Alabama won’t make the rounds at SEC Media Days 2018 until Wednesday, July 18, but Day 2 of the conference’s annual media event still featured some chatter surrounding the Crimson Tide. Below is what opposing coaches and players said about Alabama on Day 2 of SEC Media Days. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart Question: How often have you seen the game tape of the National Championship game, just a few steps from here? “Yeah. We watched it and evaluated it as a staff afterwards. Obviously I see it on replays and different ESPN highlights. I got to watch it early with the "Get Up!" With Mike Greenberg. I thought they might open with the SEC Championship, but of course not. That's part of it. I think we embrace that as coaches. I think that's something that you guys think about a lot, but not really us. “We're on to the next year. We are on to the new recruit. We're on to the next strategy, whether tactical, medical or physical. We're constantly looking for the next edge to get the next edge for next year. It's something we don't have to rehash all of the time. “I think how players will use that experience to grow, and I think that's big for our program and understanding that if you do things a certain way, that you can get to certain places. We just have to be able to finish it when we get there.” Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa Georgia defensive back J.R. Reed On how many times have you watched the last play from the national championship… “I haven’t watched it a lot. I have watched the whole film. I watched the game now a few times now. When it happens, it just happens. You know it is what it is. Those plays happen in football. Coach just tells us to do more.” Ole Miss quarterback Jordan Ta'amu On his relationship with Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa… “Me and Tua train all the time back home – me and him, and his dad and his little brother and a bunch of kids back home. Me and Tua have a great relationship, he’s a great guy. Last year I talked to him after the Alabama game, and he was doing really well. It’s good to see him blow up, blow up the SEC. If he is the starting quarterback, I’m excited to play against him. It’s going to be a big game. Hawaii versus Hawaii, and it’ll be exciting. I know the fans back home are excited for that game as well.” Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke Question: I wanted to ask you about a couple of key members of your staff. One you retained going into your second full year -- Freddie Roach along the defensive line. I just spoke to Josiah Coatney. He spoke very highly of him and the impact he made. “Starting with Freddie Roach, we're really fortunate to have him. He is a rising star in this profession. The thing he does best is he has an unbelievable relationship with his players. I think that also carries over into recruiting. “But the relationship he has with his players, his players love him. They trust him. I think to be a successful coach, they got to know you care with about them. I think they know that about Freddie.” Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).<doc-sep>Happy Friday, everyone. SEC Media Days are now behind us and we are right at two weeks from the opening of fall camp. The ACC had their event this week as well and, as you’d expect, Bobby Petrino was asked about Alabama. “You know, and I don’t think that our guys are extra excited about it,” Petrino told reporters in Charlotte, according to transcripts, “but I think it motivated them throughout the winter, throughout spring ball, throughout the summer workouts to work extremely hard.” It’s a mindset playing in games like this. ”The number one thing we have to do is believe that we can go down there and beat them so that when you truly believe in something, then you go out and play your best, play to your best of your ability, and that’s what’s important for us. If there’s any disbelief at all, usually you underachieve, and that’s the main thing we can’t do. We need to go play our best game to give us an opportunity to win.” You have to wonder what the Louisville players are really thinking about. The last time Alabama had a point spread like this in the opener, Virginia Tech gave the defending champs a tough time on offense, knocking AJ McCarron around quite a bit while successfully limiting the run game. Of course, that was back when Alabama was still playing methodically on offense, and the Hokies had a salty defense that allowed only 4.5 yards per play and 283 total yards per game on the season. This Louisville squad has only four returning starters and hired Brian Van Gorder to try and piece things together for a unit that was rather underwhelming in 2017. Has to be tough to sell these kids that they have a real shot. Hey, somebody asked Kiffin about the Alabama QBs, and he decided to fire up some more controversy. Lane Kiffin told me what he thinks Nick Saban will do w/Alabama QB situation: “He’ll play them both in the opener, so one doesn’t leave” — Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 19, 2018 Then we have Blake Barnett chiming in. Blake seems to harbor some real resentment. I guess it’s Saban’s fault he was beat out at Arizona State, too. Alabama’s social media team seems to stay in hot water with Twitter. A remixed song used in a video posted by the