Auburn SID Kirk Sampson Featured On SECCountry.com
Story courtesy SECCountry.com: https://www.seccountry.com/auburn/meet-kirk-sampson-auburn-footballs-unsung-rock-star-sec-media-days
Meet Kirk Sampson, Auburn football's unsung rock star of SEC Media Days
by Lauren Shute
HOOVER, Ala. — Gus Malzahn is speaking at the main podium in the Wynfrey Hotel ballroom at the 2017 SEC Media Days.
The head coach introduces Auburn’s three player representatives who will be interviewed shortly. Malzahn then explains how excited he is for the 2017 season before answering questions asked by journalists from across the country.
Off to the side, another intriguing scene unfolds — one just outside of the frame those watching at home are missing.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who just introduced Malzahn, is sitting next to Auburn’s sports information director Kirk Sampson. The two whisper for a few minutes, smiling. And it doesn’t look like they’re talking about Malzahn’s time at the microphone.
“U2,” Sankey laughs. “That’s what we were talking about over there.”
Both Sampson and Sankey are avid fans of Bono and crew, having been to several shows in recent years. Whenever they see each other they compare notes.
Kirk Sampson (left) and Greg Sankey (middle) sat close, but off to the side when Gus Malzahn stood at the podium. (Lauren Shute/SEC Country).
Auburn associate director of communications Dan Froehlich (left back corner) looks on as Tray Matthews takes questions from a crowd of reporters (Lauren Shute/SEC Country).
Braden Smith was eager to impress and ended up as a media star for the Tigers in Hoover. But he admittedly hasn’t always been that keen on media appearances. Sampson has been a big part of his evolution.
“Definitely, we had a little session that probably lasted about an hour just kind of going over some questions we might have,” Smith said. “They’ve done a really good job in preparing us for whatever might come our way basically.”
While some might wonder how much players are coached on what to say and topics to avoid, Sampson encourages players to “be who they are” and enjoy the experience.
Auburn’s trio of Smith, Daniel Carlson and Tray Matthews were among 42 out of nearly 1,400 football players representing the 14 SEC teams at media days.
“You’re in pretty elite company,” Sampson says. “So it’s a great opportunity.”
It’s also a tremendous experience for those who might want to take another career path, too. Sampson said he can think of at least one Auburn player who was so impressive during his time in Hoover he eventually landed a job in broadcasting.
But things don’t always go according to plan. Mishaps arise, such as in 2010, when former linebacker Josh Bynes left his dress shoes in another bag by mistake.
“That was pretty comical,” Sampson recalled. “He got a lot of attention for his wardrobe — minus the shoes.”
Sampson fondly remembers former tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who represented Auburn at SEC Media Days in two consecutive years. One year, Lutzenkirchen — who was killed in a car accident in June 2014 — was interviewed by a kid reporter. Then he turned around to interview the young boy.
“They had a lot of fun with it,” Sampson recalls.
If Sampson is lucky his future trips to SEC Media Days will go exactly according to plan, much like his most recent one did. Many media and SEC staff members voiced a belief Malzahn had his best appearance yet. Auburn was picked to finish second in the SEC behind Alabama.
Yet the critical cog in the football wheel, and the rest of his staff probably won’t ever get deserved recognition, but that’s the way they like it.
“Media Days is always a good experience,” Sampson said. “In my time we’ve had a lot of great kids participate and had a lot of fun.”
Sampson is well versed in balancing work and humor at SEC Media Days (Lauren Shute/SEC Country).
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