HOOVER, Ala. -- Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin clearly did not like fielding questions about former Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel, who was a first-round choice of the Cleveland Browns after playing two seasons in College Station and becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012.
When the first reporter in his media session Tuesday at SEC media days asked what it was like not coaching Manziel and whether he missed him, Sumlin paused .
"Let me get this straight. The question was: 'What's it like not coaching Johnny Manziel?' " Sumlin said, touching off a bout of laughter.
When his third question dealt with whether he's talked to Manziel about pictures of his partying or whether he's given Manziel any advice, Sumlin looked incredulous.
"Is this the SEC media days?" he asked. "No. That's a great question about the Cleveland Browns. Anybody else got something?"
Franklin tears
Vanderbilt defensive lineman Adam Butler figured he'd play his whole career for Coach James Franklin, but he made it only one year.
Franklin left after the Commodores beat Houston 41-24 in the Compass Bowl to become Penn State's coach, a job he landed after leading the Commodores to a 24-13 record in three seasons.
"I was really surprised, because he repeatedly told us, 'I'm not leaving no matter what. You guys don't have to worry,' " Butler said. "He even took it so far as to break out in tears.
"Then right after the bowl game, no warning no nothing, he just disappeared. He came back and said he was sorry, 'I'm leaving,' and he cried again."
Butler said Franklin deserves credit for leading Vanderbilt from the SEC cellar to back-to-back 9-4 seasons, but that he put on an act at times.
"He was a big camera guy," Butler said. "He loved the camera. Absolutely."
Salary talks
Kevin Sumlin received a six-year deal and a raise to $5 million per season over the winter, placing the third-year Texas A&M coach's salary among the top five in the nation and second behind Alabama's Nick Saban in the SEC.
South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier, asked about the Gamecocks' new annual rivalry with the Aggies, wound up taking his response into salary territory.
"Kevin Sumlin has an excellent record as a coach," Spurrier said. "He's a good negotiator, we know that also, so he's got a good deal. He's ready to go."
Spurrier's line drew laughter from members of the media. Sumlin, who followed him to the podium by a few hours, also got laughs when asked about Spurrier's comment.
"You guys just stirring the pot, trying to bring me in," Sumlin said. "It's Year 3, you're not going to get me on that."
SEC vs. World Cup
Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen, who said his mother is a British citizen who grew up in North Wales, is a professed fan of international soccer.
"My wife sometimes questions what I'm doing, but I don't mind waking up early Sunday morning and watching the premiership if you have a little bit of a break," Mullen said. "But the World Cup is so exciting.
"I do think SEC football could be compared to European soccer. The passion our fans have is equal. I'm sure I'll have a lot of European nations very upset, teams throughout the world upset."
He's a freak
Mississippi State linebacker Bernardrick McKinney made a Fox Sports list of the top 20 freak athletes in college football, which did not surprise Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott.
"I mean, he's 6-5, 250 and can run a 4.5 and can jump out of this world," Prescott said. "He's just a freak, simple as that. You see when you walk by him that he's a different guy."
He took a selfie
Tennessee linebacker AJ Johnson's first move upon stepping up on his raised platform Tuesday was to turn around and take a selfie photo with the media throng in the background.
"I was like, in the big room, I want to take a selfie. But I don't know, is it appropriate or not?" Johnson said. "Somebody just said, be like, 'Before we start, can I take a selfie?' like the song. Y'all know that song?
"Yeah, I took a selfie, but I don't know how good it turned out."
Rivalry lost
Steve Spurrier, asked whether he thought Texas A&M would have "staying power" in the SEC, lamented the loss of the Aggies' rivalry with Texas.
"I think it's a shame that Texas and Texas A&M don't play each other," Spurrier said. "I don't mind saying that. Two schools that have been playing for over a hundred years, just because one of them joins another conference, get mad at each other ...
"Florida plays Florida State. We play Clemson. Georgia plays Georgia Tech. We're in different conferences, but they are in‑state rivals. The fans want to see that, to me. They want to see you beat the guys next door, the neighbors. I think it is sad."
Rock bottom
There were a lot of low points for Florida in its 4-8 season in 2013, but Gators Coach Will Muschamp pointed to offensive lineman Tyler Moore's injury Nov. 5 as being particularly frustrating.
Florida was in the midst of a losing streak that would reach seven games and Muschamp was working in the defensive meeting room, preparing for what would be a 34-17 loss to Vanderbilt when trainer Paul Silverstri informed him Moore was lost for the rest of the season after breaking his elbow in a scooter accident.
Muschamp called it a "rock-bottom moment" for the injury-plagued Gators.
"I can't tell you exactly what I said, but it wasn't good," Muschamp said.
Garcia news
Stephen Garcia, South Carolina's starting quarterback when the Gamecocks won the SEC East in 2010, is attending media days this week while working for Saturday Down South, a website that covers SEC football.
Garcia, whose primary job is backup quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League, stands out among the media throng with his long hair and shaggy beard.
"He got his long hair back," South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier said. "I said it looked like he had joined Duck Dynasty instead of the media now."
Garcia had several disciplinary issues at South Carolina that eventually led Spurrier to dismiss him from the team during the 2011 season.
"Stephen is a good guy," Spurrier said. "We had no problems with Stephen when he was with the team, practicing, games. All of his issues were when he got off the field, around campus, whatever. Unfortunate, but ... He did a lot of good. We're going to wish him the best."
Sports on 07/16/2014