account was pinged as a copyright violation that led to the Twitter timeout. The account was back up and running by Thursday afternoon. It was the fourth copyright strike against @AlabamaFTBL in 2018 after receiving two last year, according to the Lumen Database that tracks DMCA notices. Social media has created a mess where property rights are concerned. Wrapping up SEC Media Days, we had Auburn, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina. “Offensively, the big thing that stands out to me is our quarterback’s back, and this is only the second time since I’ve been at Auburn in nine years that our quarterback’s back, so I think that’s a--very positive,” Malzahn. “[Stidham is] very talented. You know, we -- the way he was playing, middle part of the year, end of the year was really phenomenal. I said this before, but from a quarterback standpoint, in this league, experience, there’s nothing like it. Because the defenses are different than other leagues, and I just really like the way he handled himself. He’s a very tough young man, mentally and physically. And I think our offense is in very good hands going into this second year.” Gus also now agrees with Saban on the nine game conference schedule. Related Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason predicts big things for underdog Commodores “We did a poor job of letting one loss translate into two and two turn into three,” Shurmur said. “We let one game affect the next week.” “While everybody has been watching what is on the surface everything, the only thing we lacked is quality depth,” Mason said. “And for the first time in my tenure, I have it.” The loss in question was served with a big slice of humble pie. Related What South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said at SEC Media Days 2018 Nick is the best coach in college football because of the accomplishments he’s had. He’s done an outstanding job running his program from a scheme standpoint, from a recruiting standpoint, from a development standpoint. You name it, he does an outstanding job. Athletic Directors are always looking for the next mold of what that could be. And I think that’s what’s provided myself and other guys opportunities. Not to say that we haven’t done a good job and a job in the role that we had with Nick, but that gives you opportunities to get, you know, a chance to be a head coffee. But at the end of the day, I guess if you do have more odds, you got a chance somebody’s going to eventually beat him. Hopefully we’ll continue to get that to happen. Hopefully that will be a while yet. We’ll wrap up Media Days week with a little music for you. That is spectacular. That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend. Roll Tide.<doc-sep>ATLANTA -- The SEC has been loaded with talent for generations, and the 2018 season will be no different. The preseason All-SEC team, as voted on by the media at SEC Media Days, was released on Friday and it's littered with high-profile names that are well known to the college football world. Missouri's Drew Lock beat out Auburn's Jarrett Stidham, Georgia's Jake Fromm and Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald for first-team honors at quarterback. Noticeably absent at the quarterback spot are Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, both of whom played big parts on the Crimson Tide's journey to the 2017 national title. In fact, Fromm and Fitzgerald tied for third-team honors. At running back, Kentucky's Benny Snell and Alabama's Damien Harris landed on the first team. Here's the full list (* indicates a tie). OFFENSE First-Team: QB Drew Lock, Missouri RB Damien Harris, Alabama RB Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri OL Jonah Williams, Alabama OL Greg Little, Ole Miss OL Martez Ivey, Florida OL Trey Smith, Tennessee C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama DEFENSE First-Team: DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama DL Cece Jefferson, Florida DL Montez Sweat, Mississippi State DL Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State LB Devin White, LSU LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama LB Mack Wilson, Alabama DB Deandre Baker, Georgia DB Greedy Williams, LSU DB J.R. Reed, Georgia DB Deionte Thompson, Alabama OFFENSE Second-Team: QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M WR Terry Godwin, Georgia WR Ryan Davis, Auburn TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia OL Lester Cotton, Alabama OL Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas OL Garrett Brumfield, LSU C Lamont Gaillard, Georgia DEFENSE Second-Team: DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia DL Terry Beckner, Missouri DL Derrick Brown, Auburn DL Isaiah Buggs, Alabama LB Josh Allen, Kentucky LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn LB D'Andre Walker, Georgia DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida DB Jamel Dean, Auburn DB CJ Henderson, Florida OFFENSE Third-Team: *QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State *QB Jake Fromm, Georgia RB Aeris Williams, Mississippi State RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri TE C.J. Conrad, Kentucky OL Matt Womack, Alabama OL Zack Bailey, South Carolina OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss OL Marquel Harrell, Auburn C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M