Adams: Media darlings of the SEC all clad in Orange

DESTIN, Fla. - The SEC spring meetings aren't to be confused with the SEC football or basketball media days.

Football media days might draw 600 media members to Birmingham in July. The spring meetings don't draw 60 media-types.

The media will be the SEC's target audience at those Birmingham gatherings in July and October. The media is an afterthought - or, in some cases, an aggravation - at the spring meetings.

But you couldn't tell that by Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl. While some coaches might have preferred to avoid the media in Destin, Pearl practically sought out anyone with a pad and pen.

He's not just accommodating. He's consistent.

Never mind that he's no longer the first-year coach of a struggling program. Success hasn't changed his approach. He's still pushing and promoting his program, still talking to anyone who will listen.

He's not only conducting business. He's being himself.

And he's a big reason why UT has become a go-to program for the sports media.

Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt and first-year football coach Lane Kiffin are the other reasons.

Summitt has won more games than anyone in her sport. She also has signed more autographs. Those records don't always go together.

She is the biggest celebrity in her sport, but she's extremely approachable. And she still promotes her program as though she has yet to win 100 games, much less 1,000.

Kiffin is more controversial than approachable. In six months as UT's football coach, he has been a godsend for columnists and talk-show hosts - nationally as well as regionally - in college football's off-season.

Once you establish yourself as a pop-off artist, your reputation will endure a transformation. Having taken potshots at other SEC coaches long before his first game, Kiffin doesn't have to utter another insult, in jest or otherwise. His reputation will remain intact.

From a media perspective, it's not just what he has said. It's the anticipation of what he might say.

That anticipation won't go away anytime soon.

So if Kiffin is speaking at a booster club anywhere in the Southeast next spring, you can count on a media presence - just in case.

You might not agree with Kiffin's approach. You might abhor it.

But you shouldn't lose sight of the fact that major college sports are in the entertainment business. And UT benefits from having coaches with entertainment value.

You don't have to follow Pearl for long to realize that.

When basketball coaches broke from a Wednesday meeting last week, Pearl welcomed a sudden surge of media. As he spoke with his usual fervor and animation amidst a small thicket of media, the sign behind him was almost obscured.

"No media allowed," it read.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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