Tag: 2024 sec media days

Alabama DB Malachi Moore compares new teammate to former Tide fan-favorite

See why Malachi Moore believes an incoming transfer should have fans excited.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore spoke with the media at SEC media days on Tuesday morning. Moore had high praise for incoming transfer and wide receiver Germie Bernard.

“Germie Bernard reminds me of John Metchie when he was here, the way he runs routes and stems and has creativity within his routes.”

That is high praise from Moore. Metchie III had an impressive career in Tuscaloosa. He finished his career in Tuscaloosa with 155 receptions for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns. Following the conclusion of his junior season, Metchie III was drafted in the second round by the Houston Texans.

Bernard’s career numbers are not close to Metchie III. A lot of that stems from the fact that Bernard sat behind three elite wide receivers a season ago in Seattle. Despite limited playing time at Washington, Bernard managed to reel in 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns.

The ceiling seems to be very high for Bernard. If expectations were not already high, they are now following Moore’s comparison for Bernard. If Bernard is able to perform similarly to Metchie III, this offense could be very difficult to navigate this season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers’ dad ‘believed that the A&M game was bigger than the Red River’ game

“My dad said that growing up he believed that the A&M game was bigger than the Red River Rivalry game. I am excited to have that game back.”

The Lone Star Showdown returns to the gridiron days after Thanksgiving this year as Texas A&M hosts Texas.

Given the highly anticipated matchup, Longhorns junior quarterback Quinn Ewers was asked about it on Wednesday at SEC media days in Dallas.

“My dad said that growing up, he believed that the A&M game was bigger than the Red River Rivalry game,” Ewers recalled. “I am excited to have that game back. It’s going to be a cool experience, especially going to Kyle Field.

“I know that place is going to be rocking. We are all fired up for it.”

The rivalry between fans in Aggieland and Austin only intensified after baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle left College Station last month to assume the same role at Texas. But then Michael Earley left Schlossnagle’s Longhorns staff to become the new Aggies leader.

Texas A&M and Texas face off on Nov. 30 at Kyle Field.

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Quick thoughts on the final day of 2024 SEC media days

The 2024 SEC media days will wrap on Thursday afternoon. Here are the top storylines!

On Thursday afternoon, the 2024 SEC media days will conclude as the final four league members shuffle their way through the media at the Omni Hotel in Dallas.

From the onset on Monday, former Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] stole the show with his analysis.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns have already received their welcome to the Southeastern Conference along with new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.

The Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, and Texas A&M Aggies will wrap up the annual event on Thursday.

Here are my quick thoughts on what to look forward to on the final day of the 2024 SEC media days.

Is Sam Pittman on the hot seat in Fayetteville?

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 4: Head Coach Sam Pittman of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on from the sidelines in the first half of a game against the Rice Owls at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Owls 38-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Razorback head coach Sam Pittman will likely field several questions regarding his future with the program. Arkansas is just 11-14 over the past two seasons and the Hog faithful will not put up with that type of outcome for much longer.

Will the Auburn offense be improved in 2024?

The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn’s offensive struggles in 2023 are well-documented. Quarterback Payton Thorne is back to lead the charge but many fans are not very optimistic about his ability to take the Tigers where they want to go. Head coach Hugh Freeze has long been considered an offensive genius. It’s time for him to prove it on the Plains.

Can Mark Stoops keep it rolling in Lexington?

Sep 16, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops runs onto the field before the game against the Akron Zips at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Stoops has built the Kentucky program into a consistent winner in the SEC. With Oklahoma and Texas now in the league, the Wildcats likely got knocked down in the pecking order. It will be interesting to see if Stoops can maintain the consistency he has built in Lexington.

Year one expectations for Mike Elko at Texas A&M

The Greenville News

Mike Elko did great with the Duke football program going 16-9 in two seasons. Expectations are certainly higher in College Station and Elko will have to deliver as soon as year one. The roster is loaded and quarterback Conner Weigman might be the most underrated player in the conference. With Texas now in the SEC, the Aggie faithful want to win now more than ever.

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Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian previews the ‘game that divides households’ vs. Texas A&M

“It’s a great game that divides households,” he said. “Our players are probably way more excited for this game than most fans would think.”

