HOOVER, Ala. -- The sweet smell of pigskin is again hitting the atmosphere as Southeastern Conference Media Days commenced on Wednesday.

A coach and a pair of player representatives from every football program in the SEC man the microphones, strap on the radio headsets and grace the camera to talk about the offseason and what lies ahead.

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt manned the podium first and simply glowed when asked about Heisman-hopeful Darren McFadden.

Any coach would if they had a 6-foot-3 tailback with soft hands and 4.3/40 speed.

But, Nutt had even more reason to gloat as he told a story of getting a call from a university professor about McFadden and another tailback, Felix Jones.

Apparently, the talented duo earned enough points in one of their classes to where they didn't have to attend class one particular week.

Nevertheless, there were McFadden and Jones, strapped in and ready to learn.

"That's what it's about. That's the attitude," Nutt said in a fatherly manner.

While some coaches appear to have thoroughly rehearsed their speeches as if they are at political debates and several players look like a deer in headlights, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier takes the stage as if talking to fans who shovel him opportunities for one-liners.

When asked if college football officials could be lured into purposely making gambling-endused bad calls similar to NBA referee Tim Donaghy, Spurrier's response was vintage.

"There have been a few lousily called games that could have used an investigation."

As if being played like a fiddle, the writers responded with the biggest laugh of the day.

The Gamecocks have undergone their fair share of scrutiny under their charismatic leader, but he's taken the steps necessary to clean up shop whenever the situation calls for it. He did come short of saying he would ban his players from partying in Columbia, S.C.'s bar district.

"No, they got to learn how to go out in public without getting in trouble. If they can't, they need to go play for one of these other schools or something.

"No, you got to learn to, you know, mix with everybody. You don't need to be sheltered and all that."

A few questions later, Spurrier did backpedal like a champ after taking a shot at conference and division rival Kentucky.

"We thought we did something big beating Clemson, then Kentucky beat them also."

Auburn's Tommy Tuberville admitted it's been a pleasant summer for him since all the talk across the state has been about Alabama and new Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

In regards to the rivalry with LSU, Tuberville may have passed the baton as Bayou fans' most hated coach.

"Has it passed? Probably has, huh? Y'all take me off the billboards down there?"

Kickoffs are going to start from the 30-yard-line this year and Kentucky coach Rich Brooks thinks it will drastically affect special teams play.

"It's going to be one of the more significant rule changes in several years, maybe in a decade. You're gonna see scoring averages go up. You're gonna see a lot more gimmicks in kickoff coverage."

The NCAA also placed a ban on text messaging recruits.

"Everybody's thumbs are going to be healed starting Aug. 1," Brooks said.

Some coaches were fine with the rule and are content with regulated phone calls and mailing out letters.

Tuberville hopes the NCAA revisits that decision.

"I personally like text messaging because you can send out a short message and you know the young man is going to get it and you don't have to leave a message, keep calling back."

Danny Parker is sports editor of the Times-Gazette.