Day two of Media Days: Caldwell wins the presser

Step aside Steve Spurrier, there is a new sheriff in town for SEC Media Days, and his name is Robbie Caldwell.

Caldwell, recently named interim head football coach at Vanderbilt, stormed onto the SEC scene on Thursday and left the college football world abuzz after what may be considered the best press conference performance in league history.

It wasn’t his football-speak that impressed the hundreds of media present. In fact, it was everything but football that held the audience captive: topics ranging from turkey insemination to pouring concrete.

In this age of canned responses and serious issues where coaches fear being quoted, it was refreshing to listen to a coach who doesn’t take himself too seriously and isn’t afraid to make a few jokes at his own expense.

“This is awesome,” Caldwell announced as he stepped to the podium. “I’ve heard a lot about it for all these years, but never actually seen it.”

“I know the first question you are asking is, Who is Robbie Cadwell?” Caldwell said. “Very few people know me. So I’ve been behind the scenes for a long time. I think I’ve been an assistant for 30-something years. I really don’t know how many.”

Caldwell finished up with his prepared opening statement and took questions from the media. After warming up a bit, the Vanderbilt coach began to let his personality shine — along with his sense of humor.

“I got asked on the radio, they said, What about all the coaches, have they congratulated you? I said, No, not a one. No offense to them, but they don’t know me. They will.”

“I got to see Coach Spurrier today, Coach Richt,” he continued. “They have no idea who I am.”

Perhaps the biggest roar came when Caldwell continued to explain just how unknown he is.

“I can still walk in places and nobody knows me. Last night I was opening the door for people and they gave me a tip. I thought, hey, that’s great. How can you get it any better than that?”

Caldwell was later asked just how big of a tip he received.

“Oh, man, I got a dollar and a half. I gave it back to him. I thought it was pretty good. He just gave me the change he had left. I thought that was pretty good.”

With the sound of media hammering away on their keyboards, afraid of missing a quote, Caldwell continued down the path of self-deprecation in recalling his first college job.

“When I took a pay cut to go to Furman as a full-time assistant, my daddy said, You’re an idiot. I’ve continued to live up to his words, I’m sure (smiling). But the rest is history.”

Caldwell played sports as a youth, but not necessarily because of his athletic ability.

“If you played a sport, you didn’t have to work during a practice time. That’s why I played basketball. I was probably the worst there’s ever been, but I played it so I wouldn’t have to go pour concrete. That’s a fact, tell you the truth.”

“My first hourly paying job was on the turkey farm. I don’t know if I could tell you what my job was, but I was on the inseminating crew. That’s a fact.”

As if the ‘turkey talk’ didn’t provide enough entertainment value, Caldwell threw in an outer space reference — likely another first at Media Days.

“I know I don’t look it, but I feel 18. I may fall over tomorrow, but I’m excited about being here in front of you. I’m not intimidated. I feel like y’all are human just like me, I guess. I don’t think any of you is from outer space. I know you’ll look after me. I appreciate that.”

Still puzzled at the thought of how a self proclaimed ‘country boy’ fit in at Vanderbilt, one media representative asked if it was a cultural adjustment for him when he first took the job with the Commodores. Taking the question in stride, Caldwell stuck with humor.

“I think it was a big adjustment for Vanderbilt with my culture,” he said while smiling. “I tried to give them a little flavor.”

Then, even though it seemed impossible that the allotted time had expired, the moderator stepped in.

“Sadly, we are out of time. Coach Caldwell, thank you.”

The media, for possibly the first time ever at a press conference, applauded.

Chances are, Robbie Caldwell won’t win many football games at Vanderbilt. But if Thursday was any indication, there’s a good chance he may be the most beloved personality in the league — at least for one season.