Lady Tigers Garner Attention as the SEC Favorite at 2009-10 SEC Media Day
BILL MARTIN (10/22/09)
It has become a ritual of the fall, 2009-10 SEC Media Day, Tipoff 2010. Head coach Van Chancellor and senior guard Allison Hightower attended SEC Media Day today at the Birmingham Marriott along with the league's 11 other men's and women's teams. We departed Baton Rouge just after 7:30 a.m. on a charter plane to Bessemer, Ala. SEC officials then escorted us to the hotel. Chancellor and Hightower were joined by men's head coach Trent Johnson and senior Tasmin Mitchell. Media Day is nothing new for Chancellor, who attended it for the third time as a member of the Lady Tiger staff. Chancellor also had experience here when he called SEC games on television and was head coach at Ole Miss. Hightower made a return trip as she attended SEC Media Day last season with then-senior Kristen Morris. As compared to last year's media day, there was a much different feel in the building for LSU. On Thursday, the Lady Tigers receieved attention all day from regional and national media members because for the first time in the 20-year history of the SEC Media Poll, LSU is the league favorite. Chancellor and Hightower fielded questions about handling the role as the favorite and each alluded to the quality of the league where anyone can win the title. Part of SEC Media Day involves 10-minute rotations in different rooms with different networks. Hightower and Chancellor each took turns in interview sessions with the SEC Network, ESPN, ESPNU, Fox Sports South and SECsports.com. Earlier this summer, the SEC announced a 15-year blockbuster deal with ESPN and by the looks of today, that contract is paying off. It will mean much more attention to the SEC on each of ESPN's respective entities. Hightower did a Q & A segment for ESPNU's SEC Weekly show, including her efforts off the court. She discussed her role as leader in the classroom and in LSU's CHAMPS Life Skills program. She also talked about what it was like about being selected as the 2010 SEC Preseason Player of the Year. Hightower and Chancellor were also interviewed by Dave Baker of the SEC Network and SECsports.com. Dave has been covering SEC basketball and football for several years now and does a great job. Prior to interviews, Chancellor spoke to commissioner Mike Slive and other officials from the conference office. The last hour of media day takes place in a ballroom where only print media and newspapers can conduct interviews. Reporters from Knoxville to the Birmingham News and other websites spoke to Chancellor and Hightower. We quickly departed the hotel after 12 p.m. to beat the weather back to Baton Rouge. We made it safely back and it was certainly a very productive day for LSU. With the men's team coming off an SEC title and the women's team picked to win the 2010 title, media attention is at an all-time high for LSU. For the complete press release on SEC Tipoff 2010:
http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=204819162