It must be exhausting going to these luxurious resorts and enjoying the showers of attention from friends and foes alike. We don't know yet how often "we just want to compete" or "we just want to play up to our ability" will be repeated, but it is for certain that we will hear a lot more about each team's weaknesses than strengths. Perish forbid anyone might take the position of a favorite.
For those wanting to make a day trip to lasso your favorite coach in hopes of getting a comment, or those just wanting to know where the action is, we list the following dates and locations.
1) ACC, July 20-22, The Ritz Carlton Lodge in Greensboro, Ga. (Yes, Ga.)
2) C-USA, July 20, The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee
3) Big 12, July 21-23, The Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, Missouri
4) Mountain West, July 21-22, Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
5) Sun Belt, July 21-22, The Hilton St. Charles in New Orleans, Louisiana
6) WAC, July 22-24, The Hilton Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah
7) SEC, July 23-25, The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama
8) Big 10, July 24-25, The Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Illinois
9) PAC 10, July 24, Los Angeles Airport Hilton in Los Angeles, California
10) Big East, July 28-29, Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode island
11) MAC, July 28-29, Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
I know what you're thinking—which is the best and which is the worst?
Well, for getting in and out, I guess it's hard to beat the PAC 10's one-day journey to the airport hotel. For a more relaxed group of coaches, you may find a couple of days around the sail boats, and yachts of Newport, Rhode Island may do wonders to open up the Big East guys a little. Now, the MAC meeting at a football field, I guess that's as plain as you can make it. Happy hunting!
12 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ryan Staab 11 months ago
Hell on earth is anything and everything associated with three little words: LAX
I feel sorry for the Pac-10 coaches, even if they're staying at a decent hotel. At least Carrol has a home in SoCal he can return to, even if he has to deal with Sepulveda and Century boulevards.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan Staab 11 months ago
Stupid me, I meant "three little letters," not "three little words"
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 11 months ago
Ryan, that's exactly what I was thinking. What is with the PAC on this anyway? Carroll drives over, says "we're goin' all the way" and leaves. What about the hob-nobbing, the coaches getting to know one another? I think this could be a media day that is a public relations disaster.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan Staab 11 months ago
They could all have a sleepover at Carrol's house to get to know each other better. It beats having to stay anywhere near LAX...
Edit Comment Cancel
Timothy Croley 11 months ago
I agree, the PAC-10 having only one day is absurd. I mean, why even have it? Why not tele-conference or something. This is basically saying "The rest of the conference sucks so much we need not advertise too much. Pete, please get USC to the title game so everyone will forget how bad the PAC-10 is overall!"
This is supposed to be the big teaser where fans and media alike drool without control knowing that football is merely a few days away! You don't even get teased on the west coast for a one day show.
As for some places of interest - Hoover might become the most populated city in Alabama next week and Greensboro, GA, with an estimated population of less the 3,500, might even see numbers they have never imagined!!
Perhaps the best media days, in terms of resorts, will be found in Vegas. You don't have nearly the same numbers packing in to catch a glimpse of their team, with a city that never sleeps. Should be two good days for the boys from out west.
8) Big 10, July 24-25, The Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Illinois
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 11 months ago
You and I see eye to eye on this one Timothy. This PAC "afternoon with Pete tour" is nonsense. I'll bet you can't even get in there to see them.
At least the C-USA had the good sense to go to the Peabody Hotel for their one day "seminar". Hope nobody steps on the ducks walking through the lobby.
Edit Comment Cancel
Alex Ferguson 11 months ago
Apparently the Media Days are an absolute waste of time. I'll just throw that out there. Unless, of course, it's the only thing that you - as a journalist - get invited to, and then it's an opportunity to interview your heroes.
There was a great story when everybody was talking to coaches Carr and Tressel at the 2005 Big Ten Media Day, and everybody was ignoring Paul Pozluszny of Penn State. I guess Poz was the one laughing at the end of the season, right?
Edit Comment Cancel
A.J. Mealor 11 months ago
The Ritz in Greensboro is an amazing resort. Don't knock it until you've been there.
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 11 months ago
I don't believe anyone was bashing the Ritz. I believe he was simply mentioning about how many people will be going there. That is a legitimate concern when you look at media access and space for those who do not come with pre-approved interview times and locations.
The big complaint is about Pete Carroll's 1 day at the Airport hotel media conference for the entire PAC league. This smacks of trying to manipulate who has access to the coaches similiar to what people have complained about concerning politicians.
Edit Comment Cancel
A.J. Mealor 11 months ago
Oh I understand. It was all in fun.
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 11 months ago
Sure. I know. But I can't stop complaining about this PAC10 "afternoon with Pete" as his local airport. This is such an outrageous slap in the face of the other PAC10 schools concerning media days. Is the PAC10 really that weak that no one questions a one day event at the airport of Sou Cal? Isn't San Francisco more centrally located for the league with Stanford and Cal nearby and the Oregon and Washington schools not having to travel as far? What if the SEC had "an afternoon with Les" in Baton Rouge for their annual media event? Who cares about Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, they're not the conference champion! Do you not think the other SEC schools wouldn't riot? How front runner can a league be to just focus on one program? I really don't get it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan Staab 11 months ago
"An Afternoon with Jim: A 30 Minute Explanation of What Went Wrong in the Last Two BCS Championship Games" hosted by Jim Tressel and the rest of the Big Ten coaches at the Steak-N-Shake off Hilliard-Rome Road and I-70 in Hilliard Ohio.
Come for the pep talk, stay for the burgers and fries. ;)
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.