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Surprised that Nick Saban apologized to ESPN’s Maria Taylor? Paul Finebaum weighs in
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Nick Saban turned some heads on Saturday night when he snapped on ESPN’s Maria Taylor for asking about how Saban was going to continue to use his quarterbacks.
Saban later called Taylor to apologize for his reaction, and the situation was quickly resolved.
During Paul Finebaum’s weekly appearance on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham, AL, Finebaum weighed in on the situation, as he had a similar encounter with Saban a couple of years ago.
When asked if Finebaum was surprised with Saban’s apology, this is what he said:
“I am not. And I say that because — as you guys well know — I’ve been at the other end of that. When I had my incident with Saban two years ago at Media Days, he had called me within 90 minutes. And I think that’s what really makes Nick Saban who he is. Yes, does he have a temper? Does he try to get his message across? He does. But I think when he settles down he is always — in my mind — one that comes to the conclusion of perhaps he went to far.”
“I’m glad he did because it puts an unnecessary story to bed. I think we all know what he was trying to do. … He’s trying to protect Jalen Hurts, and I don’t think he wants to admit that Jalen Hurts has absolutely no shot at starting for Alabama this year.”
Later on in the interview, Finebaum pointed out that maybe in a different setting, Saban’s response would have actually been humorous:
“The first half of his question was perfect. It was just when he got on his high horse and started to lecture. When he does that in the media room, there’s a degree of humor to it, but in that setting, there was none.”
Jordan Dajani covers SEC football for Saturday Down South and is a University of Tennessee graduate. He also has experience working in the NBA and with ESPN.