DEFENSE Third-Team: DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn *DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M *DL Landis Durham, Texas A&M LB Dylan Moses, Alabama LB David Reese, Florida LB De'Jon Harris, Arkansas DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State DB Marco Wilson, Florida DB Javaris Davis, Auburn DB Santos Ramirez, Arkansas SPECIALISTS First-Team: P Corey Fatony, Missouri PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia Returner Deebo Samuel, South Carolina All-purpose Deebo Samuel, South Carolina SPECIALISTS Second-Team: P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina PK Daniel LaCamera, Texas A&M Returner Mecole Hardman, Georgia All-purpose Trevon Diggs, Alabama SPECIALISTS Third-Team: P Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU PK Tucker McCann, Missouri Returner Trevon Diggs, Alabama All-purpose Kadarius Toney, Florida<doc-sep>
USA TODAY Sports Reigning national champion Alabama has been picked to win the Southeastern Conference championship in a preseason media poll. Alabama was selected by 193 of the 284 voters this week at SEC media days. Georgia, last year’s SEC champion which lost to Alabama in the national championship game, was second with 69 votes. Only six times since 1992 has the predicted champion at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC championship. Auburn received 14 votes. South Carolina, the choice of four voters, and Florida, with two, were the only other teams named on more than one ballot. TEN BEST: Quarterbacks | Running back | Wide receivers | Tight ends POWER RANKINGS: American | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten HOT SEAT:Ten college football coaches with jobs on line entering this season The predicted order of finish in the SEC West was Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, LSU, Mississippi and Arkansas. Georgia was picked first in the East, followed by South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Alabama had seven first-team picks on the media’s preseason all-SEC team. The Crimson Tide enters the 2018 campaign having won a league-leading 26 SEC Championships in program history, including three of the last four conference titles. SEC Media Days preseason poll East Division 1 Georgia (271)*: 1,977 points 2 South Carolina (8): 1,535 3 Florida (4): 1,441 4 Missouri: 1,057 5 Kentucky (1): 874 6 Tennessee (1): 704 7 Vanderbilt: 392 West Division 1 Alabama (263): 1,971 2 Auburn (19): 1,664 3 Mississippi State (2): 1,239 4 Texas A&M: 1,091 5 LSU: 1,025 6 Ole Miss: 578 7 Arkansas: 412 *first-place votes in parentheses 2018 preseason All-SEC team OFFENSE First team QB Drew Lock, Missouri RB Damien Harris, Alabama RB Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri OL Jonah Williams, Alabama OL Greg Little, Ole Miss OL Martez Ivey, Florida OL Trey Smith, Tennessee C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama Second team QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M WR Terry Godwin, Georgia WR Ryan Davis, Auburn TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia OL Andrew Thomas, Georgia OL Lester Cotton, Alabama OL Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas OL Garrett Brumfield, LSU C Lamont Gaillard, Georgia Third team *QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State *QB Jake Fromm, Georgia RB Aeris Williams, Mississippi State RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri TE C.J. Conrad, Kentucky OL Matt Womack, Alabama OL Zack Bailey, South Carolina OL Javon Patterson, Ole Miss OL Marquel Harrell, Auburn C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M DEFENSE First team DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama DL Cece Jefferson, Florida DL Montez Sweat, Mississippi State DL Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State LB Devin White, LSU LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama LB Mack Wilson, Alabama DB Deandre Baker, Georgia DB Greedy Williams, LSU DB J.R. Reed, Georgia DB Deionte Thompson, Alabama Second team DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia DL Terry Beckner, Missouri DL Derrick Brown, Auburn DL Isaiah Buggs, Alabama LB Josh Allen, Kentucky LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn LB D'Andre Walker, Georgia DB Mike Edwards, Kentucky DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida DB Jamel Dean, Auburn DB CJ Henderson, Florida Third team DL Dontavius Russell, Auburn DL Rashard Lawrence, LSU DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn *DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M *DL Landis Durham, Texas A&M LB Dylan Moses, Alabama LB David Reese, Florida LB De'Jon Harris, Arkansas DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State DB Marco Wilson, Florida DB Javaris Davis, Auburn DB Santos Ramirez, Arkansas SPECIAL TEAMS First team P Corey Fatony, Missouri PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia RS Deebo Samuel, South Carolina AP Deebo Samuel, South Carolina Second team P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina PK Daniel LaCamera, Texas A&M RS Mecole Hardman, Georgia AP Trevon Diggs, Alabama Third team P Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU PK Tucker McCann, Missouri RS Trevon Diggs, Alabama AP Kadarius Toney, Florida * - Indicates a tie