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SEC Media Days 2019 recap: Five takeaways relevant to Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Greg Sankey the new commissioner of the SEC talks to the media before the quaterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Greg Sankey the new commissioner of the SEC talks to the media before the quaterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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3. Subtle shade for Butch Jones

It was more blatant when Jeremy Pruitt talked about it, and we broke down the shade he has thrown at Butch Jones in a post here. But beyond Pruitt, a few more quotes from SEC Media Days hints at a lack of respect for him.

The most blatant is what an Alabama Crimson Tide player said about him. Remember, Jones is still an analyst for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, so you would think that the players would try to go to bat for his shattered reputation.

That was not the case for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Even if he wasn’t trying to throw shade, his comments inadvertently did. Here’s what he said when asked about working with the former Tennessee football head coach.

"“It’s good having Butch out there being part of the staff,” Jeudy said. “I am mostly with Coach (Holmon) Wiggins, so I can’t really spend time talking to him a lot.”"

Now, if a player really respected Jones, he would speak more publicly than that. And does anybody believe he doesn’t work with Jones when Jones’s one speciality is coaching wide receivers? It makes no sense. Sure, you work with your position coach and coordinator, but an analyst who knows receivers should be helpful.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Joe Moorhead touted his defensive coordinator, Bob Shoop. Jones obviously hired Shoop as his defensive coordinator back in 2016, but things wen south down the stretch of both of his seasons in Knoxville. Here’s what Moorhead said about the situation.

"“I know there was some kind of scuttlebutt about it, question marks of what happened at Tennessee, but you know, Bob grew up in the town next to me. I have known him for a very long time. To me one season or two never defines a coach’s ability or what he’s done over an extended period of time.”"

Again, it’s subtle, but you can’t look at that quote and not see a shot taken at Jones. Moorhead was basically saying that you can’t blame Shoop for the disaster that came under Jones, and given Shoop’s track record, he’s right.

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