Florida Gators HC Jon Sumrall Steals the Show at SEC Media Day

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall stole the show on SEC Media Day.

It’s the first season he has the privilege of being a coach in the SEC and it’s not a title that he takes lightly.

Growing up in Northern Alabama, the SEC was like a religion to him, and acknowledged how important running a program with such history is.

“I grew up thinking there were three leagues," Sumrall said. “…the AFC, the NFC and the SEC.”

Of course, the conference is going through some changes in his first season. SEC teams will now play nine conference matchups as opposed to the original eight. And when asked about it, Sumrall brushed it off.

"I'm not going to whine and complain about being an SEC head football coach."

Sumrall took the Florida job while in the midst of coaching the Tulane Green Wave to the program’s first ever appearance at the College Football Playoffs.

Unlike most of his peers though, Sumrall opted not to leave midseason to join his new program, so he can leave Tulane in the best position possible.

“That place [Tulane], those kids gave me so much, I was not going to walk out on that situation the wrong way. I think how you walk into a place says a lot about you. I think how you walk out of a place says a lot about you too. So, if somebody wanted me to fly back and forth every day during game prep for a conference championship week, it wasn’t happening. I was going to be locked in to help Tulane win as many games for as long as we could.”

Sumrall's SEC Media Days appearance wasn't just about conference schedules and football. He also gave a glimpse into the standards he'll bring to Gainesville.

In the midst of a sentence, a media member’s phone went off, and Sumrall made it clear how unacceptable that is if it were a team meeting.

“You would be kicked out of our team meeting. I swear. You're lucky I'm not going to throw this freaking podium right now. That drives me crazy.”

In a matter of minutes, Sumrall managed to showcase two sides of the coach Florida hired. He spoke passionately about honoring his commitment to Tulane through the end of its playoff run, then joked about throwing a podium over a ringing cellphone.

If SEC Media Days were any indication, the Gators are getting a coach who values loyalty just as much as discipline.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos