Behind the Curtain at SEC Media Days
An inside look at Mississippi State’s appearance in Hoover.
Joel Coleman, Senior Writer
7/22/2021
With coffee in hand, Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach arrived at the George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville shortly after 11 a.m. on Wednesday. A quick flight across the state line over to Hoover, Alabama, awaited.
Leach and a pair of his Bulldogs, linebacker Aaron Brule and receiver Austin Williams, were set to represent the maroon and white at Southeastern Conference Media Days. But not before Leach had his caffeine.
“It’s just the first cup,” Leach said.
More would surely follow. A long afternoon sat in front of Leach and his players. They’d soon be arriving at The Hyatt Regency-Wynfrey Hotel and would be whisked from room to room, giving media members a glimpse of the fast-approaching season.
With feet still on the ground in Starkville though, Leach quickly glanced around to gauge everyone’s appearance. He seemed to like what he saw.
“Everybody’s got their Bulldog ties on,” Leach noted.
Everyone that was, except Leach.
“I’d like to strangle the guy that invented ties,” Leach said, and would repeat several times later in the day. “Who even thought of it?”
Leach’s disdain for ties notwithstanding, when the plane took off headed eastward, there Leach was putting on his own tie. Yes, with a Bulldog on it.
Why not, right? This was a big day. It marked Leach’s first-ever appearance as a head coach at SEC Media Days after last year’s event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Leach would’ve no doubt been more comfortable experiencing it all wearing shorts and a T-shirt, there’s something about making a good initial impression. For Leach and the 2021 Bulldogs, this was their introduction to the college football world. If ever there are moments to be dressed to the nines, it’s times like these.
The Arrival
When the MSU contingent arrived at the airport in Bessemer, Alabama, just outside of Hoover, the group had to wait just a few minutes for a shuttle to arrive to usher them to the day’s main event.
The SEC Media Days festivities had already gotten underway though and in the airport lobby, a television was showing the happenings. Leach still had ties on the brain as he glanced at the screen, pointing to an analyst.
“He likes the big knot on his ties,” Leach noted. Leach is more of a small-knot guy himself. “With the big knot, there’s nowhere to put your head.”
Soon, Leach, along with Brule and Williams, would be turning their focus from formal wear to football. The shuttle arrived at the airport and took Leach and company to their destination. First up on the agenda? A meeting with the local media corps.
This was a group that for much of the last year only got to talk to Leach and the Bulldogs through a computer screen as life altered due to the pandemic. Now, Leach and his players were back face-to-face with those who cover MSU on a regular basis.
“It’s good to do this, to get back to normal a little bit,” Leach opined.
Rapidly, one after one, the questions came.
How’s quarterback Will Rogers looking?
“He gets steadily better,” Leach answered. “Student of the game. Studies it like crazy. He works even when others aren’t working, all on his own, which is impressive. And his leadership ability steadily improves.”
What do Brule and Williams bring to the table for MSU?
“They’re lead-by-example guys on and off the field and great representatives of our team,” Leach said. “To be perfectly honest, we’d really be a great team if we had everyone like those two.”
Has last year’s late-season success built momentum going into this year?
“I think you could see that in the spring,” Leach replied. “As everyone gets more familiar with their role and their roles expand, [the momentum] continues to grow. I think it continued to elevate in the spring and we need to keep going down that path.”
And you better believe Leach was going to use the chance to express his displeasure once again with having to wear a tie around his neck.
“They scooched this sucker up so tight to the point where it keeps all the heat in during the dead of summer,” Leach said. “That’s a brilliant idea.”
A change of clothes sat not far away from Leach while he shared his thoughts. Comfort awaited. Yet there was still plenty of work to do before Leach could slip on his desired attire.
The Grand Tour Begins
Shortly after 1 p.m., it was nearly time for Leach, Brule and Williams to start making their rounds on the premises. Williams sat quietly on a couch in the holding room, knowing he’d soon have cameras and microphones in front of him everywhere he turned.
Williams has caught plenty of passes in some of college football’s biggest settings. So surely there could be no anxiety just to chat with a few reporters, right? Wrong.
“I was a little nervous thinking about it,” Williams shared. “Now that we’re here though, it’s just answering questions.”
Williams affirmed this was much like a game day. You catch that first pass and take that first hit and no matter how big the game, it kind of just becomes another game. All it’d take for Williams is to be asked one question, then the veteran could get in his groove.
Williams, Brule and Leach all went their separate ways around 1:30 p.m. While the players headed off to jump on their own individualized merry-go-rounds, Leach began his trek towards the main room.
