USA Today: Shane Beamer to Ed Orgeron, the winners and losers from Day 1 of SEC Media Days

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HOOVER, Ala. — SEC Media Days are back after a year hiatus, and with no shortage of words spoken and people filling the Wynfrey Hotel, some people had better moments than others on the event's opening day on Monday.

Everyone remains undefeated on their schedules after this week, but there are certainly those who deserve the label of winner or loser after an appearance in front of the conference's media.

Here are three winners and losers from Day 1, which included Florida, LSU and South Carolina players and coaches.

Winners

Shane Beamer, South Carolina coach

The first-year coach spoke with poise and confidence in his first appearance on the SEC Media Days stage. Beamer also quoted his dad, longtime Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. That doesn't hurt to remind people of their relationship. The younger Beamer also didn't speak in vague ideals and clichés. He told stories. He used examples. Wins at SEC Media Days don't count for anything football-related, but his time at the lectern was a victory for the 44-year-old.



Florida fashion

Fashion doesn't matter when it comes to football, but there are those who rank above the rest. Gators coach Dan Mullen wore his Jordan shoes again this year, providing a fresh complement to his suit. One of his players, defensive lineman Zachary Carter, rocked an orange bowtie. Big points there.

Everyone involved

After a year in which no one got to participate in SEC Media Days because of COVID-19, the event is back. And that's good for everyone. Half the fun of sports is the conversation around them. Media Days foster that like few other venues.

Losers

LSU coach Ed Orgeron

Orgeron has limits as to what he can say when it comes to ongoing Title IX investigations. Right now, those include sexual assault complaints against former LSU players Drake Davis and Derrius Guice. But when posed with a question asking not about those investigations specifically, but about how he could act differently as a coach and handle future situations differently, he took the easy out. Orgeron could have provided a macro view without addressing the investigations specifically or spoken to how the program might improve in this area, but he gave a no comment instead. "Thanks for asking, though," he said.

Lobby fans

Despite all the good of having SEC Media Days back, it wasn't back to 100%. Not when fans couldn't be inside. Fans normally would fill the lobby, but instead, it was quiet and lacked energy. Without some of the SEC's most passionate fans, the event didn't have the same kickoff feel it usually has to the start of the football season.

Those hoping to hear from QBs

There was plenty of conversation about quarterbacks, particularly with the folks from Florida fielding questions about Emory Jones. But none of the players who spoke to the media Monday played football's premier position. Those who are waiting to hear from a quarterback will have to wait to hear from Georgia's J.T. Daniels on Tuesday.

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