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Here is a look at what each SEC coach had to say during Wednesday’s teleconference:
Les Miles, LSU
On grass in Baton Rouge vs. Tuscaloosa:
Les Miles gets a grass question: "I have enjoyed the grass in Baton Rouge much more…They take great care of their grass in Tuscaloosa too"
— Ben Jones (@BW_Jones) November 4, 2015
On being ranked No. 2 by the College Football Playoff committee:
#LSU coach Les Miles: LSU No. 2 ranking is reflective of what the team has done to this point. It’s nice to be in the conversation.
— JimKleinpeter (@JimKleinpeter) November 4, 2015
Miles: "There's a great lesson to be learned last year when Ohio state was ranked 14th in this time. We recognize this is premature." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 4, 2015
Shawn Elliott, South Carolina
On playing Tennessee at this point in the season:
Shawn Elliott on the SEC teleconference: "All in all, (Tennessee) is a team playing with a lot of confidence and is very dangerous."
— David Cloninger (@DCPandC) November 4, 2015
On injuries:
Elliott: Deebo Samuel was able to practice last night. "We'll re-evaluate him later today in practice."
— David Cloninger (@DCPandC) November 4, 2015
On usage of Perry Orth at QB:
Elliott believes Perry Orth has given #Gamecocks a consistent effort at QB. #UofSC
— Willie Smith (@willie_t_smith) November 4, 2015
Jim McElwain, Florida
On finally playing another home game:
#Gators coach Jim McElwain on Vanderbilt game: 'It seems like a home opener,'' first home game since Oct. 3 vs. Ole Miss.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) November 4, 2015
On handling talk of rankings and other praise of team:
"I don't downplay it because it's there. And you know, they should be excited by some of the noise they're making.''– McElwain on buzz
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 4, 2015
On QB Treon Harris:
"He's confident in what he's doing. We'll continue to grow with him and we believe in him.'' — McElwain on Harris
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 4, 2015
On Alabama/LSU game:
McElwain on getting several #LSU-Bama questions: (laughing) "Is nobody at Alabama going to answer any of these?"
— Marcus Rodrigue (@RodrigueRetort) November 4, 2015
Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
On progress the team has shown this season:
Derek Mason on Vandy's progress as a team this season: "We have more of an identity in who we are."
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) November 4, 2015
On belonging in the SEC:
Derek Mason said it was important to win an SEC game (beating Missouri), because it proved Vanderbilt belongs in conference.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) November 4, 2015
Nick Saban, Alabama
On whether he has any superstitions similar to Les Miles eating grass:
Saban declines to share things he does for good luck. "I'd like to keep those secret." Guessing rubbing Lane Kiffin's head is one, though
— John Zenor (@jzenor) November 4, 2015
Saban doesn't ever remember chewing on a blade of grass before a game for good luck. "I have a lot of good luck things, but that's not one."
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 4, 2015
On LSU RB Leonard Fournette:
Saban on Fournette: "He makes a lot of people miss, power to break tackles." Not lost on Nick that he's catching the ball more. #LSU
— Scott Rabalais (@RabalaisAdv) November 4, 2015
On College Football Playoff rankings:
Nick Saban says midseason playoff rankings don't matter: "I don't even know why they do them."
— Ben Jones (@BW_Jones) November 4, 2015
Butch Jones, Tennessee
On South Carolina standouts:
Butch Jones calls Pharoh Cooper one of the best players in the country and Skai Moore one of the best LBs in #SEC #Gamecocks #UofSC
— Willie Smith (@willie_t_smith) November 4, 2015
On status of team:
. @UTCoachJones on #SEC call: We continue to improve, continue to progress. Now we need to take the next step.
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 4, 2015
Bret Bielema, Arkansas
On Ole Miss defense:
Bielema: I've been as impressed with (Ole Miss') defensive unit in my time in this league as with anybody
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) November 4, 2015
On injuries:
Bret Bielema: WR Cody Hollister worked in more yesterday, will accompany team on trip to Ole Miss; looks like he's on brink of playing
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) November 4, 2015
On film study for Ole Miss:
Sign of the times: Bret Bielema just said it was really hard to find quality tape to study defenses because his offense is so unique.
