SECMD16: Auburn, Florida, Vanderbilt kick off festivities on Day 1

Back at it again from the SEC's epicenter.

The lead-up to the 2016 college football season has officially begun with the advent of SEC Media Days, which opened with Auburn, Florida and Vanderbilt discussing the season (and offseason) behind and the one ahead.

Florida and Vanderbilt's interview videos will be added shortly, in addition to the top quotes from the first day of SEC Media Days.

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Key quotes from Day 1 of SEC Media Days

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey...

On Vanderbilt LB/S Oren Burks’ example of fulfilling a scholarship…

“You'll meet a young man today. He's an economics major at Vanderbilt University, Oren Burks. Oren shared this during our conversation. Quote: ‘My scholarship isn't just money to play sports. It's an investment in myself. We are the future leaders of America, and there's no one else in our shoes. The skills that we're using, we need to apply them to society. We have to make a difference and pay it forward.’ That is a leader who is not waiting years. That's a leader who's leading now.”

Auburn HC Gus Malzahn...

On getting back to being more active in game planning and play calling…

“At the end of the day, I'm a football coach. That's my strength – being on the field and coaching an offense. After you get down with the season and you're not as successful as you'd like, you evaluate things. One thing that really hit me pretty hard is that I've got to be more active with the daily X's and O's and coaching that goes with that. And that's what I look at as my strength. And so that's what I meant by that, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the middle of things and enjoying the actual coaching on the field.”

Auburn DE Carl Lawson...

On coming back from injury…

“In life you have adversity, and every time I’ve had adversity in my life, I’ve come back stronger. I didn’t like what happened, but I appreciated what happened because it made me a better player. (It) made me view things from a different perspective. Every experience, a bad experience or a good experience, is a learning experience. Last year I wasn’t 100-percent probably – about 60% coming back from the hip injury. Coming off the Birmingham Bowl and having time to rest and going through this off season, I feel like I’m faster and stronger.”

Florida HC Jim McElwain...

On the QB battle…

“I think the key there is having that right mix. Obviously in Austin Appleby, (you have) someone who played in big games. He's played in big stadiums, having started in the Big Ten. That's something that's invaluable. You know, in Luke's case, he kind of had familiarity with what we do offensively, (which) I think is good. The key is to see that competition. What has been kind of fun is to see some veterans who know how to study a game plan, know how to study install. Here's the good thing: We've really got good arm talent. I'm excited about being able to stretch the field vertically. Should be a lot of fun.”

Florida LB Jarrad Davis...

On continuing to live up to Florida's defensive standard and get back to Atlanta…

“With the defense we had last year it kind of set the standard. It set the bar extremely high and this year it’s the same level, but everything we do is going to be centered around taking it to the next level. You don’t want to stay the same in anything you do, you want to get better. Our goal, as far as the SEC Championship, is to not only get there, but we want to win. It is a lot to say that you made it because not everyone does, but we want to say we won it and moved on. It is something that is on our mind constantly.”

Florida S Marcus Maye...
“Coach Collins, on the field, is always very intense. He’s jumping around, he’s on the numbers out on the field with us, and he’s excited all the time – a lot of energy. Having a coach like that makes you want to do the same thing. It’s a lot easier to play just knowing your coaches are just as excited. He’s about making chaos on the defense and making the offense struggle.”

Vanderbilt HC Derek Mason...

On aiming to be a great football coach and not a great black football coach…

“I don't wear that cape. I really don't. I think my ethnicity, okay, has nothing to do with my position. I think I'm intelligent enough to be a head coach, and I've proven over time that I can, you know, do the job. And I think what needs to happen for me in this position is that I focus my strengths and my skillset on what it takes to continue to lead this program. There's a reason why Vanderbilt hired me. They felt I was the best coach. They didn't feel I was African-American. They didn't feel I was anything other than the best fit for Vanderbilt. That's what I coach under.

"The pressure to be a head coach in this conference is what it is. It's the best conference in college football. So, for me I look at how we can improve this football team. I look at the full scope of the athlete and where I'm taking this program and what we have to do to meet our expectations. But what it looks like for me in terms of pressure, that's just part of the job. You know, the everyday grind of being an SEC coach – what coach doesn't have pressure? So, with that being the case, I humbly accept the challenge and look forward to the opportunity.”

Vanderbilt LB/S Oren Burks...

On Derrick Mason being both the head coach and defensive coordinator…

“I think Coach Mason is one of the greatest defensive minds in the nation, so [it’s] just a matter of us learning his scheme. We’ve only used a percentage of the tools that he has in his toolbox but I’m excited to see what he does next year, especially with the different packages we have. By moving me around, as well as the other players he’ll be able to show off our strengths.”