SEC Media Days 2014: Saban takes center stage on final day

University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed the media Thursday afternoon during the final session of SEC Media Days 2014.

As per the usual order of business at the annual media (circus) gathering, Saban began the proceedings with a general statement which touched on several notable issues. Those issues included, but were not limited to, the current "culture" within young people, proper discipline of said young people/players, and the importance of student-athlete development in all aspects of life.

Saban also spoke, just briefly, on life as a grandfather.

Nick Saban arrives at SEC Media Days at The Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala. pic.twitter.com/mfbDqf62on
— Bill Wilson (@bwilson_star) July 17, 2014

Following his opening statement, Saban fielded a plethora of questions from various media members. The questions, as usual, were wide-ranging. While a few questions directly involved the state of the 2014 Alabama football team and program, many covered a broader spectrum relative to SEC and national issues in college football, his interest (or lack thereof) in the Texas job, and topics concerning the NFL.

In respect to disciplinary actions regarding current Tide roster players, Saban noted that running back Kenyan Drake and defensive lineman Jarran Reed have been suspended from team activities, but will be able to return to action once they meet the required (undisclosed) terms.

--Click HERE to read the full transcript--

SEC Media Days 2014: Alabama crowned king of the SEC

Sportswriters packed the Wynfrey Hotel this week for the 2014 edition of SEC Media Days, and this morning, on the final day of the annual media circus, the SEC “Prom King” and his runners-up were selected.

Below is the projected order of finish for each division, as well as the projected conference champion.

As per usual, using last year as the ideal example, these prognostications could very well provide great fodder come early December.

Alabama is the preseason media pick to win the SEC for the 6th time. Media was wrong in each of the previous 5 ('93, 2000, '10, '11 and '13)
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) July 17, 2014

EASTERN DIVISION

South Carolina 1,895
Georgia 1,777
Florida 1,362
Missouri 1,263
Tennessee 893
Vanderbilt 619
Kentucky 395

WESTERN DIVISION

Alabama 1,915
Auburn 1,735
LSU 1,453
Ole Miss 1,069
Miss. State 890
Texas A&M 791
Arkansas 351

SEC CHAMPION

Alabama 154
Auburn 75
South Carolina 32
Georgia 19
LSU 9
Ole Miss 2
Arkansas 1
Mississippi State 1

Alabama/USC should have been a home-and-home series

As documented earlier today per various news outlets, Alabama and USC will clash in Arlington, Texas at the Cowboys Classic to begin the 2016 season.

Alabama, USC will meet for the first time since the 1985 Aloha Bowl http://t.co/SAdwaAYsR7 pic.twitter.com/JFR51ogMBq
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 16, 2014

While Alabama is no stranger to "kickoff" type games, in both Arlington and Atlanta, Georgia, under the cover of the Georgia Dome, I'd love to see a rare moment where the money walks, rather than the logic.

Last month, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish agreed to an on-campus home-and-home series in 2017 and 2019. Upon this news hitting the wire, college football fans all over the nation applauded the move, while commending both schools. Why? Because true college football fans, and college football traditionalists, understand that collegiate games were never meant to be played inside an NFL stadium, a baseball stadium, on the moon, etc.

The almighty dollar has thrown a monkey wrench into tradition. Period.

Great that Alabama and USC will open the 2016 season in Dallas. Third Dallas opener in five years for UA, which seems like enough.
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) July 16, 2014

Alabama/USC is amazing, and I'm certainly looking forward to the game, but I'm not looking forward to the neutral site in Arlington, Texas.

How cool would it have been to see USC come to Tuscaloosa, and then watch the Crimson Tide return the favor and head to Los Angeles to conclude a home-and-home series? Well, you know how cool it would have been. We all know how cool it would have been.

I'm a fan of major non-conference powers going head-to-head, but I'm also a fan of the campus scene.

I'm well aware that "money talks and logic walks," but as mentioned above, I'd love for logic to hang around more often...for the sake of tradition.

Recruiting and legal issues highlight UA's month in review

Before Alabama head coach Nick Saban takes the podium at SEC Media Days, here is a quick "month in review" in terms of the Crimson Tide program.

Recruiting

Verbal commitment Blake Barnett, a dual-threat quarterback from California, stole the show at the high school showcase known as The Opening.

Winning Elite11 quarterback competition MVP honors, Barnett displayed his impressive skill set against the most highly touted high school players in the nation.

Congratulations to the 2014 #Elite11 MVP Blake Barnett (@BlakeBarnett_8) of Corona Santiago #KeepClimbing #RollTide pic.twitter.com/NjyKn5UunI
— Elite11 (@Elite11) July 11, 2014

UA verbals Lester Cotton and Calvin Ridley were also quite impressive at The Opening.

Click HERE for an article on both Barnett and Ridley.

In respect to the 2016 signing class, the Crimson Tide have received a total of three verbal commitments. All listed as four-star prospects per 247Sports, defensive back Shyheim Carter, defensive tackle Benito Jones, and athlete Demetris Robertson have all pledged to the Tide within the span of five days. Carter and Robertson both committed on the morning of July 15.

Legal issues

Running back Kenyan Drake and defensive lineman Jarran Reed were both arrested earlier this month.

Involved in separate incidents within roughly one week of time, Drake was arrested in the early hours of July 5 and charged with obstructing governmental operations after he crossed police tape in an attempt to retrieve his vehicle.

Reed, a highly touted junior college transfer who signed with the Crimson Tide in February, was arrested July 13 and charged with DUI.

Jersey numbers

If "who's wearing what" is important to you, Alabama has released a jersey numbers listing for all newcomers and any player who changed numbers from last season.

Trophy time

While not directly related to Alabama at this time, here's hoping the piece of hardware pictured below will be of major importance to the Crimson Tide in a matter of months.

Under the new playoff format, the College Football Playoff trophy was officially unveiled earlier this week. Personally, I think it looks like an Olympic torch...

A new era, a new trophy. pic.twitter.com/anXBuxO7uV
— CFB Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) July 14, 2014

Player representatives

As a quick reminder, the Crimson Tide football team will be represented by Landon Collins, Amari Cooper, and Christion Jones at SEC Media Days this Thursday.