SEC coaches wrap up Media Days
By By Mark Etheridge / staff writer
August 2, 2002
Hoover, Ala. SEC Media Days concluded Thursday as the final four coaches took turns at the podium and the league predictions and all-star teams were named.
Mississippi State's Jackie Sherrill, Kentucky's Guy Morriss, Alabama's Dennis Franchione, and Tennessee's Phil Fulmer all fielded questions from the media. The theme for Thursday was the NCAA talk as all four coaches had to comment on NCAA problems.
Sherrill began by answering questions about the impending NCAA investigation stating that he would work on things he could control and not be concerned with what he could not control.
He did comment that the SEC was a different situation than what when on with the Southwest conference.
One thing Sherrill can control is how the team is preparing for this year's opener at Oregon. "I like this football team," Sherrill said. "We're a faster team, have more skill players in receivers, running backs, linebackers and defensive backs. We had the best spring and off-season."
Sherrill had this to say about the SEC West. "Everyone is picking LSU to win the West and they do have a lot of players returning – but people need to keep their eye on Alabama. They have a lot of players returning too and they also have a rallying point. You can never underestimate the power of having a rallying point."
Kentucky's Morriss decided to forego a detailed opening statement and just started by saying, "We are excited about getting started again. Any questions."
Morriss is not going to get caught up in the talk about Kentucky's NCAA sanctions.
Morriss also talked about his rotund quarterback, 300 pounder Jared Lorenzen. "His weight really doesn't go up and down. He kind of stays about the same. I really stopped making an issue out of the weight. I want him to continue to bring his weight down, but I have shifted gears to just get him in the best shape that we possibly can. We'd like him him to play at about 280 and he expects to get there."
Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione can commiserate with Morriss about NCAA woes. Alabama is awaiting an appeal to their two year bowl ban and hefty scholarship losses. Even if the Crimson Tide does not get any relief from an ongoing appeal – expect word on the appeal is expected later this month – the Alabama players have an exciting final game lined up this season.
The team picked to win the outright season title, Tennessee, has its usual high expectations. Head coach Philip Fulmer is all too aware of what people are expecting from his team that came so close to the BCS title game a year ago.
Fulmer felt that the accusations of academic impropriety leveled against his program are now behind them.
Florida led all schools with seven players selected to the All-SEC team including six on the first team. Mississippi State linebacker Mario Haggan made the first team and defensive back Josh Morgan was selected for the second team. Ole Miss placed center Ben Claxton on the first team and quarterback Eli Manning, tight end Doug Zeigler, and return specialist Jason Armstead on the second team. Alabama placed guard Justin Smiley on the first team offense and defensive linemen Kindal Moorehead and Jarret Johnson on the first team defense. Bama center Alonzo Ephraim, defensive lineman Kenny King and linebacker Brooks Daniels were selected to the second team.
Tennessee was selected to win the East and be the overall SEC champion. The Vols were followed by Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.
In the West, the media tabbed LSU to repeat as champs edging out Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State in the balanced division.
