The Southeastern Conference’s annual media days kick off the unofficial return of college football today in Hoover, Ala. LSU won’t get its turn in the spotlight until Thursday, but the Tigers are far from the only storyline that will play out at the Wynfrey Hotel this week. Here’s a list of what to look for during SEC Media Days.
Johnny Football mania
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is the biggest star and celebrity in the sport. After his meteoric rise to the top last season, the Aggie signal caller spent his offseason in the spotlight for some of the wrong reasons. Between partying like a rock star, sitting courtside at NBA games, ranting on Twitter and pleading guilty to a misdemeanor Monday, there are questions if Manziel is 100 percent focused on football. Texas A&M will need him to be if they want to build on last season’s success. Manziel will be repeatedly asked about his off-field persona, and everyone wants to see how he handles it.            
Can anyone challenge Alabama?
With back-to-back national championships and three titles in four seasons, it’s an Alabama world, and everyone else is just living in it. The Crimson Tide are still loaded, and the question is the same as last season: Does anyone have what it takes to knock Bama off? Texas A&M and Georgia seem to have the best chances to end the run, but it should be interesting to see if anyone is feeling confident enough to throw rocks at the throne this week.
Miles will be bombarded with Hill questions
Now that Jeremy Hill has plead guilty to a battery charge stemming from an April bar fight, LSU coach Les Miles will have no choice but to answer some questions. So far, Miles has declined to comment pending the situation playing out in court, but now that Hill has plead guilty and we have all seen the video of him clocking the guy, Miles will be asked about it time and time again this week. “No comment” isn’t going to cut it in front of the 1,000-plus media members in attendance.
Bielema should entertain
New University of Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema may have put a target on his own back before he even coached a game in the SEC. Upon taking the Arkansas job, he boasted that his Wisconsin record in the Big 10 was better than Saban’s was during his time at Michigan State. Taking shots at the guy who’s won three titles in four seasons is a bold move, the question is wether Bielema will backtrack off his comments or just keep on talking. Saban will most likely downplay the comments and let his team do the talking when the Hogs visit Tuscaloosa on Oct. 19.
The last season of the BCS
With a playoff coming to college football in 2014, this will be the last national champion determined by the BCS. The system has been criticized since its inception, and you can be sure some coaches will take parting shots as the most maligned postseason system in sports enters its last season. Make sure to watch South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier — the “Ol’ Ball Coach” has been taking shots at the BCS for more then a decade.
Jadeveon Clowney
If healthy, Clowney is the best player in the country and will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. There was speculation this offseason that the South Carolina defensive end could sit out parts or all of this season in order to ensure he doesn’t suffer an injury that would jeopardize that draft stock. Clowney will be in Hoover this week, and he and Spurrier will have to answer questions about this season and his future.
Sabanic worship
Hoover is about an hour outside of Tuscaloosa and the Crimson Tide faithful will camp out outside of the Wynfrey Hotel for days just to catch a brief glimpse of their exalted leader. Saban has amassed a cult-like following that would make Tim Tebow blush. Anyone arriving for media day will have to wade through a sea of houndstooth and crimson to get through the front door.
James Moran is a 20-year-old mass communication major from Beacon, N.Y.