do anything right. So you have to play to that style of game.

“But it being split right down the 50, it’s the who’s who on the sidelines, and I’ll tell you this about both teams. Both teams play as hard as they possibly can play in that game, and again, that’s to take nothing away from any other great game that I’ve been part of, but this one is uniquely special.

“I think Norman is about 2 1/2 hours from Dallas. We’re about 3 hours from Dallas. The fact that we kind of come upon the State Fair here in Dallas is really special. So it’s a game that I’m humbled and honored that I get to be part of. I’m getting to go coach in my fourth one. Looking forward to the opportunity.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE COACH JEFF LEBBY

On if Saban tried to hire him away from Oklahoma…

“Coach Saban, just an honor to have conversations with him as we went through some things. Could not be more thankful for opportunity, and at the time it was something where I felt like needed to be exactly where my feet were, and he did pretty good. He did pretty good.”

TEXAS QB QUINN EWERS

On if last year’s win over Alabama proved Texas is ready for the SEC…

“I think that shows what we are capable of as a whole. I think the biggest thing for us is, yeah, we’re capable of playing games the way we played that one. Now we have to really do it on a much more consistent level. Because week in, week out, we’re playing a tough opponent. I definitely can agree with that.

“Going into Alabama and playing one of the hardest stadiums to play in, and, you know, against one of the greatest coaches ever is definitely not easy to go in there and accomplish what we accomplished.”

On Alabama transfers Isaiah Bond, Amari Niblack…

“Both those guys have come in full speed and have really succeeded within the offense. I think they do some similar things over there in Alabama that we do. Coach Sark came from there, so they’re going to carry some of his stuff.

“They’ve done a great job. Obviously we’ve seen glimpses of what both of them are capable of doing. Isaiah came on late for them and, you know, Amari had a good play against us, made a couple of our defenders look silly. But both those guys are going to be big contributors for us, for sure.”

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