SEC Media Days: Live Stream, Commentary and Analysis from Day 3

Day 3 is upon us in Hoover, Ala., as SEC Media Days will reach its conclusion this afternoon. This will be your guide to all the action with live updates coming throughout the day. 

Day 3 of Media Days will bring the coaches and players from Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee to the podiums. With Derek Dooley on the assumed “hot seat” entering the season, his comments and confidence in his team will be closely monitored. 

The showstopper of the day will no doubt be Nick Saban. His all-star status in Hoover will be solidified today with Alabama fans lining the entry to the Wynfrey Hotel awaiting the arrival of the Crimson Tide head coach—as if Media Days needed more elements to create the circus. 

By the end of the day, the unofficial start to college football season will have concluded, and fans will only be a few weeks away before fall practice updates begin to pour in. Stay here throughout the day to catch all the action live.

Update: 12:33 a.m. CT

The ESPNU crew has moved to the schedule predictions board and the Georgia schedule is taking center stage. 

To much surprise, the Bulldogs are picked to struggle in the first conference game of the season against Missouri in Columbia, Mo.  

The ESPNU crew picks Georgia to finish the season 10-2 with losses coming to Florida and South Carolina. 

Update: 12:27 p.m. CT

Richt is still at the podium and was asked about Malcolm Mitchell. Richt said that Mitchell was recruited to play defense initially, but with the early departure of A.J. Greene, the Bulldogs needed him at receiver. 

Richt went on to say that Mitchell lobbied to play both ways this season, and that he will begin the season on defense, but play a 50/50 split between offense and defense by the end of the season. 

Richt compared the situation of Malcolm Mitchell to the Champ Bailey days at Georgia.

"People are human, people make mistakes" was the response that Richt gave when asked about disciplinary issues at Georgia. He said that he has to discipline his players so that it benefits them to be better men in the future. 

Mark Richt was asked about Aaron Murray and said that Murray "pays the price" to be a good quarterback. He said Murray is a guy that loves people and loves life. He said Murray is constantly doing community service and enjoys being a leader. Richt said he is a great leader for the Georgia Bulldogs team. 

Update: 12:15 p.m. CT

Mark Richt takes center stage and the main podium at SEC Media Days. Richt is the final coach of the week to speak to the media in the main ballroom. 

Richt opens by saying that he wants to talk about the guys that made it to SEC Media Days and then drew a blank. Not a good start to the monologue, but he recovered. 

Richt says that having 7 true home games is a plus for the Bulldogs, especially with the game in Jacksonville taking a home game spot this fall. 

When asked about winning the division, Richt said he knows it is a tough road and that to "maximize the potential of this football team" is crucial to success this fall. 

Richt was asked about Zach Mettenberger and said he knew Mettenberger since he was "a kid." Mettenberger's mother works for the Georgia football offices.

He went on to say that if Metteberger was still at Georgia he would "be competing for the starting job, or be the starter." That is a ringing endorsement of the talent level that Mettenberger is carrying into the 2012 season with LSU. 

On the four team playoff: "I think it's outstanding."

Richt mentions that the regular season is "huge" and that the bowls are a great part of the college football experience. 

Update: 11:52 a.m. CT

ESPNU says don't sleep on Florida in the division championship race because of the issues at Georgia. 

I agree Florida is a team to watch, but not because of Georgia's loss of Crowell. Muschamp has one of the most talented defenses in the country this season. If the Gators can turn the offense, they will be very dangerous in the Eastern Division.

Update: 11:45 a.m. CT

Chris Low of ESPN.com said on ESPNU that of all the coaches and players that spoke, John L. Smith stuck out to him.

Between Spurrier and Smith, the SEC should be proud of the showmanship that went on display. Both guys were very fiery, but I go with Low's pick. Smith was motivating to watch at the podium. I would play hard for him. 

