Sen’Derrick Marks has a problem.
The Auburn defensive tackle learned last month that he’d be representing his team at Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, which begin today.
Each team brings two players — one offensive and one defensive — to Media Days to meet with the assembled reporters and discuss the season ahead. Auburn’s representatives are Marks and senior center Jason Bosley. The duo will head to Hoover on Friday, along with head coach Tommy Tuberville.
Being selected is an honor, especially for Marks, a junior.
He’s the first underclassman to represent Auburn in Hoover since quarterback Jason Campbell in 2003.
But it poses a unique challenge. Which brings us to Marks’ problem.
“I don’t even own a suit, man,” Marks said last week.
Updating his wardrobe before Friday is one of Marks’ top priorities.
After all, the bar has been set high.
SEC Media Days are one part football, one part fashion, at least for the player representatives. Players vie to make fashion statements, with
nothing too over the top.
Former AU safety Junior Rosegreen sported a purple suit in 2004; in ’05, offensive tackle Marcus McNeill joked his cream-and-pinstripe number was made from Tuberville’s tablecloth.
Last year, defensive end Quentin Groves spent almost a month pondering his choice. And Groves, now with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, isn’t letting Marks take his clothing responsibilities lightly.
“Quentin called me before I even found out I was going,” Marks said. “He keeps telling me, I’ve got to wear this or that. He’s got lots of ideas.”
But Marks has already drawn the line.
“Somebody told me they once saw a guy there in a pink suit,” he said. “I can’t see myself wearing a pink suit, so that’s out.”
Once Marks updates his closet with some Hoover-ready formalwear, he can start focusing on answering the media’s questions. He’s not necessarily looking forward to it.
“I heard there’s a lot of cameras there,” he said. “I may be shell-shocked when it starts, stumbling over my words.
“If I’m nervous, though, hopefully they’ll take it easy on me.”
Marks will have plenty to talk about, starting with his own high expectations for the 2008 season. Auburn must break in a new starting quarterback — either junior Chris Todd or sophomore Kodi Burns — and adjust to new coordinators Tony Franklin and Paul Rhoads, while contending in a tough SEC Western Division.
But Marks has his eyes on the ultimate prize.
“It’s simple: Atlanta, then Miami,” Marks said, referring to the site of the SEC title game and the national championship. “You’ve got to strive for that.
“We want a 13-0 season. We want to win the SEC. We want to win a national championship. It’s simple: that’s what we want.”
Media Days starts today, with coaches and players from Florida, Mississippi State, LSU and Vanderbilt. Thursday will see Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Friday features Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas and South Carolina.
cmickle@oanow.com | 737-2561
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