SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opened SEC football media days yesterday by "touching on a number of topics, from instant replay to transfer rules to the expanded power his office has to reschedule weather-disrupted games," according to Scott Rabalais of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. Sankey "expressed his dislike of football coaches blocking transfers, saying change to that rule is 'something that should move forward.'" Sankey also "discussed the conference’s first foray into 'collaborative' instant replay for football last season." Sankey said that the collaborative process "remains an experimental rule as far as the NCAA is concerned," but one he "hopes will become permanent." Sankey: "By all accounts, it worked well. We’re still not perfect in our officiating, but we will strive for that this year." Sankey "reiterated the broader authority his office now has for rescheduling weather-affected games like last season’s LSU-Florida matchup." He said, "Obviously, there was a lot of learning from last year. The commissioner now has authority to place that game" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 7/11).
LOT TO COVER: In Nashville, Adam Spaarks notes Sankey "dismissed" divisional realignment talk as "merely media speculation." Sankey: "It has not been an agenda item at meetings. It has been a conversation at most large press conferences in which I have appeared. That’s the extent of the conversation." Sankey said that the SEC "still could expand to a 14-week regular season, keeping 12 games and adding a second bye week." Sankey: "There is not opposition here to a 14-week season. There is curiosity and interest. ... But I want to be very careful about not moving football practice even earlier into the summer" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/11). In Birmingham, James Crepea noted Sankey "wants the league to 're-engage' and review its serious misconduct policy" with the SEC "behind on an issue where it once led." Sankey: "It's time for us to reengage the working group to look at these issues." Sankey said that there are a "'number of times' a change in policy could be enacted during a year and it would not necessarily have to wait to be voted upon" until Spring Meetings in '18 (AL.com, 7/10). In Jacksonville, Garry Smits noted Florida AD Scott Stricklin, Arkansas AD Jeff Long, Alabama coach Nick Saban, Missouri coach Barry Odom, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason and Auburn coach Guz Malzahn will "form a committee to discuss recruiting reforms" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 7/10).
SETTLING IN: In K.C., Blair Kerkhoff writes as Sankey begins his third year as commissioner, "not much has changed since he took over for Mike Slive." The conference "continues to dominate on the gridiron and other surfaces and doesn’t miss this opportunity to pat itself on the back for these accomplishments (and shouldn’t)" (K.C. STAR, 7/11). The Baton Rouge ADVOCATE's Rabalais writes, "If you want side-splitting laughter, the commissioner isn’t your man. If you want thoughtful, incisive, if occasionally controversial decisions, then give the former Northwestern State intern a listen" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 7/11).
