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Recapping the Week 14 SEC Coaches’ Media Teleconference through tweets

Ethan Levine

By Ethan Levine

Published:

Wednesday’s SEC Coaches’ Media Teleconference was abbreviated due to the holiday week, but here’s a collection of noteworthy comments from the SEC’s coaches on this week’s teleconference:

Nick Saban — Alabama’s head coach was asked about arch-rival Auburn in advance of this weekend’s Iron Bowl, and Saban had plenty of praise for his in-state opponent a year after the Tigers spoiled the Tide’s undefeated regular season.

Saban also spent some time talking about his own team on the teleconference, specifically his seniors, in advance of Saturday’s home finale.

Bret Bielema — Arkansas is fresh off back to back shutout wins over a pair of ranked opponents, marking the first time in college football history an unranked team has shut out two ranked opponents in two straight weeks. However, Bielema spent much of Wednesday’s teleconference discussing his quarterbacks, and more specifically the health of starting quarterback Brandon Allen.

https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/537630454740824064

Brandon Allen was injured in the second quarter of last week’s win over Ole Miss and sat out the rest of the game as a result.

Gus Malzahn — Auburn’s head coach was asked plenty of questions about Saturday’s Iron Bowl showdown with Alabama, and he responded by discussing the importance of his upperclassmen entering the intense rivalry game.

Will Muschamp — Florida’s lame-duck coach will have an opportunity to end his tenure in Gainesville with a bang by upsetting undefeated Florida State in his final game Saturday. However, the media didn’t have much to ask Muschamp as he prepares for his final game as coach of the Gators.

Mark Richt — Georgia is preparing to face in-state rival Georgia Tech in Saturday’s regular season finale, but the fate of the Dawgs’ season actually lies in Missouri’s game against Arkansas on Saturday (Georgia needs an Arkansas win to win the SEC East). Nevertheless, Richt told the media his team will not be focusing on the Mizzou game Friday and instead will keep its focus on Tech.

Mark Stoops — Kentucky must win this week to clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010, but as far as Stoops is concerned this week is simply about beating in-state rival Louisville and regaining supremacy in the Bluegrass.

Les Miles — Miles didn’t say much on his portion of the teleconference as the Tigers’ regular season finale against Texas A&M is now just one day away. However, he did give a brief overview of what he’s seen out of A&M during prep work this week.

Gary Pinkel — Missouri must win on Friday to capture its second straight SEC East title, and Pinkel reflected on the Tigers last loss (ironically against Georgia, the team it’s aiming to stave off for first in the East) as the turning point in the current season.

Hugh Freeze — The Ole Miss head man discussed the significance of Saturday’s Egg Bowl rivalry, especially after the Rebels lost in heartbreaking fashion overtime last season, but the most important nugget he shared with the media concerned the health of starting quarterback Bo Wallace.

Wallace was injured in the second quarter of last week’s loss to Arkansas, missing two series before returning to the field. It appears he’ll be a go for Saturday against Mississippi State.

Dan Mullen — Mullen was asked about his team’s ongoing 10-win campaign in 2014, and he credited his experienced team, especially his seniors, for much of this year’s success. Mississippi State returned more starters from last season than any other team in the SEC.

He also discussed playing in the SEC and specifically in the SEC West, which became the first division in history to send seven teams bowling in the same season.

Steve Spurrier — Week 14 is poised to be a big week for Spurrier as he prepares for his 400th career game and a huge rivalry showdown with Clemson. Nonetheless, perhaps the most interesting thing he said on Wednesday’s teleconference regarded the Arkansas Razorbacks, whose game Friday night has no bearing on South Carolina’s season whatsoever.

Butch Jones — Tennessee must win on Saturday to earn bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010, and that feat shouldn’t be too challenging with a trip to Vanderbilt on the schedule. The Commodores have used a carousel of quarterbacks this season, and Wednesday Jones took his best guess as to who might start under center for the Dores this weekend.

Kevin Sumlin — Sorry, Aggie fans, Sumlin managed to avoid questions for yet another week on Wednesday’s teleconference.

However, he did share these thoughts about the Thanksgiving holiday as his team prepares to take on LSU in its season finale on Thanksgiving night.

https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/537633333002256384

Derek Mason — Mason and the Commodores have gone all-in on their rivalry with Tennessee, refusing to even utter the word during media availability this week (they’ve gone with the moniker “the team out East”). However, the Commodores are also entering this showdown fresh off a 51-0 beatdown at the hands of Mississippi State. Nevertheless, Mason said his team is shrugging off the loss and not letting it affect their preparation for the Vols this weekend.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.

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