Fans, media react to SEC giving new coaches blue blood opponents in Week 1
The initial reaction among fans and media to the SEC’s release of Week 1 games was that the conference pitted its new coaches against the SEC’s storied blue blood programs.
ESPN broadcaster Rece Davis, in an interview on The Paul Finebaum Show, called it a “baptism of fire.”
Davis pointed out that new Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz will face Alabama, first-year Arkansas coach Sam Pittman will meet his old boss in Kirby Smart and Georgia, and Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss will get a meeting with fellow offensive guru in Dan Mullen and Florida.
There were some rumors in recent days that the SEC might front-load rivalry games with the likes of Alabama-Auburn and Florida-Georgia, for example. But instead, the league stayed well away from any sort of rivalry game as the top game of the week discussion quickly shifted to Kentucky-Auburn or Mississippi State-LSU.
If you missed the Week 1 schedule release, here it is:
Alabama at Missouri
Florida at Ole Miss
Georgia at Arkansas
Kentucky at Auburn
Mississippi State at LSU
Tennessee at South Carolina
Vanderbilt at Texas A&M
Here’s a collection of initial reactions from fans and media:
Welcome to the SEC. Week 1 opponents for the new head coaches. Eliah Drinkwitz hosts Alabama, Sam Pittman hosts old team Georgia, Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss hosts Florida, Mike Leach and Miss State visit the reigning national champs.
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) August 17, 2020
First games on the job: Eli Drinkwitz gets Bama; Lane gets Florida; Sam Pittman gets Georgia; Leach gets LSU. Welcome to the big chair in the SEC, men! https://t.co/72abUQGEEC
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 17, 2020
If Eli Drinkwitz beats Alabama in Week 1, he immediately goes in the Hall of Fame. On the spot. pic.twitter.com/B3M9FAz4OS
— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeSlabaugh) August 17, 2020
Debut games for new SEC coaches:
🐯 Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri) vs. Alabama
🔵 Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss) vs. Florida
🐷 Sam Pittman (Arkansas) vs. Georgia
🐶 Mike Leach (Mississippi State) at LSUWelcome to the club, y’all.https://t.co/lWh2bKnYTC
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) August 17, 2020
Also, punch a hole in the theory that the SEC would “front-load” its schedule in case the season gets shut down early.
What’s the Week 1 headliner? Mississippi State vs. LSU?
— Creg Stephenson (@CregStephenson) August 17, 2020
Lane Kiffin vs Dan Mullen in week 1. pic.twitter.com/3eGIXHVx01
— NICK KAYAL (@NickKayal) August 17, 2020
Whelp….so @Coach_Leach and @Lane_Kiffin wanted to coach in the SEC….welcome to the league. Here comes the defending NCs and Mullen. #HailState @HailStateFB #gowdawgs @bobounds
— JMallard (@JMallard) August 17, 2020
Potential week 1 trap game:
Georgia at Arkansas. Pittman has those boys fired up after being thrashed in their cross-divisional lineups. Feleipe Franks has a lot to prove after losing out to Trask at UF.
With the changes Georgia made on offense, they could come out slow.
— Will Craig (@WillCraigCFB) August 17, 2020
Mike Leach’s 1st game as the HC of Mississippi State will be on the road vs the Defending National Champion LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge in front of a limited crowd in Tiger Stadium assuming the season is played.
Imagine typing that sentence a year ago today. https://t.co/ll2sXwZ1Hy
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) August 17, 2020