Did Nick Saban call out Nate Oats when referring to a suspended Alabama football player?
Nick Saban raised eyebrows Monday after a remark that was seemingly related to the controversy surrounding Nate Oats and the basketball program, though media members were told afterward it was merely a coincidental choice of phrasing.
The Alabama head coach’s thoughts came shortly after AL.com reported that Crimson Tide freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell had been suspended from the team and “all team activities” following his arrest last week in Florida.
“Everybody’s got an opportunity to make choices and decisions,” Saban told a group of reporters. “There’s no such thing in being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“You’ve got to be responsible for who you’re with, who you’re around, and what you do, who you associate yourself with, and the situations that you put yourself in.”
Nick Saban has announced that 4-star DB Tony Mitchell has been suspended following his arrest on marijuana charges in Florida.
Mitchell is an early enrollee at Alabama and is a member of the Crimson Tide's No. 1 recruiting class.pic.twitter.com/e258ytkdkc
— 247Sports (@247Sports) March 21, 2023
It’s hard to ignore Saban’s comments when thinking of Oats’ choice words last month regarding NBA lottery pick Brandon Miller, who was reportedly on the scene of a recent fatal shooting near Alabama’s campus involving then-teammate Darius Miles. Oats defended Miller by saying that the basketball star was simply in the “wrong spot at the wrong time.”
“Can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice,” Oats said, per AL.com. “Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out, Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case.”
Oats later apologized for his “poor choice of words” regarding a shooting that left a 23-year-old woman dead.
Miller reportedly cooperated as a witness and hasn’t been charged with any crimes. He’s been essential for Alabama as the basketball team makes its way through this year’s men’s NCAA tournament.
Shortly after Saban’s comment, Tuscaloosa News sports columnist Chase Goodbread reported his words were purely “coincidental.”
Affirmatively told (among other scribes) that Saban saying there's no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time was not a reference to UA basketball coach Nate Oats. Coincidental.
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) March 20, 2023