By: Eric SanInocencio
Twitter: @EricSan
SEC Digital Network
Hoover, Ala. -- The 2012 SEC Media Days are in the books. The record setting event, held at the Wynfrey Hotel, saw all 14 schools in the Southeastern Conference gather to preview the upcoming football season.
While the buzz around this event was the largest it has ever been, the numbers behind it further explain the story. In this column, I'll explain some of the unique bits of information that made 2012 SEC Media Days all the more interesting.
Attendance
Attendance at SEC Media Days was strong again in 2012.
Total Media Credentials Issued -- 1,085
Total Radio Stations Going Live From Event -- 33
Number of Media Votes For Preaseason All-SEC Team -- 222 (Highest Ever)
Guides, Quotes and Schedules
When you have a large number of media at any event, you have to provide them with the essentials.
Media Guides Delivered -- 9,000 (600 per school, plus the SEC's guide)
Schedule Cards Handed Out -- 2,200
Copies of Coach/Player Quotes -- 12,000
Cases Of Paper Used -- 6
A Trending Topic
The official hash tag for this event on Twitter was #SECKickoff12, and it was used to categorized all that was happening here at the Wynfrey. The excitement level for SEC Media Days reached more than just the Southeast, as the numbers below will help illustrate.
#SECKickoff12 "Trending" Nationally (United States) -- 2 (Tuesday, Thursday)
SEC Related Trending Topics (United States) -- 6 (Texas A&M, Nick Saban, Hugh Freeze, SEC, John L. Smith, Kevin Sumlin)
Total #SECKickoff12 Tweets -- 3,015 (via Topsy.com)
Travel
Before SEC Media Days can start, the coaches and student-athletes being covered have to actually get here.
Total Trips To Airport -- 28
The Food
With over 1000 people at the event, as you can imagine, snacks and drinks can disappear in a hurry. Even the coaches and student-athletes chipped in on this one.
Total Gallons Of Coffee Consumed -- 20 gallons (16 regular, 4 decaf)
Dr. Pepper Consumed -- Over 5,000
Golden Flake Chips Eaten -- 63,000
Bottled Water For Players/Coaches -- 10 cases
A Busy Man
Commissioner Mike Slive spends plenty of time with the media during this event. Slive, in his 10th year at the helm of the SEC, has a full schedule and can be found answering questions throughout SEC Media Days
Total Mike Slive Interviews (FINAL) -- 75
The Reason We Are Here
Other than a chance to get together to talk about SEC football, media days are about interviews. While there are several that take place as players and coaches roam around the grounds, each has a scheduled rotation they must go through during their time here.
Total "Rotation" Interviews (Per Player/Coach): 13
Total Scheduled Interviews During SEC Media Days: 741