Arkansas still faces questions with the loss of Petrino, but answers are appearing more everyday under the guidance of Smith and the Razorbacks staff.

Update: 11:36 a.m. CT

The ESPNU crew is back at the predictions board looking at the Ole Miss schedule for 2012. 

The staff picks Ole Miss to finish the season at 3-9 and losing the Egg Bowl. 

The ESPNU staff has Ole Miss starting 3-1, but losing the final 8 games of the season.

Update: 11:33 a.m. CT

Tavarres King has taken the hot seat at SEC Media Days. 

When asked about Isaiah Crowell, King said you do your best to help teammates, but everyone makes their own choices. 

King said that Murray could be "the best quarterback to every play at Georgia" and that he expects him to do some damage this fall. 

When asked about Aaron Murray he said that Murray "is a true leader" and that Murray has coordinated the mass text messages to teammates getting them to summer workouts. 

King said that watching film with Murray is important because it helps them understand what each other is thinking in specific situations. 

Update: 11:21 a.m. CT

Hugh Freeze is on the main stage at SEC Media Days. 

He was asked how he would handle the Ole Miss program if they struggled early. Freeze said that Ole Miss "must lean on core values" and keep the focus. There will be ups and downs but keeping the desire to compete and building chemistry could lead to some surprise wins for Ole Miss. 

When asked about the playoffs system, Freeze said that the playoffs are "a good thing for our sport" but there will always be detractors. He said that "90 percent of the time" it will get done right. 

Freeze said he believes in keeping the bowl system around for a number of reasons including the experience for the team and their families. 

When asked about the Egg Bowl and keeping a fire lit around the rivalry, Freeze said that adding fuel to the discussion isn't important right now, but then mentioned that Ole Miss is the all-time leader. Great move by the coach. 

Update: 11:01 a.m. CT

Tyler Bray is on the hot seat at Media Days. 

Bray said that still considers himself inexperienced despite the label given as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He said "I haven't played a full season yet."

Bray said that the O-line will be great and that he has "all the trust in the world in those guys." 

Being a talkative leader is something that Bray is working on. He said it doesn't come natural to be vocal but he is working on it. He said he feels that he has earned respect by becoming a more forward leader. 

When asked about coach Dooley and the hot seat, he said that "Dooley's not out there throwing interceptions or missing tackles." He said the team is on the hot seat, not Dooley.

Bray was asked if he likes being the underdog and he said yes. That proving people wrong is something the team likes to do. 

When asked about the two teammates that accompanied him to SEC Media Days he said that Herman Lathers is the team leader. He also said that Ju'Wuan James is a leader on the offensive line.

Update: 10:48 a.m. CT

Mark Richt has taken the hot seat at SEC Media Days. 

Richt said that Georgia had 10 guys that put in paperwork to test the NFL waters this spring. Returning the vast majority of those players is a plus and the biggest gain this offseason.

Richt said that this has been an outstanding offseason from what he is hearing from team leaders. Returning those guys was crucial to offseason development. 

When asked about the loss of Isaiah Crowell leaving, Richt said that his team didn't change or lose their focus. 

Richt said that David Andrews is the No. 1 center heading into fall camp. He said that losing Ben Jones was big and that Jones was one of the best offensive linemen he has ever been around. He wholly endorsed Andrews as the starter, saying that Andrews shared "many traits" with Jones.

Finding guys to play physical and fast is key to success in the SEC, and Richt stated that he thinks that Georgia will be that way this season but it may take time to get there for the younger players.

Richt said that the Georgia defensive front is very strong and athletic. He said the defense should play "extremely well" this fall on upfront defensively. 

Richt was asked about Malcolm Mitchell playing both sides of the ball and said that he is a guy that can do it but monitoring his number of snaps early is crucial, especially with the heat will be out there this fall. He is a guy that will play both ways. 

When asked about the trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game in 2011, Richt said that leaving with unfinished business is never fun and it left the team hungry for more heading into this season.