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) November 4, 2015
Gary Pinkel, Missouri
On performance of DE Charles Harris:
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/661956214004187136
On suspended QB Maty Mauk:
Pinkel on Mauk: Any player that has a problem – not just Maty – if we feel it's one counseling is needed, we want to help our players.
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 4, 2015
On LB Kentrell Brothers and Butkus Award snub:
https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/661956548436955136
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss
On last season’s shutout loss to Arkansas:
Freeze on last season's loss: "I don't know how that effects them, but as a coach that's a motivation for me."
— Courtney Asher Smith (@CourtneyHoops90) November 4, 2015
On Auburn defensive front:
Freeze says Auburn's front (with Lawson) was the second-best front he has played against all year.
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) November 4, 2015
On return of Tony Conner:
Freeze on Tony Conner: I do expect him to play. He looked good in practice yesterday. #olemiss
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 4, 2015
Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
On usage of freshman QB Kyler Murray last week:
Sumlin: had more of a complete game plan for Kyler. It gave him more tools to be able to utilize. He's always been a confident passer.
— The 12th Man Quarterback (@12thManQB) November 4, 2015
On benching of QB Kyle Allen:
Sumlin on Kyle Allen: "I don't know if anybody is going to be happy about not starting but he has been a great teammate."
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) November 4, 2015
On Auburn DE Carl Lawson:
Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin on SEC teleconference calls Auburn's Carl Lawson "one of the elite players in this league. He's a difference-maker"
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) November 4, 2015
Mark Stoops, Kentucky
On the performance of his offensive line:
Stoops on offensive line: We’ve put them in some tough blocking assignments and we haven’t held up as well as we’d like to.
— Jen Smith (@ByJenSmith) November 4, 2015
On a players only meeting that was held by team:
Stoops on players’ only meeting: “I hope it has a positive effect. It’s nothing earth shattering.”
— Jen Smith (@ByJenSmith) November 4, 2015
On missing big-play elements from injured RB Boom Williams:
Stoops on Boom Williams' absence: "We're going to have to have somebody else step up."
— Jon Hale (@JonHale_HL) November 4, 2015
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
On Missouri QB Drew Lock:
Mullen said he expects Lock to be gaining more comfort. Has seen improvement on film the last couple games.
— Tod Palmer (@todpalmer) November 4, 2015
On QB Dak Prescott’s involvement during senior season:
Mullen says Dak Prescott has a lot of say in MSU's game plan.
— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) November 4, 2015
On beating Missouri while on the staff at Bowling Green:
Mullen on those two Bowling Green wins over Mizzou: "We had an excellent team and it really catapulted us into the national spotlight."
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 4, 2015
Mark Richt, Georgia
On quarterback situation:
Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey have gotten most of the reps with the first unit, Mark Richt says. "Not ruling out" Faton Bauta starting.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) November 4, 2015
Richt said there's "not a big difference" between Lambert and Ramsey
— Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) November 4, 2015
Richt also says that he was surprised Bauta starting got out prior to the Florida game, so take his statement on QBs with a grain of salt.
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) November 4, 2015
Gus Malzahn, Auburn
On injuries to starting QB and RB:
Auburn's Gus Malzahn on Sean White, Peyton Barber: "They were out there at practice yesterday. We'll see as we get going through the week."
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) November 4, 2015
On being competitive in spite of 4-4 record:
Malzahn on comments about competing with any team in country: All losses but 1 were by 8 points or less. Feels like team close to next step
— AUBlog (@AUBlog) November 4, 2015
On outlook for defense with return of DE Carl Lawson:
Malzahn: Now that we got Carl back, I really feel like you'll see improvement (on defense)
— AUBlog (@AUBlog) November 4, 2015
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
