Good laugh made media days worthwhile

The 2005 SEC football media days have come and gone. Thousands upon thousands of words have been written by media types and read by football-starved fans who expected secrets of the upcoming season would be revealed in the three, whirlwind days of coaches and football players whizzing past 700 media members on a conveyer belt.

It didn't happen, of course; no deep, dark secret game plans were revealed, but a good time was had by all.

When you get down to it, that's what media days have become - a three-day party of writers and broadcasters drinking, eating, playing golf and filing enough words to convince the bosses that media days positively have to be covered again next year.

It was all it was hyped up to be. Phillip Fulmer was still arrogant, but at least this year he came and was unafraid that a subpoena was lurking in the hallways of the Wynfrey Hotel. Steve Spurrier was back and managed to act humble and superior at the same time. Tommy Tuberville still knows how to work a room of notepads and microphones as well as any coach around.

But nobody really said anything we didn't already know.

We knew that SEC football coaches consider the SEC the best football league in the nation.

We knew that most successful seasons will depend on keeping two or three key players healthy, with the starting quarterback being No. 1 among them.

We also knew that almost without exception, the players would be wearing the most expensive suits there. With the suits and jewelry flashed by the players present, it's hard to be sympathetic about the idea that players should be paid. Most of the ones at media days must have families in the clothing and/or gold and diamond jewelry industry.

And the coaches all come dressed to the nines, as the old saying goes. And believe me, their suits don't come off the rack.

There were two things that made this particular gathering memorable. First, it was that Fulmer came back to Alabama and the media acted as if it was the most courageous act on the face of the earth since Audie Murphy did his war-time heroics.

I'm not sure what people expected - assassination attempts I suppose - but the idea was ludicrous. Alabama fans don't like Fulmer, but most understand that beating him on the football field would be the best revenge and would hurt Fulmer a lot more than bullets. Of course, shooting him might be easier than beating him, if past history is any indication.

The other thing that was absolutely delightful was the questioning of Georgia coach Mark Richt about opening the season against Boise State.

Richt was asked about the challenge of opening with Boise State, a team that might be ranked higher than Georgia in the preseason poll. To his credit, Richt didn't laugh out loud. He even answered as if he had given it a lot of thought.

"I think it is going to force our players to be even more excited about the first game and force them to be even more prepared," Richt said.

Georgia's players are excited about playing Boise State? In Athens? Between the fabled hedges? How he can say that with a straight face is the greatest performance of media days. It's even better that Fulmer's righteous proclamation that the Logan Young verdict ended cheating in the state of Tennessee.

This Boise State worry from a coach that has Florida, Tennessee and Auburn - real football teams - on his schedule.

Boise State? Don't make me laugh. No, on second thought, go ahead. At least that way I'll get something out of Media Days - a good laugh.