SEC Media Day Coverage Continues

With college football season right around the corner, coverage of Day Two from SEC Media Days will continue in Hoover, Alabama today.

Yesterday, football coaches from the Southeastern Conference took the podium to address the media about offseason developments. Some of the coaches present included Jim McElwain of Florida, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, and second year Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason.

As Jim McElwain enters his first year as head coach of the Gators, expectations for greatness are certainly implied. The Orange and Blue finished 7-5 last year (4-4 in the SEC) and beat East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.

“It’s kind of great to have the expectations,” McElwain explained. “That’s something we look forward to and we embrace.”

McElwain’s Gators will kick off their season with a night game on September 5th when the New Mexico State Aggies visit The Swamp.

Head coach Gus Malzahn has his own expectations for Auburn after finishing last season with a record of 8-5 (4-4 in the SEC) and a loss to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl. The Tigers enter this year with a new defensive coordinator, former Florida head coach Will Muschamp. Malzahn is entering his third season at Auburn, carrying a 20-7 overall record that has been plagued by two consecutive bowl game losses.

“Our theme this year is ‘Count on me,'” Malzahn says. “Our players to be able to count on each other on and off the field.”

After Vanderbilt’s disappointing 3-9 season (0-8 in the SEC), second year head coach Derek Mason says he accepts full responsibility for the failures of last season.

“We weren’t a very competitive football team in 2014,” Mason admitted. “And that’s on me.”

Head coaches were also accompanied by the SEC’s newly appointed Commissioner Greg Sankey on Monday. Sankey says he will focus on three words during his tenure: “Scholars, Champions, and Leaders.”

Sankey is entering his 13th year as an SEC staff member and he succeeds Mike Slive as SEC commissioner.

Audio from this story can be found below.