SEC Media Days 2014: A Primer and Your Open Thread for Auburn's Turn at the Mic

Good morning, everyone!  By the time this post goes up around 10am Monday morning we will be about two hours from the beginning of SEC Media Days 2014! Media Days has expanded to four (count 'em FOUR) days this year in wonderful Hoover, AL. It's one of those mile-stone moments of the offseason that lets us know that football is finally almost upon us. It couldn't come at a better time as so many are coming off a fantastic World Cup and needing some good college football info to fill the void.

Where to Watch: ESPN3/WatchESPN and SECPorts.com will have live-streaming of the whole shebang.  Or follow along in this Twitter Stream:

Why to Watch: It's actual college football stuff happening.

What to Expect: A lot of coach-speak.  A LOT of it. There will also be some gems in there as well, though. Expect Gus to be hit with a good many questions on Marshall and Mincy. Expect at least one Alabama sportswriter to spin those events as a program in trouble. [Last Second Edit/Update: Kevin Scarbinsky is ahead of us all with it. Because Scarbinksy.] I'm sure you've seen by now, but Nick Marshall has been left at home and senior TE CJ Uzomah ("you-ZOM-uh" is, I believe, the correct pronunciation if you've always been wondering) will replace him.

I expect there will be some manufactured controversy somewhere. There is no way this Media Days goes by without these coaches being asked about the 10 second rule that Bret Bielema and Nick Saban tried to get pushed through this offseason. I'm sure each coach, especially the HUNH coaches, will be asked for their opinions and feelings. The result will be coach-speak answers about always caring about player safety, but there's no evidence that player safety is at risk, etc. I think Bret Bielema has learned his lesson about hyperbole from his "death certificates" line, but we'll see.

I also expect the best time will be had by Steve Spurrier. The Head Ball Coach will take a jab at Dabo Swinney. He'll make a number of remarks that will make the assembled media chuckle our outright laugh. He may get in a few jabs at fellow SEC coaches. In the end he'll walk off the stage probably feeling better than any of the other coaches. I used to hate Spurrier when he was at Florida, but now I dread the day he's gone from college football. There are too few people with his candid attitude to say it like it is.

Here is your schedule for the next week stolen from Pete Volk's preview on the mothership:

All times Eastern:

Monday, July 14

Session I: 12-3:30 p.m.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn
Auburn tight end C.J. Uzomah
Auburn center Reese Dismukes
Auburn defensive lineman Gabe Wright

Session II: 3:40-6:40 p.m.
Florida head coach Will Muschamp
Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel
Florida defensive end Dante Fowler
Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason
Vanderbilt defensive lineman Adam Butler
Vanderbilt tight end Steven Scheu
Vanderbilt safety Andrew Williamson

Tuesday, July 15

Session I: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier
South Carolina offensive guard A.J. Cann
South Carolina defensive tackle J.T. Surratt
South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen
Mississippi State safety Jay Hughes
Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney
Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott

Session II: 2-5 p.m.
Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin
Texas A&M defensive back Deshazor Everett
Texas A&M punter Drew Kaser
Texas A&M offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones
Tennessee offensive lineman Mack Crowder
Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson
Tennessee defensive end Curt Maggitt

Wednesday, July 16

Session I: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw
ESPN Senior Vice President of College Networks Justin Connolly
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel
Missouri center Evan Boehm
Missouri defensive end Markus Golden
Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk

Session II: 2-5 p.m.
LSU head coach Les Miles
LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins
LSU running back Terrence Magee
LSU linebacker D.J. Welter
Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema
Arkansas offensive guard Brey Cook
Arkansas defensive end Trey Flowers
Arkansas safety Alan Turner

Thursday, July 17

Session I: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Georgia head coach Mark Richt
Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley
Georgia running back Todd Gurley
Georgia linebacker Ramik Wilson
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze
Ole Miss defensive end C.J. Johnson
Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt
Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace

Session II: 1-4 p.m.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban
Alabama safety Landon Collins
Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper
Alabama wide receiver Christion Jones
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops
Kentucky defensive end Bud Dupree
Kentucky offensive tackle Jordan Swindle
Kentucky defensive end Za'Darius Smith

Enjoy!