SEC Media Daze

No, I am not Nick Saban. Or Bobby Petrino. Or Steve Spurrier. Or Derek Dooley.

I'm not even Robbie Caldwell, ya know, the Vanderbilt coach.

But this was the scene many SEC coaches first saw when they exited one of four ballrooms at the Wynfrey Hotel, site of the SEC Football Media Days, or Media Daze as I have often called it.

Actually, this staged picture is only partially accurate. In reality, it was more like 15-20 cameras.

The SEC says there are 900 credentialed media members here and some are actually covering the event. 

The others? 

It appears they're here for the autographs. I'm not sure how they got credentialed, but they did. If it boosts the SEC's official number and makes conference look bigger and better than the Big 12 and the Big Ten, then all the power to them.

Getting an original story here is almost impossible. It's too controlled. As good friend Joe Biddle of the Tennessean told me today, years ago (and I've covered this thing for 21 years myself), the coaches would hang around and chat informally. No more. They dash in and dash out quickly, with SEC officials and a security detail as escorts.

The biggest story down here so far has been NCAA inquiries at Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. It says something about modern college football when an NCAA inquiry only gets mild attention. No one seems to be in panic mode-- at least, not yet.

Tennessee Head Coach Derek Dooley arrives here on Friday. It's been two weeks since two of his players were arrested in connection with a brawl outside a Knoxville bar.

The media has been impressed with Dooley's initial handling of the situation, but there are still some serious unanswered questions. Dooley's had time to consider his strategy. On Friday, he needs to explain why an arrested member of his team hasn't been suspended.

It probably won't happen, but I think Tennessee fans deserve to know why.