What they said about Alabama at SEC Media Days: Day 2

Alabama won’t make the rounds at SEC Media Days until Wednesday, July 19, but there was still plenty said about the Crimson Tide on Day 2 of the league’s annual media event in Nashville.

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

AUBURN HEAD COACH HUGH FREEZE

On the importance of rivalries with Alabama, Georgia…

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s overshadowed at all. The Iron Bowl is what it is, and I don’t have to be educated on that. I’ve been a part of some big rivalries and understand that in most polls this would be No. 1 in the rivalry, so I know what it means to the people that support our university and our football program. I won’t need to be educated.

“I’ve always taken great pride in walking into a new program and saying, listen, they currently are the gold standard and this is what we want to be. We welcome that opportunity and we welcome that challenge.

“I have great respect for Nick (Saban). He’s actually a good friend, and what he’s done there. But there are so many good coaches in this league that do such a great job, and many of them do it with less than what others have. But I relish the opportunity to play the Alabamas and Georgias, and I know they’re tall tasks and I know who you’re going to get measured against in my tenure there. I’m excited about those games, as our kids will be.”

GEORGIA HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART

On the lessons he’s taking from Alabama’s back-to-back titles in 2011-12…

“I can’t even remember that far back. I’ll be honest with you. I don’t remember that next season or anything that carried over from that season because you’re not thinking about the last season. I think sometimes as media you guys want to make it about, well, what are you going to learn, how are you going to combat this. All we’re thinking about is the next 24 hours. Like how can we get better in the next 24 hours. I’m not sitting here thinking of some motivating factor.

“People are like, what are you going to tell your team this year? You going to tell them people are going to say you’re going to be 7-5? No. I’ve never said that anybody thought our team was going to be 7-5. We expect to be good at the University of Georgia. We want sustained success. So we have to do that by winning every day. That’s not going to change whether we win it or not this year.”

On if he sees what was built at Alabama starting to take shape at Georgia…

“Again, I wouldn’t compare. I think the two circumstances are very different, two different programs led by different people. A lot of respect for Nick and the things I learned from him, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him as an assistant coach. But what we’re doing right now is based on the players and the people in the organization that we have, not anything relevant to what we had when I was there.”

On Georgia creating its own identity when being compared to Alabama…

“I don’t know that we’re constantly compared. I haven’t noticed us being constantly compared to Alabama. I wouldn’t feel that way. I feel like we’re compared against our own success and the success we’ve had since being there. I think we’re one of the only teams in the country to finish seven years in a row maybe, or six years in a row, in the top seven. So it’s not just about championships, it’s about being relevant every year. Our positive mindset comes from we create that ourselves by what we do and say to each other.”

VANDERBILT HEAD COACH CLARK LEA

On Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees…

“I was waiting for the Tommy Rees question… Tommy’s got great musical taste, OK. That’s first. And he’s a really competitive noon hoops player, which everyone needs to be aware of that before you step on the court with him, at least. No, Tommy’s a talented coach. He’s a talented person. He’s smart. I think he’s a great fit there with Coach Saban, and they’re gonna do a great job together. He’s young, and so he still maintains connection with the players, which I think is so important. He’s fiery. He’s intense. 

“But the thing that he and I connected on most was just being smart in design. I mean, we spent a lot of time together, particularly when he was the quarterbacks coach. I would have him in my office all the time. I would be asking him questions and trying to get a better understanding of what the quarterback’s looking like and what impacts play at that position. And he loves the chess match, and not just him – I enjoyed his players. Ian Book, I’d have him in my office all the time and I’d be picking his brain. The guy knows how to coach, and so, I’m excited for him and I’m looking for him to have great success.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE HEAD COACH ZACH ARNETT

On former Alabama cornerback Marcus Banks…

“Yeah, Marcus, he goes by Speedy, he’s done a heck of a job since he showed up. He’s a worker. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He played more in the corner room a year ago. Now we see a really good role for him. It’s in our safety room. Everyone calls it differently, but that’s kind of your nickel, mostly plays the field, whether that’s a safety in some people’s defense or they call it the nickel corner sometimes in the NFL.

“That route tree you’ve got to cover in the slot is pretty big, right, because they’ve got so much room to work. You’re not as up close to the sideline. Now, you are closer to helping in the post safety, but Marcus has done a heck of a job. He can hold up to the physicality so he can be a force in the run game, and then he’s obviously got the skills to cover, or he wouldn’t have been a corner in the first place. We’re expecting big things from him, and for us to be as good as we can be on defense, we need him to step up and have a good year.”

OTHER SEC MEDIA DAYS QUOTES ON ALABAMA:

What they said about Alabama at SEC Media Days: Day 1

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