Freddie Maggard’s SEC Media Days Diary: Day Four

6:00 AM: Up a little early this morning. Two of the four hotel elevators are not working. I wanted to make sure to beat the rush going downstairs. My elevator phobia is real and is lessened if I’m the only one inside if that makes sense. I get really freaked out in a crowded version. I ordered room service last night just so I wouldn’t have to make that last trip to the lobby. I’m out of clean, non-UK shirts so I’m wearing Wildcat team gear this morning. So, blue got in. That’s a major no-no in media areas and tremendously frowned upon by the professionals in the room. I hope I don’t get ejected from the event. We’ll see, I’ll keep you updated on the stares, glares, and grumblings about my Day-4 uniform. 

6:30 AM: Made my final elevator ride of the week. Grabbed some coffee and charged my phone before rolling into the main media room. Ran into Cole Cubelic. Paul Finebaum was also grabbing a cup of Joe. 

7:00 AM: Second one in the main media room today. I have been first on most days. A Pro J with dress clothes and Air Jordans beat me this morning. I’m looking forward to Jimbo Fisher. He’s a really fast talker and will likely be somewhat defensive about NIL and the new western entries to the league. Tennessee is here as well. This is not intended to be a shot, but if there was a day when the NIL/Recruiting combo is to be discussed, it’s today. Jumping off here to quadruple-check my Auburn pre-write. I spent about three weeks working on team previews for Media Days. Later. 

7:50 AM: I’ve always wondered if the SEC office or the individual teams bring the helmets that are displayed on stage when the head coaches speak? I don’t want to sound like a Will Levis impersonator, but do any of y’all take honey in your coffee? I used to do so often before I went on a diet. Coffee stations here have honey and I’ve returned to using it. My go-to coffee add-ons have included cream, honey, and a dash of lemon. I’ve been ok but not great with my nutrition plan this week. I have strayed away from drinking a gallon of water a day. I’ll go back to that when I get back to Versailles. 

8:12 AM: It’s raining pretty hard here. I read that it’s hot back home. Total random thought: I’ve lived in my new house for over two years and have never used my oven. That came to me after seeing a Facebook post about cleaning ovens. Just saw the SEC media dude walk to the podium holding an Auburn, Tennessee, and Texas A&M helmet. Mystery solved. 

8:27 AM: Just saw a media person wearing an Auburn shirt. I might be ok. A lot more Adidas and Under Armour gear here today. Auburn is an Under Armour school and Texas A&M sports Adidas. Tennessee was with Adidas for a long time before making the jump to Nike. 

9:00 AM: Lots of new faces and a larger than expected crowd here today. Auburn was not very good last year but is located close to Atlanta and has a massive following. Tennessee fans and media are excited, which they should be going into 2022. Texas A&M still has a newness surrounding their place in the league and folks want to hear Jimbo uncomfortably talk about NIL. I count six camera people following Harsin around before he goes on stage. That’s actually the largest pack of the week. 

Auburn HC Bryan Harsin ⁦@forthepeople⁩ pic.twitter.com/fZH0p3hYZD

— Freddie Maggard (@FredMaggard606) July 21, 2022

9:05 AM: Auburn Head Coach Bryan Harsin 

I finally got what all the buzz is about. Harsin is talking about a February inquiry into him and his program that was proven to be unfounded. Forgot all about that. Much like Billy Napier, Harsin is much younger looking in person than in photos. Opening remarks lasted seven minutes. 

9:22 AM: Harsin is not as boring and more personable than I thought he’d be. He looks like a weight lifter. Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea appears to be the strongest SEC head coach this year. You can read my Auburn preview on KSR. Going upstairs to fix my hotel receipt and to do a couple of radio shows. Later. 

Tennessee HC Josh Heupel ⁦@forthepeople⁩ pic.twitter.com/mzf4P44leh

— Freddie Maggard (@FredMaggard606) July 21, 2022

10:30 AM Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel  

10:50 AM: Back in my seat and typing away. UT is here. 

10:56 AM: Heupel is still talking. I’m hungry, lunch is free. I need to eat something light because we’ll be driving for a while afterward and I’m already sleepy. Keeping my liquid intake at a minimum this morning, don’t want to have to stop at every other exit on the way home. We may jet out of here before the ATL traffic becomes impassable. I’m ready to be home. My sleep routine is so much better at my house. I use the four pillow plan. Two under my head, one to hang on to, and one under my knees. That helps to keep my back and shoulder from hurting so bad. Plus, I need to work out at my gym. I feel like I’ve walked a couple of miles a day here but need to lift. Heupel finished his remarks. 

Head Coach Best Quote

Q. The NIL question. How does your program go about managing that, especially when it comes to possibly interacting with any sort of collective?

“Yeah, for us, I think there’s great opportunity in it. I mentioned Hendon and what he’s been able to do, have an impact on our community, on youth inside of our community in particular. It’s an opportunity to educate and empower our student-athletes, which is what college football and the collegiate experience is all about. 

I think it’s dramatically changed the way that young people come into your program, how thoughtful they are about every situation that they’re involved in, how they’re portrayed in what’s out there on social media, the decisions they’re making every night of the week. 

I think in those ways it’s such an empowering tool for our student-athletes. I just go back to myself as a player. Certainly the most powerful thing that I had was my teammates and the logo that I was playing for. 

At the same time, though, I think I was creating some value there, too. I would have liked to have had an opportunity to have been afforded to take part in NIL. Would have liked to have worn my starting left tackle jersey or worn his shirt. I look at my own kids, Jace and Hannah, that get a chance to run around the house or run with their friends and wear a Cedric Tillman and Hendon Hooker shirt or jersey. I think there’s empowering opportunities through NIL.”

11:25 AM: Ate lunch. Someone asked me if I was a UK fan because of my shirt. I said yes. All good, didn’t get kicked out yet. 

11:59 AM: We are out of here. You can read my Texas A&M preview on KSR’s website. Thanks for following along. You might be relieved that it’s over because I have posted more social media stuff in the last four days than I have in the past four years. If I went overboard, I’m sorry. Later.