KSR's Greatest Moments at SEC Media Days

Kentucky Sports Radio is embarking on a road trip to Dallas for the 2024 edition of SEC Media Days. Before we begin a new era in the SEC with Oklahoma and Texas, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to relive some eventful moments from previous events.

2016: I wore a Tie to SEC Media Days

In 2016 I was embarking on my first journey to Hoover as a full-time KSR employee who also wasn’t juggling schoolwork. One may have described me as “green,” or a “little wet behind the ears.”

Frankly, I had no idea what I was doing. Without any expectations, I planned on laying low and sharing what people said, without making too much of a fuss. It’s not so different than the low-profile Kentucky carried at the event. Mark Stoops was coming off a pair of five-win seasons and the Wildcats were tiered in the bottom of the SEC pecking order.

Unsure how to fit in at the event among veteran journalists in the South, I went with a safe, professional approach. Why I thought I should wear a shirt and tie on the day Stoops took the podium, I do not know. The only splashy thing on my itinerary was photobombing Finebaum and I did it in the most awkward way possible.

2017: Hoover Lamp

Accompanied by Freddie Maggard on the trip to Hoover, things got off to a rather rocky start. After getting credentials inside the hotel, we sought out libations at a local joint, Olive Garden. An Alabama thunderstorm broke out en route and we got soaked. Thankfully, the servers were kind enough to give us extra cloth napkins to help us dry off.

Once the event began, we kept a low profile in the back of the frigid room. While watching SEC Media Days unfold, patrons continually tripped on a Wifi extender located near our seat. The rest of the week we counted how many stumbled over the “Hoover lamp” and got near 20 before it was all said and done.

Hoover was so nice, I had to return one more time before football season to introduce the Hoover Lamp to my KSR friends pic.twitter.com/RowAfh44G4

— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) August 31, 2017

This happened the same year that Mike Edwards had a wardrobe malfunction. While changing into his suit, the Kentucky safety ripped his pants. Freddie and I did not know this happened until the UK entourage arrived at the Birmingham Kentucky Alumni Club meet-and-greet where Edwards arrived wearing gym shorts with a blazer. Fortunately, they found a tailor to remedy the situation in time for him to speak at SEC Media Days.

BBN, we need help. @M__Edwards7 had a fashion mishap. RT if he should get new pants. Hit "like" if he should roll in shorts. #SECMD2017 pic.twitter.com/mjBuA3OMcF

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 12, 2017

2018: Beny Snell Steals the Show at SECMD

My traveling companion pressed pause on a life of media to join Mark Stoops’ program as the UK Director of Player of Personnel. It added a little pressure to this young journalist who was covering a team with high expectations.

Kentucky abandoned the low-profile approach. Josh Hines-Allen was a star in the making and Benny Snell went to Atlanta to deliver a message. In a moment of great satisfaction, my question was the one that produced headlines around the SEC. It was a good day.

Benny Snell, are you the best running back in the SEC? pic.twitter.com/jeQesAumBz

— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) July 16, 2018

2019: Kash Daniel Soaks Up SEC Media Days

Ahead of his final season in Lexington, Kash Daniel was prepared to go full Kash Daniel at SEC Media Days. He enjoyed it so much, they had to drag the guy out of interviews to move along to the next. He shared a few interesting quotes while wearing a Stark pin on his lapel. Just a few weeks removed from the finale of Game of Thrones, one in which he criticized, Kash channeled his inner Jon Snow and looked the part in Hoover.

2021: Luckett Teaches Nick Saban Xs and Os

In 2021 I had a new traveling partner to SEC Media Days. Instead of entering tepid, Adam Luckett came out firing. He had a question ready for every coach in the main ballroom and one of them elicited a charismatic reaction from the greatest coach in the history of college football.

Luckett’s moment with Nick Saban was the most remarkable moment from SEC Media Days, until a bombshell was dropped. News broke that Texas and Oklahoma were joining the SEC while we were in Hoover, creating a chaotic atmosphere rarely experienced in this sport. If you were there, it’s a moment you’ll never forget.

2022: Mark Stoops and Shane Beamer Feud Starts

It was an unremarkable SEC Media Days in Atlanta for Kentucky in 2022 until it wasn’t. Will Levis said all the right things and drank some mayo coffee, nothing we hadn’t seen before. The fireworks didn’t truly fly until a taped interview with Mark Stoops and folks from the SEC Network was released during a later broadcast.

“It’s easy to change the climate, you just change a uniform, talk a little game, dance around, put on some stupid sunglasses, you can change a climate,” Stoops said. “But to change a culture is at the core, and I’m quite certain we’ve changed our culture. Just who we are and how we’re perceived. Walk around with some of the greatest coaches and that respect you get, and the respect our players carry with them.”

It was an apparent shot at Shane Beamer. Stoops said it was unintentional and made peace with the new South Carolina head coach behind closed doors. The feeling was not mutual. Beamer used it as fuel, then brought his stupid sunglasses to Kroger Field to celebrate a win over the Will Levis-less Wildcats.

SEC Mike recently coined the South Carolina vs. Kentucky rivalry as “The Sunglass Bowl” and I’m 100% here for it.

2023: Time for Mark Stoops to Shave the Dome?

The guy who didn’t want to make a fuss at SEC Media Days was eager to stir it up seven years later. For the first time in my career, I had a one-on-one conversation with Mark Stoops on camera. It was brief, but I made sure to get in a gag before he moved on to the next interview.

@kentuckysportsradio Is it time for Mark Stoops to shave his head? #bbn #sec ♬ original sound – KSR