​Florida Coach Jon Sumrall scolds reporter at SEC Media Day: ‘You’re lucky I’m not gonna throw this freaking podium’ originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.A new era is underway for Florida, around a month away from an official fresh start under Jon Sumrall.After failing to put up double-digit wins even once in their four seasons under Billy Napier, the Gators brought in a coach fresh off a CFP appearance in 2025, and he’s already setting a new standard.At SEC Media Day in Tampa, Florida, a clip of Sumrall calling out a reporter whose phone went off went viral, with the new Gators coach clearly displeased at being interrupted.Here’s a look at Sumrall’s interaction with a reporter and more on his upcoming season at Florida.MORE: Why Kirby Smart called Lane Kiffin the ‘Adonis of all college football coaches’Jon Sumrall scolds reporterSumrall attended his first SEC Media Day on Wednesday — certainly a different animal than his previous head coaching stints in the American and Sun Belt conferences.During his time at the podium, however, it was Sumrall who put the pressure on a reporter. In the middle of an answer, he heard a phone go off from the media section and immediately called someone out on it.”You would be kicked out of our team meeting. I swear,” Sumrall said with a straight face. “You’re lucky I’m not gonna throw this freaking podium right now. That drives me crazy.””You would be kicked out of our team meeting. I swear. You’re lucky I’m not gonna throw this freaking podium right now. That drives me crazy.” – Jon Sumrall to a reporter whose phone went off during his SEC Media Days press conference 😆 pic.twitter.com/w7zwItdPWO— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) July 22, 2026MORE: Why Michigan AD Warde Manuel will step down at end of year Jon Sumrall career record Florida is hoping that Sumrall’s experience doing “more with less” at both Troy and Tulane will carry over to the SEC.Here’s a look at Sumrall’s four season as a head coach, all resulting in winning records:YearTeamRecordBowl Game/Postseason Result2022Troy12-2Cure Bowl (W)2023Troy11-2N/A2024Tulane9-5Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (L)2025Tulane11-3CFP First Round (L)Florida 2026 scheduleHere’s a look at Florida’s schedule for its first year under Sumrall.DateTime (ET)OpponentSept. 57:45 p.m.vs. FAUSept. 125:30 p.m.vs. CampbellSept. 197 p.m.at AuburnSept. 26TBDvs. Ole MissOct. 3TBDat MissouriOct. 10TBDvs. South CarolinaOct. 17TBDat TexasOct. 313:30 p.m.vs. GeorgiaNov. 7TBDvs. OklahomaNov. 14TBDat KentuckyNov. 21TBDvs. VanderbiltNov. 273:30 p.m.at Florida State