NASHVILLE | When Auburn's head coach took the podium at SEC Media Days last year, a thunderstorm erupted over downtown Atlanta and the College Football Hall of Fame, so much that you could hear the heavy drops falling on the roof of the building next to the Omni Hotel.

This year in Nashville? Well, a vast storm did come through, but it was nice enough to hold off until Hugh Freeze and the three Auburn players were already done speaking with the media throng.

Yes, it's a new era for Auburn football as Freeze and his staff attempt to rebuild what was basically left for dead. All of the controversy about his hire is gone; only the results matter when the Tigers take the field on September 2 against UMass. While a black cloud foreshadowed last season, the sunny skies of Tuesday morning showed what was possible for this program.

Let's get into some ramblings.

- Derek Mason throwing shade at his former Auburn boss was not the day's highlight, but it certainly came close. One day many of these coaches will open up about their experience working for you know who. I will be there for every last story.

- Listening to the radio on the drive up to Nashville, John Michael Montgomery's "Be My Baby Tonight" came on. It is one of my go-to karaoke songs (along with Backstreet Boys, as you all discovered), but the memory of recording the video and watching it numerous times to memorize the lyrics came flooding back. Who else did this? I can't be the only one.

- I overheard some reporter say of Auburn's player representatives, "Boy, they really brought the star power for us." Sir, they are great leaders and absolutely owe you nothing. The guy didn't even cover Auburn.

- I wrote about this on Tuesday, but Elijah McAllister is an exceptional human being. So many great things ahead for him.

- There's an exit on I-65 in Tennessee that is for Columbia and Chapel Hill. What are the odds of that? UNC and South Carolina should play a game right in the middle of those two places.

- Luke Deal was appearing at the podium when I thought about bringing up the time I saw one of his drives hit a house on the golf course, but he's such a good kid.

- Also, on the drive up, I remembered my days going to Kings Island in Ohio with my friends. Once on the pirate ship, one side would yell, "Tastes Great!" while the other side, when their portion was high in the air, would yell, "Less Filling." Was this strictly a Kings Island thing or a trend throughout the country?

- Staying on amusement parks, my local one, Camden Park in West Virginia, has a roller coaster that I'm certain hasn't passed a safety test since the Vietnam War. It's scarier than any ride I have ever been on.

- Kirby Smart seemed more worried about the complacency of his team than, you know, all of the troublesome stuff going on off the field for the Bulldogs.

- Where in the world did Zach Arnett's southern accent come from? He's only been in Mississippi since 2020. Also, he has perfected Nick Saban's use of "aight" at the end of sentences. I'm confident he's practiced that.

- If you are ever in Nashville and want one of the best dinners of your life, go to Jeff Ruby's. The original is in Cincinnati but has since opened up locations in Nashville, Louisville and Lexington. The shrimp cocktail is worth it. Also, I might have mentioned this before, but I am doubling down on this.

- Brent Venables continuing to take shots at opposing coaches and programs seems like insecurity. He just got demolished by Deion Sanders in a war of words after calling out the Colorado coach. He should worry more about coaching than everyone else. Oh, and even though the previous regime happened, Auburn lucked out by not getting him.

- Not sure what I would rather do less: see the new Indiana Jones movie or eat at Applebee's. Yes, I'm still griping about Indiana Jones.

- YouTube of the Week: I'm a massive fan of Korean BBQ, so watching these young lads in London (Fulham Boys School) get to experience it for the first time and then actually go to South Korea to have it fresh is my dream.

- There was a crapload of construction going on in downtown Nashville, especially surrounding the media hotel where the event was held. The directions the SEC office sent us sincerely did not help in finding the way to the hotel. I need a police escort next time.

- Since we are on the subject, the SEC is already giving in to Texas and having next year's media days in Dallas. Dear lord, I've seen toddlers wait out their parents longer to go to bed than this.

- I will now stop griping about SEC decisions.

- As I said in my running thread of his speech on Tuesday, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is not exactly exciting to hear.

- Apparently, I am the only person who has heard of "soup belly," which is how your stomach feels after eating a bowl of soup. Everyone at the lunch table on Tuesday looked at me as if I had three heads when I brought up this phenomenon.

- I passed Buc-ee's in Athens, Ala., on Monday and gladly drove right past it. I'm still not buying the hype.

- With The Open this weekend, my alarm will likely be set for pre-dawn as I try to root for scores above par in typical English weather (see: rain) and hope that a gust of wind somehow blows Brandel Chamblee into the cold sea.

- Finally, it was a great moment to see Greg Sankey and Arnett honor the legacy of Mike Leach on the first two days of the event. I shall lead a protest if he doesn't get into the College Football Hall of Fame.