DALLAS (WKRG) – The 2024 Soccer Media Days are underway in Dallas on the Omni Resort.
WKRG Information 5 Sports activities Director Simone Eli and Sports activities anchor Gerhard Mathangani have the most recent from day two of the occasion, which options the Georgia Bulldogs, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners and Tennessee Volunteers.
Georgia goes for 3 nationwide titles in 4 years
A number of tales encompass every of those groups, however the day began with none aside from Georgia because the Bulldogs look to seize their third nationwide championship in 4 years.
Georgia head coach Kirby Good arrived in Dallas together with quarterback Carson Beck, defensive lineman Mykel Williams and security Malaki Starks.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 13-1 season that didn’t embrace a berth within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Whereas it was a dominant one-spot season, the one highway sport that stood out for the Georgia gamers was their journey to Auburn, the place they scored a late landing to beat the Tigers 27-20.
“I might say my hardest highway sport most likely needed to be Auburn final yr,” Williams stated. “I went there, it was loud, they have been actually good at residence, and once we performed, it was an awesome sport there at Auburn.
“It may need been Auburn as a result of they have been in a double quarterback system, a two quarterback system, and each quarterbacks supplied one thing completely different. Each might run. Considered one of them was extra of a passer, one was extra of a runner. I feel it may need been Auburn.”
Georgia and Auburn will renew “The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry” on Oct. 5 in Athens.
Additionally on the Bulldogs' 2024 schedule is a visit to Tuscaloosa, the place Good spent a few years as defensive coordinator, for an SEC opener with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“Ask any SEC coach about highway wins,” Good stated. “It's simply good wins; there are not any unhealthy wins and it's no completely different in Tuscaloosa. It's a troublesome place to play: the eagerness, the vitality, the gamers on the pitch. All are good and it is a problem we embrace. That strolling the highway, we just like the one towards many, you must embrace it.”
If there hasn't been sufficient strain surrounding the Georgia program, add in the truth that quarterback Carson Beck is the favourite to hoist the Heisman Trophy because the nation's most excellent participant in faculty soccer.
After main the SEC in passing yards with three,941 in 2023, Beck is primed for an additional huge yr. A number of the finest athletes within the nation will distribute the ball, giving him confidence. Nonetheless, he seeks to stay humble.
“If you deal with the staff and you actually put others earlier than your self and also you're unselfish and also you focus in your receivers, you deal with the o-line, you deal with the tight ends, you deal with the protection, you deal with the staff as an entire, it's want all the surface noise and strain of those particular person awards and particular person stats, and say, 'OK, let's win this week,'” Beck stated.
“After which the following week and so forth and so forth. And when these issues occur and you may deal with the staff and everybody on the staff has the identical mindset. That's when these particular person awards begin to occur.”
Welcome to the SEC, Boomer
One of many largest tales of day two was the introduction of the Oklahoma Sooners into the Southeastern Convention for his or her first SEC media days.
The Sooners, who’re prepared for the SEC problem in response to Venables, could have their first convention highway take a look at towards the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“They'll be prepared,” Venables stated. “I do know I'm speaking in regards to the followers, the showmanship through the sport. They’ve a beautiful ambiance; tough, difficult, noisy; and Coach Freeze. And he put collectively an impressive employees. I all the time research crimes.
“Once I'm watching a sport, I'm watching the offense and I'm all the time in search of good performs that I do know are coming if I haven't seen it already,” Venables continued. “And Hugh was all the time on the chopping fringe of the following huge factor offensively.”
The Sooners and Tigers will meet on the fields on September 28.
A “distinctive” reunion for Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel
Talking of Oklahoma, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel gained a nationwide title in 2000 with Venables and the Sooners at quarterback.
The Sooners' first SEC sport will likely be towards the Tennessee Volunteers in Norman, Oklahoma, marking a visit again to Heupel's previous stomping grounds.
“It's going to be distinctive, my perspective that day,” Heupel stated. “Simply seeing the stadium from a special perspective and I simply say it simply adjustments the sting on the finish of the day. That Saturday in September, I feel perhaps early October, you recognize, it's Tennessee and Oklahoma and, you recognize, this yr's staff. So I do know you’ll put together the identical means you do. Do it fiercely and be able to put on it and play.”
The matchup between the Volunteers and the Sooners is scheduled for September 21st.
MORE COVERAGE ON DAY 2 OF SEC MEDIA DAYS: