Thus far the SEC Media Days, unlike in year’s past, has been a relative snoozefest. Leave it, then, to Nick Saban to liven up the festivities a little bit.
During his appearance in front of the media, the Alabama head coach was asked on multiple occasions about what discipline All-American offensive lineman Cam Robinson and reserve defensive back Hootie Jones might be facing. Both players were arrested in mid-May in Louisiana for possession of marijuana and illegal carrying of a weapon, although the district attorney ultimately decided he wasn’t going “to ruin the lives of two young men” and refused to pursue charges against them.
In comments made in front of the media throng, and seemingly because the two were never formally charged, Saban appeared to indicate that both players would not be facing game suspensions and should be available before the opener, provided there are no missteps between now and the first game against USC.
“Cam Robinson and Hootie were not charged with anything,” Saban said. “I think that the facts that we have are a little different than some that were advertised. Both players have done a significant amount of things to change their behavior whether it was police ride alongs, whether it was community service or juvenile groups that need positive role models and influence to make better choices and decisions.
“So we have viewed this as if these guys do these things to change their behavior and help other people, and that is ongoing, if they continue to do that, that will be how this matter is handled internally.”
In a subsequent appearance on the SEC Network, however, Saban seemed to indicate that a suspension might still be on the table.
“We’ll make that decision at a later time as to whether they’ll be suspended for the first game or not,” the coach said.
It was during that appearance, though, that things between Saban and host Paul Finebaum got a little tense. And/or heated.
“Well, I don’t really care to answer the critics because I’m going to do what’s right for the players and if the players really did anything that wrong, they would have gotten charged with something,” Saban said in response to Finebaum stating that it’s “a very bad look for your program” that Robinson seemingly won’t be suspended for “an important game against Southern Cal.”
Saban then proceeded, in response to a question about “persecuting the football players,” to pound the notion that “you’re innocent until you’re proven guilty regardless if you get convicted in the media or not.”
After Finebaum proclaimed he’s “not convicting anyone,” Saban finished the on-air portion of the segment with a flourish -- and then briefly continued it off the air for good measure.
“I’m not going to convict them in the public,” Saban said when asked why he wasn’t going to suspended Robinson for the USC game. “And you said I was going to get criticized by you and the public and the media because I’m not going to suspend them and I really don’t care about that. That’s the end of the conversation.”Full video: Saban goes off on Paul Finebaumhttps://t.co/3fhyqU9fiYhttps://t.co/lazKcCfsPO
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) July 13, 2016
ESPN goes to commercial, then Saban went off on Finebaum. This video & video of interaction https://t.co/3fhyqU9fiYhttps://t.co/PR1XyuuaVr
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) July 13, 2016
Less than an hour earlier, Saban closed out his time in front of assembled media with the following:
“And one thing I would like to say, which I always say here, is we really appreciate -- even though I get sort of blasted sometimes for how I sort of view the press, that’s not really the case. I really appreciate what you do, because you promote our game. You promote our student-athletes. You create a lot of interest for these young men, which I think inspires a lot of them to really want to play even at younger ages.
“And I think we have a great game and I think sports is something that young people can learn so much when it comes to work ethic, discipline, pride in performance, perseverance, overcoming adversity, lessons in life that can help them have a better chance to be successful in the future. You all promote that for us, and I certainly do appreciate it and thank you for it. So, thanks.”See y’all, see what Finebaum does to people?