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          SEC Blog

          SEC media days: Day 3 recap

          • Greg Ostendorf, ESPN Staff WriterJul 16, 2015, 01:00 AM
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            • Covers the SEC.
            • Joined ESPN in 2012.
            • Graduate of the University of Alabama.
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          HOOVER, Ala. -- Nick Saban and Bret Bielema highlighted Day 3 of SEC media days, and they did it in their own unique ways.

          Saban, who was taking part in his 14th media days, took the podium first and addressed some of the major issues surrounding his program and college football in general. He's never been afraid to speak his mind, and that was no different Wednesday.

          The Alabama head coach did not back down when asked about former player Jonathan Taylor. Taylor was dismissed earlier this offseason after being charged with domestic violence, a charge that was later dropped.

          "I do not regret giving players opportunities," Saban said. "This is an opportunity that we gave a player that didn't work.

          "But in fairness to the player, he didn't really get the kind of due process before he was judged as maybe he or any person should. But it is what it is. We've all moved on. He was in zero tolerance, and therefore, we've moved on. We do not condone that kind of behavior in our program."

          But while Saban was good, Bielema might have been better. He didn't speak out all that much on major issues -- though he's never been afraid to do so -- but instead, he entertained the crowd with his humor and with his emotion. The Arkansas coach got choked up a little when talking about the three seniors he brought with him from Fayetteville.

          "That means a lot," running back Jonathan Williams said. "Me, Keon [Hatcher] and Brandon [Allen] are all guys that he didn't recruit but are guys that bought into the system that he was running, and we've been able to benefit because of that."

          Here were a few of our other favorite moments from Day 3:

          Ohio State fans trolling

          Why would a pair of Ohio State fans show up at SEC media days? To let Alabama and the rest of the SEC know who won the College Football Playoff. Why else?

          Best of Bielema

          The Arkansas coach is quickly becoming one of the media darlings in the SEC. Here are some of his best lines from an enjoyable Day 3.

          On Steve Spurrier's jab from the day before: "I will say this, I respect my elders."

          On why the Arkansas offensive line is on the media cover: "Selfishly, they're the one group I feel good about taking a picture with."

          On last season's record: "At the end of the year last year, not a lot of people would have loved to play Arkansas, and that's just fine by me. But bottom line, we're 7-6. That's kind of like pop pop, fizz fizz. It's not a real exciting thing. It's just what it is."

          On his shoe choice: "I wore a little bling on the shoes just to have a little fun. I saw a coach walk in here yesterday with his Adidas on. We're a Nike school. First thing I said was, hell, let's start a little Nike-Adidas war."

          Speaking of those shoes

          The coach Bielema was referring to above was Dan Mullen, who wore a pair of Yeezys to media days on Tuesday. Not to be outdone, Bielema showed up in a pair of Air Force 1s -- the special "bling, bling" edition.

          Don't forget Kentucky and Missouri

          It wasn't all Alabama and Arkansas on Wednesday. SEC East foes Kentucky and Missouri were also in Hoover for media days.

          The Wildcats arrived with a chip on their shoulder after losing their final six games last year. They're ready to put that season behind them and move on to this season, where it's all about getting over the hump.

          The big news out of Missouri was the status of star defensive lineman Harold Brantley, who was officially ruled out for the season by head coach Gary Pinkel after he was involved in a serious car accident last month.

          Best Alabama fan of the day?

          The Bear Bryant impersonator or the Alabama ring head guy? You decide.