The Lone Star Showdown returns to the gridiron days after Thanksgiving this year as Texas A&M hosts Texas.

Given the highly anticipated matchup, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about it on Wednesday at SEC media days in Dallas.

“It’s a great game. It’s a game that divides households,” Sarkisian proclaimed. “Our players are probably way more excited for this game than most fans would think.

“There is a great deal of excitement. I know coach Elko has done a great job in a short time there. It’s going to be a great environment on Thanksgiving weekend, and we’re looking forward to it.”

The rivalry between fans in Aggieland and Austin only intensified after baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle left College Station last month to assume the same role at Texas. But then Michael Earley left Schlossnagle’s Longhorns staff to become the new Aggies leader.

Texas A&M and Texas face off on Nov. 30 at Kyle Field.

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‘Pulling for him,’ Alabama QB Jalen Milroe shares assessment of Aggies QB Conner Weigman

“I had the chance to share the same Texas football with him. I’m pumped for him, all the success he’s had at A&M and I’m pulling for him.”

Separated by only 16 miles, junior quarterbacks Conner Weigman and Jalen Milroe played at rival high schools in the Lone Star State.

Weigman now starts under center about 70 miles from home at Texas A&M. Meanwhile, Milroe is over 600 miles away at Alabama. The latter was asked about the former at SEC media days on Wednesday in Dallas.

“He’s a Texas kid, local, around my high school, not too far. So I had the chance to share the same Texas football with him. I’m pumped for him, all the success he’s had at A&M and I’m pulling for him,” Milroe said. “Texas is a great state for football, especially at the quarterback level. The resources being provided in the state of Texas with big stadiums, great coaching staffs, the weight rooms are outstanding. It’s a lot of factors of the performance from high school quarterbacks with all the resources provided.”

The Aggies could play the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game on Dec. 7 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Sep 2, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman (15) throws a pass during the first quarter against the New Mexico Lobos at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

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Alabama OL Tyler Booker responds to Nick Saban doubting the Crimson Tide

Tyler Books makes HILARIOUS comment about Nick Saban’s SEC championship predictions.

It did not take long for an Alabama Crimson Tide player to respond to a recent remark that former Alabama head coach Nick Saban made at SEC media days. On Monday, Saban predicted that the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns would meet in the SEC Championship.

Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker was sure to respond to his former head coach on Tuesday. Booker had the following to say regarding Saban’s prediction:

“Well something Coach Saban taught us whenever we speak to the media is to not concern ourselves with external factors and he doesn’t work in the facility anymore, he works in the stadium so he’s considered an external factor…”

Clearly, Booker’s intent was to pick at Saban. In the past, Booker and other Crimson Tide players have used external factors to motivate the team from within. The idea that Saban made these comments with the intent of motivating the Alabama football team cannot be ruled out.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program.

9-game SEC schedule talks reportedly reignited at 2024 SEC Media Days

There’s reportedly some renewed momentum to expand the SEC football league slate.

When the SEC held its media days last summer, one of the biggest topics of conversation regarded whether the league would remain at an eight-game conference schedule or move to a nine-game format as some other leagues have done.

Some reporting indicated commissioner [autotag]Greg Sankey[/autotag] was in favor of such a change. However, it was unpopular among some conference members, and no change was ultimately made.

While fans can’t expect a decision on that any time soon, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that the topic has been reignited at SEC Media Days with some programs that previously opposed an expanded league schedule being more open to the idea now.

Dellenger said that a decision would likely be made next season after seeing one year of the expanded College Football Playoff format.

LSU and other SEC teams will only be playing eight conference games this fall, but it seems there’s a decent chance this will be the last season in which that’s the case.

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Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he talked to Paul Skenes at MLB All-Star weekend

Greg Sankey stepped away from SEC Media Days to catch the Home Run Derby in Arlington on Tuesday night.

Paul Skenes added the latest accomplishment to his already impressive career on Tuesday, becoming the first rookie to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher since 1995.

That All-Star festivities were held in Arlington, Texas, and it just happened to coincide with the 2024 SEC Media Days, which are being held in Dallas this week in anticipation of Texas and Oklahoma’s addition to the SEC.

