Christmas in July: SEC Media Days Begin

A friend of mine described this day as Black Friday  for SEC fans.

The term, as you know, refers to the day after Thanksgiving -- the largest-volume shopping day before Christmas -- which is reputed to put merchants' company balances into a positive position for the year.

It also puts some folks into a precarious position simply by taking part. There are some wacko, rabid shopaholics out there.

OK, it's Monday, but SEC fans think of it as Black Friday because today is the start of SEC Media Days. And as usual, the press is out early and in force. For example:

Every school is coming, locked and loaded, to be in total PR mode. Here's Tennessee getting ready for the party:

It's actually a week that's more devoted to the craziness of SEC fans than a media get together with SEC coaches and players. The faithful come from every point in the Southeast to dress up in crazy costumes and harass their favorite coaches and players.

Today was the kick-off, with defending SEC Champion Auburn -- which made a few headlines themselves over the weekend with quarterback Nick Marshall, a former Georgia Bulldog -- being, well, nicked by the police for marijuana possession. Not exactly the best run-up to a publicity fest.

Head coach Gus Malzahan punished Marshall by leaving him home.

He gave the usual coach speak about what will happen to Marshall and not discussing what will really happen to Marshall later on.

Now, we know darn good and well unless this dude is going to be suspended -- and there are rumors that Marshall will sit for the Arkansas game -- is this really a story?

Another college kid smoking weed ... And? Call us, coach, when he pulls a Jameis Winston.

Anyway, we can still look forward to Steve Spurrier doing his annual act of putting down other coaches, teams, and players. He's set a high bar for himself, but rarely fails to meet the challenge.

Twitter started churning bits and pieces from the proceedings, but there was nothing earth-shaking.

Nick Saban takes center stage later on in the week.

Should be fun and interesting. It's the SEC, so it's never boring.