DALLAS — That's a wrap on SEC Media Days in Dallas!
To kick things off on the last day, Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman took the stage to share his outlook on the upcoming season.
Following Pittman was the Aggies' new head coach, Mike Elko, who joined the program after Jimbo Fisher was fired earlier this offseason.
For a Day 1 recap, visit here.
For a Day 2 recap, visit here.
For a Day 3 recap, visit here.
SEC Media Days | Thursday, July 18
Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman
Pittman opened up his address by showing gratitude for Nick Saban, thanking the legendary coach for helping him in his coaching career.
"Coach Saban is the GOAT," Pittman said.
The Razorbacks' coach said one thing he wants to improve this season with his team is finishing strong in close games as they lost a few one-score games last season.
"We have to finish the season, we did not do that well," Pittman said. "I feel like we're well on our way to getting that accomplished."
Pittman also addressed a tough upcoming schedule both on the road and at home. Pittman said that's just the way it is in the SEC.
"They also have to play the Arkansas Razorbacks," Pittman said.
Pittman was asked about Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian's remarks about Arkansas fans hating them more than they like themselves.
"We hadn't played Texas for years and when we played them a couple of years back, it was the most excited our fan base has been in a while," Pittman said. "So I would say you're probably right."
Arkansas QB Taylen Green
Green, who recently transferred in from Boise State, talked about why he chose to come to Arkansas.
"First, I had a relationship with Coach Petrino coming out of high school," Green said. "He was my first offer when he was at Missouri State. And Coach Peyton, Coach Petrino, just the vision that they had, just starting something special, leaving a legacy, that's what I want."
Green was asked about his summer training and how his body has improved in the offseason.
"It's going really good," Green said. "I lost eleven pounds of fat and gained ten pounds of muscle and I want to say I'm 5% body fat. So, just lifting and the running, it's going really well."
Green, a DFW native from Lewisville High School, was asked about his opinion on the Razorbacks' upcoming matchup with Texas.
"My dream school was TCU, so I didn't really -- really watch Texas that much," Green said. "I'm definitely excited to play them."
Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Elko
Elko, who took over the program after Jimbo Fisher was fired this offseason, talked about the work the team has put in so far since he's been there.
"I'm proud of how quiet our offseason has been," Elko said. "I'm proud of how quickly our players have adapted to a new culture and a new way of attacking football."
A new coaching regime usually means an overhaul of players too, and that's been an area of focus for Elko early in his tenure in College Station.
"We have introduced 41 new scholarship football players into our program," Elko said. "Just under 50% of our roster has turned over, but it's been awesome to watch them intentionally go out of their way to come together, to bond, and to be ready to put together a tremendous product for Aggie fans to be proud of this fall."
The former Duke head coach was asked about big rivalries he's been a part of as he will have to coach the Aggies against the Longhorns this season at Kyle Field.
"Obviously, the Duke - Carolina rivalry is a fairly big one, and being a part of that the last two years, I think, certainly gives you a taste of what it's like," Elko said. "Now that [Texas and Texas A&M] are playing and we're in the same conference again, that's something that means an awful lot. So it means a lot to our program."
Texas A&M LB Taurean York
The sophomore talked about the responsibilities his coaching staff has placed on him by naming him a team captain so early into his career.
"It's been a whirlwind. It's been a crazy year and a half that I've experienced so far," York said. "I wouldn't want it any other way. God's been blessing me, my family. We all been reaping the benefits of it, you know, so we're happy to be here."
York was asked about his relationship and feelings towards the Texas Longhorns and he made sure to make his hatred clear.
"I don't talk to anybody from Texas because it's that personal," York said.
He was asked if there was anyone in particular he looked forward to hitting on Nov. 30, when the Aggies are scheduled to play the Longhorns.
"Just anybody in a burnt orange jersey," York said. "If I'm being honest, it's been a long time since we played -- since we played Texas, so just trying to set the standard when it comes."
York also touched on the Aggies' season opener against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and explained how a game like that can start them off in the right way.
"Oh, for sure," York said. "I feel like it's a good standard to see where your team is at right now, how they're going to respond to adversity, things of that nature."
Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze
Freeze returns to Auburn for his second season at the helm, hoping to improve off of last year's 6-7 season.
When asked about his recruiting style and coaching philosophy, Freeze talked about how recent changes in college football haven't necessarily changed him yet.
"I'm probably not the greatest portal recruiter that there is," Freeze said. "I like developing players and getting to know them and being with them, and I'm not saying that's the right way. I know I'm gonna have to adjust. I'm already starting to adjust, but there are changes, more changes coming."
Freeze then talked about his QB Payton Thorne, who transferred from Michigan State prior to last season.
"I just felt like we could put some pieces around him that would allow him to be -- to reach his potential and I've seen it on film," Freeze said. "I think he was really, really, really solid in another Power Five conference. And I think he's proven he can use his feet to move the chains where we need to."
Auburn QB Payton Thorne
Thorne now has a year under his belt in the SEC and when asked about how he feels it's affected him and his development, Thorne says he's still doing the same stuff he's always been.
"I feel like I've been the same guy," Thorne said. "My values are still the same. I place the same value in my process. And what I do from the day to day. Do I feel like I'm better than I was last year? Absolutely. But at the same time, I haven't become a new person. So sticking to what got me here to this point."
Kentucky Head Coach Mark Stoops
Stoops is entering his twelfth season as head coach of the Wildcats, making him the longest-tenured coach in the SEC.
Kentucky is coming off of a 7-6 season and Stoops says this isn't the standard they have set for themselves. He says he wants his team to do more and be better.
"We want to improve, you know, and that's the message with the team, ultimately," Stoops said. "We got to get better, we got to find a way to make those plays in critical moments, to push us over the top. You know, we're not interested in just existing. I'm not here, I'm not pushing, I'm not back for the 12 years, just to exist."
Stoops was asked about how often coaches seem to cycle in and out of the SEC, all while he remained in his position for over a decade.
"The consistency that you have to have in this league, it's difficult," Stoops said.
The Wildcats coach was asked about his experience when the A&M job opened up at the conclusion of last season.
"I was pursued pretty aggressively by them," Stoops said. "We'll just leave it at that out of respect for everybody involved... It was very brief, I was pursued and I had a job to do."
Stoops says he takes pride in his tenure at Kentucky and wants to continue to coach there and improve.
Kentucky DT Deone Walker
The junior defensive tackle was asked about what it was like after last season when Texas A&M made a push to get Head Coach Mark Stoops.
"Once I seen it, I'm thinking he's gonna be like: 'Yeah, I'm going'," Walker said. "If I'm seeing all this online, not knowing what to think. I can only believe until I get in touch with him. So it was a -- it was a bad time to say the least."
Walker was asked if he would have left the school had Stoops gone to A&M, he said he didn't know, but Stoops stayed, so he did as well.
The team captain then explained what it's like to be coached by Stoops and how he treats his players.
"He is like the uncle you always wished for," Walker said. "He is a great coach and a great person. He is a big loyalty guy. I'm a big loyalty guy. He is not going to lie to you. He is going to tell you the truth no matter if it's happy, sad, going to make you mad, if it's mean because he knows -- everybody knows that he is saying it from a point of I want you to be the best version of yourself."
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