SEC Media Days 2015: What did we learn?

Jul 15, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; General view of the shoes worn by Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema as he visits the ESPN set during SEC media day at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Fashion Show or Media Days?

I thought SEC Media Days were a four-day event for coaches to tell the media about how optimistic they are about their team’s chances this year and how hard they’ve all worked in the offseason. Turns out that was only part of it as media days morphed into what felt like E!’s red carpet coverage for the Oscars or the Emmys.

First it was Dan Mullen sporting some Yeezy Boosts. Then it was Bret Bielema rocking some custom Nike Air Force 1’s as the two SEC west rivals engaged in a “swag off” to see who had the coolest kicks. It didn’t spread to other coaches as Les Miles said he wore regular shoes and socks and Hugh Freeze said he was a “simple guy” who is wearing his Johnston & Murphy’s from William Brothers in Philadelphia, MS.

But the most prominent fashion statement was made by the players who wore bow ties with their suits. The bow tie has exploded in recent years with athletes with a fashion sense wearing them instead of the classic long tie look.

Dak Prescott, Vernon Hargreaves and Jeremy Johnson were among the notable players decked out in a stylish bow tie and Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason wore a bow tie for the second year in a row, but he still needs help tying those suckers.

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