LSU, Ole Miss, So Carolina & Vandy grab Day 1 spotlight:
GDW Analysis:
DALLAS: Southeastern Conference Media Days started on Monday from the Omni Hotel.
The "Lonestar State" got its first opportunity experience the atmosphere of what it is like to host this event with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference as football participants on the 1st day of July.
The first of four days for players and coaches from the 16 schools in giving thoughts for what they look ahead when the 2024 season starts the final weekend of August.
Gameday Weekly is providing reports on each school. These four stood in the spotlight on Monday.
LSU Tigers:
Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. Southern Cal at Las Vegas.
SEC opener: Sept. 14 at South Carolina
SEC home games: Ole Miss October 12, Alabama November 2,
Vanderbilt November 23, Oklahoma November 30.
Comments by coach Brian Kelly:
"But as we go into the 2024 season at LSU, we'll be celebrating 100 years of Tiger football. We're excited about the things that we're going to be able to showcase this year. We feel like Tiger football has a great history and tradition. Our stadium has been refurbished to take advantage of the pageantry of Tiger Stadium. I think it's going to be an exciting football venue for everyone.
"The 2024 football team at LSU is one that as we go into year three, has been built on accountability and trust, but it's been built knowing that we have to be able to play much more balanced football. We had obviously a record setting offense last year, but we didn't play to the standard that we needed to play at times defensively"
South Carolina Gamecocks:
Season opener: August 31 vs. Old Dominion
SEC opener: September 7 at Kentucky
SEC home games: LSU September 14, Ole Miss October 5, Texas A&M November 2, Missouri November 16.
Comments by coach Shane Beamer:
"You've got to be uncomfortable in order to grow. We certainly had some uncomfortable moments last year as a team, but we also showed throughout the season how strong our culture is.
We grew from those uncomfortable moments last year as well. It's truly year to year. The narrative about our program in 2024 is completely different than what it was in 2023. I get that. You see that across this league with other schools here and be coming here this week as well.
But I know this: I love what I do. If you can't have fun at work, you got a bad job. I tell our players all the time that it's hard to outwork passionate people. I love what I do. I'm passionate about coaching football. More importantly, I'm passionate about coaching the University of South Carolina football team as well.
The job has changed. There is no question it's different and more demanding than it as in 2020 when I got hired. One thing that hasn't changed is how much I love coaching and coaching the South Carolina Gamecocks as well."
Ole Miss Rebels:
Season opener: August 31 vs. Furman
SEC opener: Vs. Kentucky September 28
SEC home games: Kentucky September 28, Oklahoma October 26,
Georgia November 9, Mississippi State November 29
Comments by coach Lane Kiffin:
"So moving into the season, this is a really has been an exciting time at Ole Miss. Going back to the New Year's Six Bowl and the Peach Bowl and that win and so many players deciding to stay after that, to come back for another season, and then the addition, a lot of credit to those players and staff obviously, but those players, additions through the portal of other players and free agency, and it's set up for a chance to have a good team.
But there is a lot of work in that. There is plenty of noise out there that means nothing, and plenty of teams over the years in all sports have been ranked high and haven't played well and been ranked low and played really well. None of that means anything."
Vanderbilt Commodores:
Season opener: Vs. Virginia Tech August 31
SEC opener: At Missouri September 21
SEC home games: Alabama October 5, Texas October 26, South Carolina November 9, Tennessee November 30
Comments by coach Clark Lea:
"
A year ago I spoke to you about our program taking the next step, about building on the progress we made from year one to year two. As I've said the past, success is seldom linear. Unfortunately, we dipped in our performance and fell well short of our goal of competing in post-season play.
It's a core belief of mine that challenges present opportunities, specifically opportunities for growth. With that in mind, at the conclusion of the last season, I set out to understand more about our shortcomings so that I could make adjustments to get us back on track."
Tuesday schedule:
Georgia 9:05 a.m.
Tennessee 10:35 a.m.
Oklahoma 12:50 p.m.
Missouri 2:20 p.m.
Photo of LSU coach Brian Kelly at SEC Media Days Monday in Dallas. Photo courtesy of LSU media relations.
