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SEC Football Media Days 2017: 5 notable quotes from Day 1

By John Buhler

COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 25: Brett Bielema head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks watches his team warm up prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 25: Brett Bielema head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks watches his team warm up prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Head coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers watches action during a game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Neyland Stadium on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Head coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers watches action during a game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Neyland Stadium on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

4. Butch Jones, Tennessee Volunteers head coach

On some of the new coaches to his staff…”It’s 4th of July, my phone is going off, and it’s Brady Hoke.” – Butch Jones, Tennessee Volunteers head coach.

It’s going to be an interesting year for Tennessee football. There are a lot of changes, most notably to the leaders on the field. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs now backs up Ben Roethlisberger with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Defensive end Derek Barnett is now defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s secret weapon coming off the edge for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones might have lost his two best talents to the State of Pennsylvania, but at least he gained Brady Hoke to his coaching staff, right? Overall, Jones is very fired up about the new guys joining his staff. Hoke may have been a disaster as a head coach for the Michigan Wolverines, but Tennessee got an absolute steal in a defensive line coach. Hoke had previously been up in Eugene as a part of Mark Helfrich’s Oregon Ducks staff that is no more.

Bringing in a coach that is as passionate about getting to work with Tennessee football as Hoke is has to be huge for the Tennessee program. Frankly, Tennessee missed their shot to win the SEC East the last two years. Georgia was in flux and Florida still managed to win the division without competent quarterback play.

4th of July is about relaxing, but not for Hoke or really Tennessee football. The Volunteers will not be picked to win the SEC East at SEC Media Days. They might finish as low as fifth in the East depending on how the SEC media views the Kentucky Wildcats or the South Carolina Gamecocks. While Jones didn’t give us a quote about being a champion of life, “It’s 4th of July, my phone is going off and it’s Brady Hoke” has to make SEC fans snicker and Vols fans fired up for fall Saturdays.

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