With college basketball and football both concluded, the month of April can tend to be a slow one for SEC sports. That was not the case however this April as several big events captivated SEC fans across the conference that are listed below.
Mark Pope’s Grand Entrance
Possibly the most badass entrance ever into Rupp Arena.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) April 14, 2024
The 1996 Kentucky championship team walks out of the bus, with new coach Mark Pope hoisting the trophy.
Welcome home Coach! pic.twitter.com/uKgxDkHqlm
With the exit of John Calipari as Kentucky’s head basketball coach, the Wildcats hired Mark Pope from BYU. Pope was a member and the captain of the 1996 national championship team for the Wildcats.
Kentucky fans loaded Rupp Arena a few weeks ago welcome Pope back to Lexington. And Pope did not disappoint them. He came with several other members of the 1996 team in tow off a bus in the stadium. Pope was the last one off the bus raising the trophy as a symbol of what he and Wildcat fans hope returns. The crowd went wild.
Garrett Nussmeier Shines at LSU Spring Game
While it was only a spring game, Nussmeier has been the backup in Baton Rouge the last few season for the LSU Tigers to Heisman trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels who departed for the NFL along with the Tigers’ top two receivers in Malik Nabors and Brian Thomas Jr.
With that being said, much speculation was made about how Nussmeier would look. And Nussmeier did not disappoint completing all seven of his passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Unveiling of Florida State’s 13-0 Unconquered Rings
This was quite the controversy on social media and pertained of interest especially to those at the University of Georgia who defeated the Florida State Seminoles of the ACC in the 63-3 in the Sugar Bowl.
With the historical significance of the meaning “unconquered” to Florida State University not known by many outside of it, it led to much heated debates over whether or not the rings were just.
TJ McCants Returns to Oxford to Face Former Team
McCants return to Swayze field for the first time since his departure after helping lead the Rebels to the 2022. As the Rebel fans always are, they gave McCants a well-deserved standing ovation as he came up to the plate for his first at bat for his current team, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
1st Round Draft Selections from the SEC
The 2024 NFL Draft has concluded and six players from the SEC were selected in the first 18 selections. These players. Highlighting the list was LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner and LSU wide receivers Malik Nabors.