Some SEC coaches went into elaborate opening statements this week at SEC media days. Others were short and sweet when they took to the podium in Nashville.

Which coach’s opening statement was the longest?

Saturday Down South did a deep dive on the topic and revealed its findings Thursday, via social media.

As a quick recap, Eli Drinkwitz’s opening comments were long on purpose. Georgia’s Kirby Smart teased the Missouri coach about how long he talked, then proceeded to monologue. Then, of course, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer was reminded by his kids he went way too long last year and warned him not to repeat the mistake. He failed.

So, a day before the media preseason rankings is released, here are the league’s rankings for longest opening statements, based on word count.

Smart tops this year’s list with 2,648 words. The Georgia coach called out Drinkwitz on Tuesday.

“After Eli’s filibuster yesterday, I have decided to set an alarm that will not let me go over,” Smart said. “I love you, Eli. That was directed right at you.”

Smart’s timer was set for 10 minutes, more than a minute under the time it took Drinkwitz to finish. Smart missed by a mile, talking for nearly 16 minutes.

With that 28-word quote, Smart out-talked the filibustering Drinkwitz by 671 words. But the Missouri coach wasn’t even second in the rankings. He finished third with a 2,174 word count.

“That was probably the most efficient roster update I have ever provided,” Drinkwitz admitted on Monday. “I tried to kill as much time as I possibly could, so I would not answer any question too crazy today and trend on Twitter.”

The runner-up was none other than Beamer who missed the top spot by 474 with a total of 2,174 words.

“My three children have not let me forget that I had the second-longest opening statement last summer, so they have been telling me for two weeks, don’t be that guy again,” he said Thursday. “I didn’t think I was long last year, but apparently I was, so I’ll be much shorter this year or try to.”

Alabama’s Nick Saban (1,853 words) and Jimbo Fisher (1,750) rounded up the top 5.

The most efficient speaker was LSU’s Brian Kelly, who spoke just 15 fewer words than Auburn’s High Freeze, at 650. Clark Lea also managed to keep it under 700 words.

Take a look at the full rankings below:

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.