South Alabama head football coach Major Applewhite is my last interview of the day, but I was able to preview Applewhite’s mood when he assumed the stage for Sun Belt Media Days. Standing rigidly behind the podium, a reporter asks the third-year head coach for his opinions on recent NCAA rule changes. “Not my patch of grass to tend,” answered Applewhite. “The football field is still 100 yards, right? That’s all I care about.”
Applewhite has never been the most cheerful of men, at least not a Sun Belt Media Days. He seems a man who would much rather be wearing a t-shirt and gym shorts, prowling the sidelines, engaging his team. He’s not a suit-and-tie guy. When he sat down with me and Dusty Thibodeaux at day’s end, he unleashed a litany of NIL and portal related-and-adjacent grievances, which Fun Belt Podcast will post the moment I discover the energy.
It’s apparent that losing six key members of his team to the Spring portal last season still irks Applewhite. It’s not the mobility that bugs him – “We live in a capitalist society!” he said, admitting that players have every right to be compensated and “work” where they want. From what I gathered, Applewhite has qualms with the haphazard roll out of NCAA rules, the inconsistency in which they are enforced, and how the P4 seems to do whatever they want regardless. “They wanted to get Tim Couch for accepting a Subway sandwich at Media Days,” said Applewhite, which is a story I’m not familiar with, but it scans. Yeah. Back in the day, college athletes were allowed to receive zip.
Again, just to be clear, Applewhite wasn’t begrudging player compensation – he wants them treated like employees with perks like health insurance and workman’s comp. I think Applewhite’s frustration lies in the chaotic nature of this new landscape. There are no rules apart from the Power Four takes what it wants.
Meanwhile, Arkansas State head coach Butch Jones arrives relaxed and refreshed, as if he brought his Sleep Number Bed to New Orleans. Six years deep in his tenure at Arkansas State, he is the longest serving coach in the Sun Belt West. He was flanked by his fun-sized, all purpose yard gobbler Chauncy Cobb and his hard hitting safety Brandon Barnes. Even though football is a mere 50 days away, the three of them can’t stop talking about my shirt – brightly pink and festooned with cartoon Godzillas. I didn’t mean to create a distraction, but my shirt has become the main attraction.
I met Sonny Cumbie, head coach for Louisiana Tech. He’s a nice guy. Also, Blake Anderson is back as a Sun Belt head coach. “I think I remember you!” the new Southern Miss leader says, but probably not really remembering. He hasn’t aged a day – even the prospect of coaching a team comprised of more than 70 new members doesn’t add a grey hair to his head. I asked one of his players, Davis Dalton, to explain the difference between Coach Charlie Huff and Coach Blake Anderson. “Coach Anderson is more fun,” said Dalton. And yes, Coach Anderson confirmed that trick plays are in the playbook. We speak briefly about The Fainting Goat: “If only the pass was better!”
Troy brought their punter to Media Days, Evan Crenshaw. I honestly can’t think of a Sun Belt Media Days that featured a punter, but Crenshaw is either unaware of this or doesn’t care. He turns out to be an engaging interview. He also likes my shirt.
PHOTOS: Sun Belt and Mine