Link Gumbo: SEC Media Days

The wait is over. SEC Media Days kicked off Monday from Hoover, Ala. and will be rolling through Thursday this week.

ESPN will be broadcasting coverage of the event all week long. The full programming schedule can be found here. A recap of commissioner Greg Sankey’s remarks may be found here.

The Tigers had their time in the spotlight already this afternoon, represented by head coach Ed Orgeron, wide receiver D.J. Chark, running back Derrius Guice and defensive lineman Christian LaCouture.

But the rest of the LSU team was definitely there in spirit.

Orgeron spoke for his very first time in a decade on SEC Media Days, and expressed a lot of pride in the team he now has full command of.

He also addressed the quarterback situation that everyone can’t seem to stop talking about.

He also passed on a few personnel notes: quarterback Danny Etling appears to be back near 100 percent following his back surgery, although Arden Key will still be slowed by his shoulder at the start of training camp. Additionally, massive nose tackle recruit Tyler Shelvin remains on track to qualify. Orgeron also had some words for Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise, who remains in the hospital following his shooting a few weeks ago. SB Nation correspondent Morgan Moriarty has a recap of his remarks here.

There’s no question Chark will be expected to be one of LSU’s most important offensive players on the field this year. He acknowledges he’ll be assuming a much heavier role this season than he has in the past.

Guice was his typical self and kept everyone thoroughly entertained throughout the day. The Advocate also tailed him through his day.

That pink suit that everyone loved so much? He pulled it right off the mannequin. We can’t make this stuff up.

How many people have you heard speculating Guice will ultimately surpass Leonard Fournette, if he hasn’t already done so? LaCouture very well may have answered that question Monday. According to the defensive lineman, taking down Guice is more difficult than tackling Fournette ever was.

Another obvious topic of conversation for LaCouture was the honorary No. 18 jersey he’s been selected to wear.

While LSU is totally finished for SEC Media Days this year, several players from other teams have yet to speak. Look for Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt to take the podium on Tuesday.

A full video of Coach O’s main room presser is available here:

And one of the side rooms:

Likewise, here is Guice:

LaCouture:

And Chark:

In some other news, former Tiger and SEC Network star Marcus Spears will be getting his own weekly show along with former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy...former quarterback Brandon Harris announced that he has officially graduated from LSU, setting the stage for his transfer to North Carolina for the 2017 season...Bret Bielema gonna Bret Bielema.