First Down Kentucky: Heupel Hijacks Oklahoma's SEC Media Days Debut

Oklahoma was welcomed to the SEC by being reminded of what awaits. Before Brent Venables took the SEC Media Days podium, his old pupil warmed it up for him.

Venables was the co-defensive coordinator for the Sooners when Heupel quarterbacked Oklahoma to a National Championship in 2000. The third-year Oklahoma head coach has the utmost respect for what the former Sooner has accomplished as a head coach.

“We’ve stayed in touch through those moments of success and some of the moments, the challenges a football season will bring you,” said Venables. “He’s a great friend. He and his wife, Dawn, and their children, really good friends of ours. And just really happy for him and the success that he’s had. No surprise. He’s always been a winner”.

That feeling may be mutual, but the Tennessee head coach has an ax to grind with his old Oklahoma boss. In one of his last major moves in Norman, Bob Stoops fired Heupel, who was replaced by Lincoln Riley. Ten years later, Heupel is returning to his old school for the first time since, and even though Stoops is no longer in charge, it’ll be a tenuous reunion when Oklahoma plays their first-ever SEC game.

When Heupel was asked about what it will feel like to be back in Norman, he noted that Mike Leach recruited him and stated that he has great respect for Venables. And that is about it.

“It’ll be unique for me,” said Heupel. “Got family that still lives back there. A lot of friends, teammates, coaches that I stay in contact that coached me while I was there, and obviously administration, too. So it’ll be a unique Saturday.”

Unique is certainly one way to describe this dynamic between Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Drinkwitz Lobbies for Mike Leach to the CFB Hall of Fame

Mike Leach has not appeared at SEC Media Days in two years but his presence looms large around the league. This time Eli Drinkwitz ensured Leach remained a part of the conversation. The Missouri coach spent a significant amount of time in his opening statement lobbying for Leach to be in the College Football Hall of Fame. He’s one win shy of reaching the 60% threshold required to be in the Hall of Fame.

“Coach Leach, in my mind, and I believe in most of the people in this room’s mind, is a no-doubt Hall of Famer. He impacted our game more in the last 50 years than a lot of other people – not only with his legacy but also with his football acumen,” Drinkwitz explained. “His air raid offense is the dominant offense when you look at high school football, its elements in college football, and all the way translating into the NFL. We all know Y-cross. We all know that six is four verticals. We all understand that rocket laser where tailback screens rocket to the right, laser to the left.”

Drinkwitz singled out the CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame, a bold move that most agree with. Is it really a complete Hall of Fame if Mike Leach isn’t in it? Drinkwitz doesn’t believe so, and I agree.

“I hope that Mr. Hatchell will recognize this,” Drinkwitz closed. “As the CEO, he has the ability to utilize his discretion to make the obvious into reality. That obvious is that the Hall of Fame is incomplete without Coach Mike Leach in it.”

Reckless Driving Fines at Georgia

Kirby Smart’s program does everything right on the football field, but Georgia can’t get out of its way off the field. According to Brett McMurphy, there have been 24 speeding incidents since a fatal street racing accident in the spring of 2023. There were two more this week, forcing Smart to answer questions about his players’ behavior behind the wheel.

In an interesting twist, the Georgia NIL collective is now fining players for driving violations. Fines are common practice in the NFL and it’s now being used as a deterrent in Athens.

“That’s not something that’s new. That’s something that’s been ongoing outside of my jurisdiction that they decided to implement and have done for a considerable amount,” Smart said.

The punishment doesn’t stop there. Safety David Daniel-Sisavanh, who was arrested on reckless driving in February, was dismissed from the program this week.

ICYMI: Andy Staples with KSR at SEC Media Days

KSR’s coverage at media days is presented by the team at Friends of Coal. Friends of Coal is dedicated to informing and educating Kentucky citizens about the coal industry and its vital role in the state’s future. They provide a united voice for an industry that has been and remains a critical economic contributor to Kentucky. By working together, they can provide good jobs and benefits for future generations. Coal is RESILIENT, RELIABLE, and AFFORDABLE.

Friends of Coal is a volunteer organization. All are invited to be a part of the organization, which consists of proud Kentuckians as well as residents from beyond our borders. Head to friendsofcoalkentucky.org to learn more.