The month of July is coming to a close as the final days of conference Media Days have passed, leaving us with a lot to chew on leading up to the 2024 season.
From the Big 12 and SEC Media Days kicking things off to the ACC and Big Ten wrapping things up yesterday, there was a ton to take away from what was said over the last three weeks.
What was the biggest takeaway from the podium appearances, and what does it all mean for this season and beyond? The Heartland College Sports staff shares their thoughts in this week’s roundtable.
Pete Mundo: Greg Sankey’s Hot Air 
The SEC commissioner said a lot of stuff in Dallas last week, and even for a city bogged down by extreme heat and humidity in mid-July, Greg Sankey’s hot air filled the Metroplex last week.
First, there were his comments about unity. “We actually need more of those unifying moments in this country, and that’s why I say, again, we need more of what college football does in this nation, not less,” Sankey said.
Now, he’s right, but coming from a guy who has been one of the catalysts for chaos and disruption in the sport, it sure does ring hollow.
Sankey also was asked about further SEC expansion, to which he said, “I’m not a Big 12 recruiter.” I could hear Big 12 fans laughing from Lubbock to Morgantown. Please.
I don’t know the future of these conferences, but I know I won’t trust Greg Sankey as far as I can throw him. I could keep going, but out of respect for my colleagues, we will keep this roundtable moving!
Bryan Clinton: Jim Phillips’ Jabs at Florida State, Clemson
There’s not a commissioner in college football who is facing more pressure ahead of the 2024 season than the ACC’s Jim Phillips. Florida State and Clemson have made his life a living hell over the past several months as the Seminoles and Tigers are looking for a way out of the ACC.
But, unlike George Kliavkoff before him, Phillips isn’t sticking his head in the sand and pretending that nothing is wrong. Instead, he’s tightened the gloves and is coming out of the corner swinging.
“These disputes continue to be extremely damaging, disruptive, and incredibly harmful to the league, as well as overshadowing our student-athletes and the incredible successes taking place on the field and within the conference,” Phillips said. “I will tell you there isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t spend some time on the legal cases. I don’t think that’s going to change.”
It feels like a matter of time before we see those programs break off and find a new home, but Phillips is certainly doing his part to put up a good fight.
Joe Tillery: Paul Finebaum’s Horrible Week at SEC Media Days
Paul Finebaum had a rough outing at SEC Media Days, coming face-to-face with an awkward confrontation with Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin on national television.
The interaction stemmed from Kiffin’s belief that Finebaum’s rant on ESPN’s College GameDay played a part in his firing at USC, which was brought to the surface on the Paul Finebaum Show with Kiffin. The two got off to an awkward start which led to the pair trending on social media for their beef.
Kiffin finished off his statement by telling Finebaum, “Really, I’m not sure what you’re good at.”
With Finebaum being the “voice of the SEC,” the fact that multiple SEC coaches called him out for inaccurate comments stole the show at Media Days among the Power Four.
Matthew Postins: Mack Brown Out Here Getting Coaches Fired
ACC Media Days was earlier this week in Charlotte (NC), and while commissioner Jim Phillips’s comments took center stage, North Carolina — and former Texas head coach Mack Brown — stole the show. During the breakout sessions with the media on Thursday, Brown was asked if he was worried about his age and this new time of college athletics. After all, Brown is 73. Maybe it’s time to retire?
Well, he wasn’t having any of that.
“Every coach recruiting against us says I’m going to quit,” he said. “And six of them have been fired that said that already. So they out to be worried about themselves.”
I love that Mack is keeping a list. So cool.
Derek Duke: Mike Gundy’s Bombshell Quote on Ollie Gordon
At Big 12 media days, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said this when talking about Ollie Gordon III’s DUI arrest: I thought, really, two or three beers, or four, I’m not justifying what Ollie did, I’m telling you what decision I made, and I thought, I’ve probably done that 1,000 times in my life. And it was just fine. I got lucky. People get lucky.
He went on later that day to clarify what he was trying to say but why on earth would you say that? Don’t get me wrong I love Mike Gundy for being so honest but sometimes things are better left unsaid here coach. I don’t think in my lifetime I will ever hear a coach say that again. It was certainly a quote that will go down in the history books.
Bonus Mention: UCLA Head Coach Freezes at the Podium
If you missed this moment, let us introduce you to UCLA head football coach, DeShaun Foster:
Yikes.