In a back hallway, just before stepping out in front of the world, Leach ran into SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who’d introduce Leach when it was Leach’s turn to come to the podium.
“I was just reading up on you,” Sankey told Leach.
The two then quickly found a kinship in a shared hobby.
“I saw a picture of you on a paddleboard,” Sankey said.
“It’s good exercise,” Leach replied as the two personalities went on to discuss the ins and outs of the activity.
The conversation grew as Leach and Sankey walked. They discussed Leach’s books. From the more well-known, New York Times bestseller, “Swing Your Sword”, to the more obscure, “Sports for Dorks”, which was edited by Leach.
Just before Sankey stepped out into the bright lights to welcome Leach to the stage, Sankey had a warm-up question for the pirate.
“They tell you what happens here?” Sankey said.
“Not really,” Leach said. “Just go on stage and answer some questions.”
And that’s precisely what Leach did. The only way he knows how. His way.
“Alright, I’m not a big opening statement guy,” Leach said when he got to the podium in front of a few hundred reporters. “Plus you guys are going to ask whatever you want to know anyway, so let’s just go ahead and get started.”
Just like that, the Mike Leach experience at SEC Media Days was underway in earnest and on full display for all to see.
Leach fielded 21 questions over the next 30 minutes in the main room. His candid style combined with his off-the-cuff wit had the room captivated.
There were moments of insight, such as when Leach outlined what he looks for in a quarterback recruit.
“You want a guy that elevates the play of the team. That’s the most important thing he does,” Leach said. “Then after that, I can’t get to square one unless they’re accurate. Then, do they make good decisions? You need a guy that’s accurate and that makes good decisions. If they don’t do that, I don’t think they can play quarterback.”
When asked about the uniqueness of last season, Leach was prepared to entertain.
“The cardboard people [in the stands], I couldn’t help but think of The Twilight Zone,” Leach said.
From his team, to his past experience as a teacher for a class at Washington State, Leach masterfully covered much ground. Meanwhile his players would soon get their own turn in the spotlight.
Stepping Up and Winding Down
Traditionally at SEC Media Days, it’s typical for players to enter the main media room but be tucked away in opposite corners of the area as reporters gather around. That format was changed this year to give better opportunity for social distancing.
That meant Brule and Williams got the chance to follow Leach to the main podium. Like the veteran leaders they are, both handled the attention like pros.
Brule gave a glimpse into the mindset of the defense and his defensive coordinator, Zach Arnett.
“It’s an attack-first mentality, meaning there’s no excuses for anything,” Brule said. “You either do what [Arnett] asks you to do or you’ll be held accountable by your teammates, by him and anyone involved with our defense.”
Williams talked of getting to try and perfect the Air Raid offense under Leach.
“It’s awesome,” Williams said. “He knows the ins and outs of it. He’s been doing the air raid forever. We have tons of film to watch, things to help you grow and learn. Our whole coaching staff, they’ve been around it awhile. As a receiver, just being around that knowledge and experience definitely helps you to grow and learn.”
Brule and Williams then had a few more stops to make before concluding their Media Days responsibilities around 3:30 p.m. It was finally time to grab a bite to eat.
The Hyatt Regency-Wynfrey Hotel is connected to the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall and Brule and Williams, still with suits and ties on of course, quickly became perhaps the best-dressed folks in the food court.
Finally, after being under the microscope for a bit, the two could breathe a little and relax.
“It was a great opportunity,” Williams shared of his experience. “Just to be here and represent Mississippi State, it was cool.”
As for Brule, the high-energy linebacker was ready for another round of questioning.
“Man, I could do it all again,” he said with a smile. “Normally, this kind of thing drains me some. But this was fun. I’m ready to go again.”
Alas, it wouldn’t be long before it’d be time to head back to Starkville. There’d be no second Media Days round. So Brule had to instead settle for some chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream to ease any lingering disappointment.
“This is so good,” Brule said out loud to anyone listening as he walked back towards the hotel to wait on Leach to finish up.
Headed Home
Leach would soon join Brule and Williams in the holding room. The day’s responsibilities were complete.
Leach wasted little time slipping into a back corner and into the restroom. Finally, at long last, the tie was coming off.
Leach emerged, now wearing a loose-fitting shirt, cargo shorts, tennis shoes and a camouflage cap. More comfortable Coach?
“Much,” he said.
From there, it was time to head down the elevator, to the shuttle van and back to the airport.
Upon landing home in Starkville, Williams and Brule both stepped off the plane. Media Days done, fall camp and football season is now fully in sight.
All that could wait though. Ties and tough questions can take a lot out of you.
“I’m going to sleep good tonight,” Williams said.
