ATLANTA – The Southeastern Conference has been running low on colorful personalities during its annual Football Media Days event.
Former Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was no longer at the podium in 2016. Former LSU coach Les Miles wasn’t around last summer, and former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema didn’t show up this week.
Enter Mississippi State newcomer Joe Moorhead, who takes over a program that went 9-4 last season and returns 17 of 22 starters. Moorhead was born in Pittsburgh and spent the past two seasons as Penn State’s offensive coordinator, and everywhere in between was either in the Midwest or Northeast.
Moorhead was asked Wednesday if he’s experienced any “Welcome to the South” moments.
“I guess stepping out of your front door every day and being smacked in the face with the humidity. That’s a pretty good one,” Moorhead said, “and everything being wrapped in bacon. That’s pretty good, too.”