SEC commissioner [autotag]Greg Sankey[/autotag] managed to slip away from his duties to catch the Home Run Derby, and that included catching up with Skenes, who turned in one of the best pitching seasons in league history.

“It was neat, in the fact at the Home Run Derby I sat down in the third base dugout with our T-Mobile friends. They were kind enough to host us there and Paul ended up sitting right in front of me,” Sankey said per On3. “They had all the All-Stars out in their team uniforms, which you knew everybody was, and so we had a five-minute chat.

“We were talking about Hoover, and Omaha, and his experience pitching in the SEC, and then you watch him walk out there to start a Major League Baseball game. You’re like, he was in that police motorcade to and from the Wynfrey a little over a year ago. So great for him, great for the league.”

After striking out 200 batters with a sub-2.00 ERA as LSU’s ace in 2023, Skenes quickly rose through the minors and made his Major League debut earlier this season.

He’s still undefeated as a starter and currently holds a sub-2.00 ERA at the highest level of baseball.

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Nick Saban thinks LSU is going to be a surprise team in 2024

Nick Saban is buying the Tigers entering Brian Kelly’s third season.

As will surely take some getting used to for college football fans, [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] has switched seats this year at the SEC Media Days in Dallas.

The former Alabama and LSU coach retired following the 2023 season, and now, he has taken on a media role. Saban has been interviewing SEC coaches all week in Dallas, and when discussing the Tigers, he made some comments that could raise some LSU fans’ eyebrows.

Saban said he sees the Tigers as a sleeper team entering 2024. He spoke highly of quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] and the receiving corps while also stating his belief that the defense is improving. Despite the heavy losses this offseason, he thinks the 2024 team could be the most complete under Kelly.

“I think that people sort of look at LSU having a first-round draft pick quarterback, two first-round wide receivers, they see these significant impact players leave the program,” Saban said, per On3. “But what I see at LSU is still a very good, talented receiver corps, I see a young quarterback who has tremendous potential and I see the defense getting better.

“So I think the squad, overall, is probably more balanced and a better squad than they had a year ago even though they don’t have those three significant players. So I think they’re still going to have a much better team than people may give them credit for.”

After entering 2023 as a top-five team, prognosticators are more skeptical this time around with several preseason rankings having LSU outside the top 15.

But if there’s one person who knows what it takes to succeed in the SEC, it’s Saban, and he thinks Brian Kelly’s group is set for a big Year 3.

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‘Horns Down’ gesture is ‘not taunting’ and won’t be penalized per SEC head of officials

“Giving the signal it’s not taunting, it’s not making a travesty in the game or affecting our ability to manage the game,” John McDaid said.

According to SEC head of officials John McDaid, the “Horns Down” taunt towards the Longhorns will not be penalized this upcoming season as Texas and Oklahoma join the conference.

McDaid shared that plan of action Tuesday during SEC media days in Dallas.

“To be unsportsmanlike conduct, I’m asking my officials to use a framework of judgment where the act to be a foul needs to be in one of three buckets. It needs to be taunting an opponent, to be a travesty in a game or it needs to otherwise compromise our ability to manage the game,” McDaid explained. “I ask my officials the act in itself needs to be offending to the senses. If you took that act out of a football stadium and did it in a shopping mall or grocery store, would it offend the senses to a majority of the reasonable people in the area? That signal would not.

“I could see a scenario where an opponent of Texas makes a big play and in celebrating with his teammates, possibly going back to the sidelines and giving the signal, it’s not taunting, it’s not making a travesty in the game or affecting our ability to manage the game.”

Sooners senior defensive back Billy Bowman didn’t hold back when asked about the gesture on Tuesday afternoon.

“It shouldn’t be a penalty anyways, everybody has a hand signal. If you let a hand signal affect you and affect the game, maybe you shouldn’t be there,” Bowman proclaimed. “Allowing us to throw the ‘Horns Down,’ that’s cool and all. If it can’t be apart of the game, that’s pretty soft.”

Texas A&M will host Texas at Kyle Field on Nov. 30. The Aggies could play Oklahoma the following week in the SEC championship game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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