Tommy Trott is well aware of SEC Media Days.
He’s heard from former teammates and other people who have attended the annual, three-day media circus — which doubles as the kickoff to football season — that it’s a never-forget experience.
He also knows that speaking to reporters is just half of his role.
The other half? Dress to impress.
“My brother’s been looking at some powder-blue, baby-blue tuxedos, maybe some tails,” Trott joked. “He wants to suit me up.”
Trott, a fifth-year senior, along with senior defensive end Antonio Coleman, will represent Auburn as the two student-athletes to join
head coach Gene Chizik at the Wynfrey Hotel this week.
Along with each head coach, all 12 SEC football teams bring an offensive and defensive player to talk to the hundreds of media members in attendance.
The festivities begin today with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky kicking off. Thursday it’s Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Florida. Friday, Auburn will be joined by South Carolina, Tennessee and LSU.
And Trott can’t wait.
“I think it’s such an honor to be selected, to be up there to represent the offensive part of my team and the team as a whole,” the tight end said.
“I’m real excited about the opportunity. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
Trott enters his final season on the Plains trying to bounce back from a torn ACL he suffered last November in the Georgia game.
As one of the leaders of an inexperienced offense, which is trying to digest new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s offense as well as an entirely new coaching staff, Trott knows there will be a lot of questions for him this week.
And he’ll be ready.
“I’m going to field any question they throw at me,” he said last week. “My experience here at Auburn’s been great, so I don’t have anything negative to say. I don’t have any questions I’m looking to dodge. Really, I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m sure they’re going to ask questions about the old coaching staff, about the new coaching staff, about how I’ve done since I’ve been here. And I’ll just tell them, you know, I love the old coaching staff. They did so much for me the four years I’ve been here, not just on the field, but off the field. They made me the man that I am.
“This coaching staff, they’re young, they’re exciting, they love being here. Being a fifth-year senior who’s been doing this for five years, practicing every day (is hard). For these coaches to come in here and make it a lot of fun again, it makes it fun and exciting again.”
And as far as his wardrobe, Trott, after much thought and prodding from his brother, is going to keep it simple.
Maybe.
“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m going to do it, but maybe I’ll catch a wild hare,” he laughed. “Maybe a little bow tie.”
| 737-2513
SEC Media Days Schedule
TODAY
VANDERBILT: Coach Bobby Johnson; CB Myron Lewis; C Bradley Vierling
ARKANSAS: Coach Bobby Petrino; DT Malcolm Sheppard; TE D.J. Williams
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Coach Dan Mullen; OT Derek Sherrod; LB K.J. Wright
KENTUCKY: Coach Rich Brooks; OT Zipp Duncan; CB Trevard Lindley
THURSDAY
ALABAMA: Coach Nick Saban; OL Mike Johnson; LB Rolando McClain
GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt; QB Joe Cox; DT Jeff Owens
OLE MISS: Coach Houston Nutt; SAF Kendrick Lewis: QB Jevan Snead
FLORIDA: Coach Urban Meyer; LB Brandon Spikes; QB Tim Tebow
FRIDAY
AUBURN: Coach Gene Chizik; DE Antonio Coleman; TE Tommy Trott
SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Steve Spurrier; WR Moe Brown; LB Eric Norwood
TENNESSEE: Coach Lane Kiffin; SAF Eric Berry; RB Montario Hardesty
LSU: Coach Les Miles; OT Ciron Black; LB Jacob Cutrera