DALLAS — Another day, another round of college football hype at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Dallas.
Day 2 of SEC Media Days was headlined by Georgia's Kirby Smart and SEC newcomer Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables.
Georgia enters 2024 off a 63-3 drumming of Florida State in the Orange Bowl after narrowly missing out of the College Football Playoff. The Dawgs lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship, 27-24.
The Oklahoma Sooners went 10-3 in their final season in the Big 12, then lost to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl, 38-24.
For a recap of Day One of SEC Media Days, which featured the address from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, as well as comments from LSU's Brian Kelly, South Carolina's Shane Beamer, Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin and Vanderbilt's Clark Lea, click here.
SEC Media Days | Tuesday, July 16
Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart
Smart wasn't shy about showing praise for QB Carson Beck, who he says is a tremendous leader for the team.
He applauded Beck for staying at Georgia even when he wasn't starting and says he's now reaping the benefits of NIL deals because of it.
Smart also shared kind words for long-time Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban, who he worked under for several years throughout his coaching career.
"That standard he set for me, he set for himself," Smart said about Saban's demand for excellence.
Smart was asked about Georgia's tough road schedule this year as the Bulldogs must travel to Austin, Tuscaloosa and Oxford. "Initially I was wondering how we got that draw," Smart joked. However, he says the team will never back down from a challenge.
When asked about the role that NIL plays in recruiting and how he feels about it, Smart was quick to defend any monetary goals recruits may have when coming to his school or any other school in the country.
"I'm happy that these kids get a chance to improve their situations," Smart said. "I have no problem with that."
Additionally, Smart was asked about the potential for the abolition of conference championship games and he was very adamant about not wanting that to happen.
Smart says the SEC Championship has tremendous value and it's one of the best venues to play at in college football.
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel
Heupel expressed his eagerness and excitement for the season to start as he brings back a team that has done some good things over the last two seasons.
"It's hard to believe that training camp is right around the corner in less than two weeks," Heupel said. "We're ready to go compete. We got great renovations that are going on inside of Neyland Stadium, one of the great venues in all of sports, let alone college football."
Heaupel was asked about the effect the Transfer Portal has on his program and college football in general.
"I think the portal has positives and negatives within your own roster. Right?" Huepel said. "You lose some, you gain some. The portal gives you the ability to go watch holes on your roster quicker than it could happen just through general high school recruiting."
Venables is leading the Sooners into their first year in the SEC and he's doing it with QB Jackson Arnold, who he says is ready to go mentally and physically.
The Sooners head coach made sure to mention that, despite a challenging schedule ahead, they aren't going to back down from any opponent.
"Oklahoma isn't intimidated as a football program," Venables stated. "We are running towards the SEC. I think that goes without saying."
Venables was asked about whether or not he thinks the "Horns down" hand gesture should be penalized in the SEC.
"Should be penalized? Like on the field? Is that what you're referring to? I don't really have an opinion," Venables said. "Football is a game of emotion and intensity and passion. And if they say it's, you know, a free-for-all, then have at it. So everybody is different, everybody celebrates different."
Venables said that he doesn't expect the new conference to affect the Texas vs. Oklahoma rivalry. He said it's a deep-seated one and the hatred between fanbases likely won't change.
"What I would say is that, you know, that's one of many games that you're going to have to find a way to grind it out," Venables explained. "If you think that one is emotionally taxing, you're going to go into a lot of venues that the pageantry is going to be real, the stadiums are going to be completely full and a lot of people are going to hate your guts for three hours or so."
Missouri Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz
Drinkwitz began his address with kind words for the late Monte Kiffin as well as a push to get Coach Mike Leach, who passed away in 2023, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Tigers head coach mentioned that he has his hands full trying to get 43 new players from high school and the Transfer Portal acclimated and bought into the program.
"I think the most important thing for us is to run our race," Drinkwitz said about dealing with outside expectations for this year's football team.
Drinkwitz was asked about some of his staff members who left the program this offseason, but he quickly turned the attention to those they gained as he stated, "It was really an opportunity for us to go out and improve our staff."
SEC Media Days schedule
For a look at the four-day schedule of SEC Media Days in Dallas, click here.
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