BY MIKE SZVETITZ AND ANDREW GRIBBLE
STAFF WRITERS

Editor’s Note: Sports Editor Mike Szvetitz and Auburn University beat writer Andrew Gribble will be in Hoover all week for SEC Media Days. Each day, they will give five things they’d like to tell you about.

1. While some coaches tried to crack bad jokes to win over the media, LSU coach Les Miles talked about his family. Though humor likely wasn’t intended, Miles’ demeanor and powerful enunciation made his first few sentences the most enjoyable of any SEC coach.
“Well, summer is over. I trust it is for you, as well. The Miles family played youth sports and swam, had the opportunity to get our feet in some sand. I reacquainted myself with my children. I find I have four children, two of them that call me dad, and two of them that call me daddy. I enjoy that.”

2. Lost amid, well, everything else he said, Lane Kiffin threw another tongue-in-cheek jab at Urban Meyer and the Gators after he displayed his first-team ballot, which proved he voted for Tim Tebow.
“By the way,” Kiffin said, “I voted for 11 Florida Gators for first team.”
You stay classy, coach Kiff.

3. It’s good to see a smile on Antonio Coleman’s face once again. There was no Auburn player that wore the Tigers’ woeful 2008 season more than AC. It will be interesting to see if he does the same this year when Auburn inevitably loses a couple games or if he’s learned a new way to cope.

4. Steve Spurrier made a big mistake not making sure Tim Tebow was on his first-team ballot. The media members Friday made an even bigger mistake by roasting him over the stake and preventing him from talking about his team.

5. We all know that Spurrier comes out as the biggest loser from this year’s SEC Media Days, but who’s the biggest winner? Our vote goes to Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead, who now has all the motivation in the world to prove he’s capable enough to merit first-team attention without a witch hunt ensuing.

—Andrew Gribble

1. It was Steve Spurrier, in the library with the lead pipe.
Steve Spurrier did it. He didn’t vote for Tim Tebow. Can we all get some sleep now? Actually, as you already know, it was a mix-up between Spurrier and his director of football operations. Spurrier wanted to vote for Tebow, but he didn’t check his list twice to make sure it was on the ballot that way. Something about having too many Gators already on the ballot. Whatever.
A lot of people give Spurrier flack for being too flippant, too nonchalant or acting like he doesn’t care or that he’s better than everyone else. But Friday, he was genuinely sorry he made that mistake. He apologized profusely. And, you could tell, it tore him up. Don’t worry Ol Ball Coach, I forgive you.

2. Checking out of hotel rooms scares me. I always have a fear of leaving something behind. Seriously. It takes me about 37 minutes to walk around, checking under beds, sinks and desks to make sure I didn’t forget a pair of socks or my wallet. It’s a condition my therapist and I are working on.

3. Gene Chizik had a change of heart Friday. During his meeting with Auburn beat writers minutes before he faced the print media room at the Wynfrey, Chizik would not disclose for whom he voted in the coaches’ preseason poll. He wouldn’t even give a hint of if he did or did not select Tim Tebow for the top quarterback.
Something happened in the five minutes it took to get from that meeting to the podium. Because he finally revealed his vote (Tebow) when he was asked in front of hundreds of reporters. It was a wise, wise decision.

4. Lane Kiffin is not afraid to answer questions. Say what you want about the youngest coach in the SEC, but he’s feisty. And honest. Or at least won’t duck when tossed a tough question. Maybe that comes with being young. Maybe it’s because he’s so confident. Maybe it’s because he just doesn’t have anything to hide. Whatever it is, Lane Kiffin is reporter’s dream. He’s definitely this season’s SEC Media Days Rookie of the Year.

5. We’re less than two weeks away from the start of practice in preparation for the 2009 season. We’re looking forward to football season, no doubt. But we’re also looking forward to one more week of peace and quiet before the storm. If you need us, we’ll be on the couch.

—Mike Szvetitz