HOOVER, Ala. -- Anytime I am upset about something, I try to give myself some time to simmer down.

I just can't keep from shaking my head when I think back about the questions thrown out at coaches and players at SEC Media Days last week.

Upon my first trip to the Wynfrey Hotel just outside of Birmingham, I had hopes of compiling plenty of information for the Times-Gazette's annual football section coming up in September. But, I also wanted to learn some from the people who are supposed to be at the top of our profession in covering college football in the Southeast.

Now, I am thinking that I'll just stick to my way of doing things and let them keep on keeping on.

ESPN, one of if not the biggest names in sports coverage, was represented by a lady who asked South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier how he handles his quarterbacks in the offseason.

Spurrier responded by informing her that it is an NCAA violation to talk to players in the offseason.

I am guessing she didn't quite pose the question the way she wanted rather than attempting to coax Spurrier into an admission of a NCAA violation.

Patrick Willis gives himself a moment while trying to get through some tough questions. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

The Ole Ball Coach has arguably the premiere receiver in the country on his roster in sophomore Sidney Rice. Why not beg for a little offering of his opinion on such a talent? There isn't a defensive back in the conference that can guard him one-on-one.

Numerous reporters fired question after question at Ole Miss all-everything linebacker Patrick Willis in regards to the recent death of his teenage brother. Sure, that is newsworthy and there is something of a story there. But, why make the kid talk for several minutes about so much pain? It was as if they were trying to make him cry. Why not do a little research beforehand so you don't have to ask Willis his brother's name, how old he is, where he went to school, how good he was at football, etcetera?

Of course there's the recapping of Tennessee's disastrous campaign a year ago and the hiring of David Cutcliffe. Everyone wanted to know how sad that season was and all about Cutcliffe's role as a savior.

Does Orange Nation really want to read more about a 5-6 season? Heaven forbid we ask Phillip Fulmer about replacing all but one offensive lineman and what happens when/if starting quarterback Erik Ainge gets hurt.

The most talented signal-caller on the roster could very well be redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton. Then, there's the incoming Nick Stephens -- a 6-foot-3 gunslinger from Texas. Not one word was mentioned of either.

Of course several of the questions posed to Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson were mostly Jay Cutler this and Jay Cutler that. Not sure I can blame them too much for that, Cutler was one of the better Commodores ever. But, he does play for the Denver Broncos now. They have to let him go.

LSU's LaRon Landry fields questions about the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

The LSU reps -- coach Les Miles, receiver Dwayne Bowe and safety LaRon Landry -- were forced yet again to flashback to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Personally, if I am a Bayou Bengals supporter, I don't want to hear one more word about that hurricane. Likely, most Tiger fans went through it and don't feel the need to keep reading about it. Rather, let's hear about the logjam at quarterback with JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn and Ryan Perilloux. Is there a controversy there? Not sure, but it's a good problem for any coach to have. Just ask the other schools that will be starting over at the position.

LSU may have the most talent of anyone in the SEC but take a look at their schedule. They go to Auburn, Gainesville, Knoxville and Little Rock. How Miles plans to vie for a conference title with such an imposing schedule would have been nice to hear about.

If the media really needed to live in the past, why not ask Florida coach Urban Meyer if he plans to spend any more time on special teams this season after losing a chance at beating Spurrier and the Gamecocks thanks to a penalty for having 12 men on the field while receiving a punt with less than two minutes to go.

All in all, it was a great learning experience, but here's to hoping in 2007 it's evolves a bit from SEC Media Yesterdays.

Danny Parker is sports editor of the Times-Gazette.