Last July, I spent three days at Hoover's Galleria Wynfrey Hotel in what amounted to a combination media circus/head coach anointment. The SEC Football Media Days brought writers, radio broadcasters and those media darlings with big bright, white teeth (caps) and enough hair gel to grease the tracks of an entire armored division stuck in sand otherwise known as television personalities. It also attracted hundreds of well-meaning Crimson Tide fans who hoped for a glimpse of their beloved Nick Saban in the lobby of the glitzy suburban hotel.

While the Southeastern Conference is one of the best at supplying the media, who cover sports throughout their region, with an ample supply of statistics, transcripts and opportunity to interview players and coaches, I wonder if the league is a bit taken with the concept that its football coaches walk on water and are somehow worthy of red-carpet treatment that might cause Prince Phillip to feel a bit abashed. I understand that to some of those who follow the SEC that football coaches are the 12 disciples themselves, but formal media gatherings with little opportunity to merely say hello to those coaches you cover for five months every year seems a bit silly.

I graduated (finally) from an SEC school and recognize how meaningful the fortunes of football teams are to the psyche of their followers, the financial well being of the towns and universities that are the beneficiaries and that those 12 with a twang have for the most part become very wealthy individuals. I also recognize that parading them onstage with expensive graphical backdrops and using moderators is excessive. It's true that there are hundreds of media outlets that want a juicy quote or to be told by one of the SEC's dazzling dozen, 'that's a great question', but the fact of the matter is that none have the track record of the venerable Bobby Bowden.

At the ACC's version of football media days, the veteran coach sat at a round table with 8-10 chairs surrounding it. He needed no introduction, needed no time for his opening remarks nor a short video clip of his numerous accomplishments. Writers asked their tough questions and Bowden characteristically entertained, amused and down-homed the inquisitors like he has thousands of times before. It was the same for son Tommy, Al Groh, Frank Beamer, Butch Davis, Jim Grobe and the other half-dozen coaches that visited and answered questions for 90 minutes or more. Heck, some of us even said thanks to the coaches for providing us ample time and for treating us cordially rather than combatively, and they in turn shook our hands and said things like, 'nice to meet you' or asked 'where are you from?'

The media veterans don't soften their stance on a particular coach if unwarranted just because they were nice to us one day, nor are we going to harbor a grudge because one coach was a bit too abrupt or uncommunicative. A head coach has a job to do, which includes preparing his team for battle, seeing that his players attend class and have some too, and learn the meaning of the words: compete, work ethic, teamwork and perseverance. Writers and broadcasters have their assignments and most coaches recognize that we have a job to do. Some even help us do our jobs by being forthright and willing to share information about many subjects.

I'm not inferring that head coaches aren't more important than me, but I sure appreciate those who don't utilize a pulpit from which to speak or a condescending tone when they do.

The ACC's model for the pre-season media days this week was relaxed and amiable, and that was not the case in Hoover last summer. SEC media days start tomorrow and Jamie will be gathering information for us. I can't wait to hear how many people are waiting for Saban when he arrives.

Come to think of it, I didn't see any motorcades at the ACC either.