Update: 10:25 a.m. CT

The ESPNU crew is back at the schedule prediction board. The Tennessee schedule is the topic of discussion. 

The crew has the Vols finishing the season 8-4. 

They are really favorable for the Vols and Dooley. The four losses are Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. 

Update: 10:19 a.m. CT

Nick Saban has reached the SEC hot seat. Saban is really working the media today, thanking everyone for "all they do" to help build good student athletes and a positive message.

When asked about A.J. McCarron, he said having an experienced quarterback is big for the Crimson Tide offense. Leadership at the position is crucial to winning in the league. 

Nick Saban receives his second question of the day regarding the Penn State situation. He is careful with his response, saying that "focusing on the outcome" is more important than the situation that occurred. Finding the right solution is what matters. Great answer by him regarding that situation. 

Saban was asked about the "new" offense. He said "we changed one guy in the building." Obviously, Alabama will look much the same on offense this season. New ideas are welcome, but sticking to the guns that won two national titles in three years is definitely the best policy. 

Steve Spurrier is someone that Saban looks up to. He said he thought about a visor this season, but he would throw it. Hence the lack of head gear in the past. Another great answer considering the jab from earlier in the week. 

Saban said that focusing on the past could lead to a lack of hunger for the future. He said that looking at the past is not important to him.

Update: 10:14 a.m. CT

ESPNU continues to make a great case for keeping Dooley off the hot seat. Again, someone tell those guys that logic doesn't apply when looking at hiring and firing decisions in the SEC.

Tennessee is on the upswing, but wins are what matter. I wouldn't expect a losing season to provide the Vols administration with enough to keep him around. If the Vols miss a bowl game he may be out. 

Update: 10:08 a.m. CT

Alabama tight end Michael Williams has taken to the SEC hot seat. He said that Alabama is looking forward to the coming season and that they never look back for motivation. 

Williams shows a lot of respect for LSU, saying they will be one of the best defenses in the country. He said that he has no problem with them starting as the No.1 team when polls roll out before the season.

Williams went on to say that Kenny Bell and Kevin Norwood have brought the young Alabama receiving corps a long way this summer. He expects the receivers to be ready, and his role to be an every-down type tight end. He wants to create touchdowns in the red zone.

Update: 10:06 a.m. CT

Derek Dooley just called the new playoffs system the plus one format. Well, it is what it is as they say. 

Dooley said that his father was always a fan of the plus one format or a playoffs system. 

Update: 9:55 a.m. CT

Barrett Jones took to the SEC Media Days hot seat and was asked about the Alabama running back position. 

He said that he expects that Alabama will use a running back by committee approach this year like they have in year's past. There is a lot of talent in the Alabama backfield to be utilized this season. 

Jones did say that he expects the De facto starter to be Eddie Lacy. 

Update: 9:45 a.m. CT

Trevor Matich said that Derek Dooley being on the hot seat in year three doesn't make sense if you look at the body of work. 

I agree that logic says give him more time considering the circumstances that surrounded the program when he took over, but this is the SEC. 8 wins or he may be gone.

Update: 9:28 a.m. CT

The ESPNU staff is back at the schedule prediction board. They have moved to the Alabama schedule. 

The crew picks Alabama to finish the season undefeated and to win the SEC Western Division. Arkansas and LSU are two games that are question marks for the Crimson Tide according to the ESPNU pick board. 

Trevor Matich mentions that Zach Mettenberger could be dangerous for the Tigers, but not dangerous enough to stop the Crimson Tide. 

Update: 9:16 a.m. CT

Herman Lathers took to the SEC hot seat earlier and was asked about his injuries. 

Lathers said that he was back to full speed and that good things are coming for the Tennessee defense this fall. Lathers said that "tough times don't last but tough people do." Great quote from him.

No matter what team you pull for, you have to pull for a player like Lathers who has worked through two consecutive injuries to return for the 2012 season.