Saban, Finebaum Have Heated Exchange Over Handling Of Alabama Player Arrests

Alabama football coach Nick Saban appeared yesterday on SEC Network as part of his appearance at SEC Media Days, and "things got heated" when Saban and the net's Paul Finebaum "sparred over the decision to not suspend" UA players Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones following their May 17 arrests, according to Michael Casagrande of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS. The exchange "continued into the commercial break in a ballroom full of reporters." Saban "launched into a four-letter tirade directed at Finebaum" and used his fingers to "note the small amount of marijuana found in the car and insinuated the arresting officers were disgruntled LSU fans." Finebaum later "confirmed the account on his national radio/television show." Saban's appearance on the net concluded with a "few laughs from everyone on set" as he departed (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 7/14). CBSSPORTS.com's Chip Patterson noted when SEC Network "returned from commercial break," Finebaum, Dari Nowkah and other on-set analysts discussed that Saban was "incensed after the cameras were turned off, not so much at the line of questioning but rather how the situation transpired in Louisiana" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/13).

TWITTER REAX: Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel: "Could see Saban vs. Finebaum becoming a weekly show on the SEC Network. ... Arrived at the Birmingham airport where the TSA screeners were discussing ... Saban vs. @finebaum" Campus Insiders' Pete Fiutak: "SOMETHING massive happened off-the-air after @finebaum grilled Nick Saban. From the sounds of it, Saban went absolutely ballistic." Memphis Commercial Appeal's Geoff Calkins: "I know the sentiment is that Saban smashed Finebaum but the idea that discipline should be left up to the legal system has always been dumb."