Paul Finebaum and Nick Saban exchanged words in a heated segment Wednesday at SEC Media Days, while debating the punishment of Alabama football players Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones, following the potential marijuana possession and illegal weapons charges, which the prosecutor decided not to indict on.
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While rumors spread that Saban insinuated the arresting officers were "disgruntled LSU fans," Paul Finebaum spoke with AL.com and laid out what exactly was said:
"I think that's a fair characterization, and you could hear it when I asked about the persecution. He believes the police were carrying water for LSU. LSU had nothing to do with it. Let me make that clear. He thinks they were fans. That's what upsets him so much. He said a lot of things that were fascinating. People are going to have to draw their own conclusions...Does he know more than I do? Of course he does. He has all the facts that he's been able to get. Cam Robinson tweeted about it...Good for him. I'm glad he was able to escape the Louisiana justice system. It's pretty obvious he's going to play against Southern Cal, which we all suspected anyway."
Here's what was reported that Saban said Wednesday, via AL.com:
"Within earshot of media, Saban launched into a four-letter tirade directed at Finebaum. In it, he used his fingers to note the small amount of marijuana found in the car and insinuated the arresting officers were disgruntled LSU fans."
RELATED: Good for Paul Finebaum, who destroys the D.A. who was way too lenient on the 'Bama players
After the interview was over, Finebaum hinted that there were even more fireworks after the interview went off the air, and that Saban is not happy with what has happened.
"Our obligation is to the audience and we learned a great deal and I'm very interested in the anger we saw on the air and the incredible anger we saw off the air. I realize people will be "Well, tell us what happened," but if there was a video of what Coach Saban said to me and to all of us in the 2 or 3 minutes after that interview, it would go viral on the internet with 14 million hits.
I've seen him in a lot of situation, on a non-football related issue and on the field, I mean, it's as upset and as angry — and it wasn't at me — it was anger at the system and what he thinks his players went through about Louisiana. "
Finebaum has gone on the record several times in bashing the handling of this case, so it is no surprise that he was the one that stepped up to the plate to ask Saban about there being no suspensions for the two. It is also no surprise that the two got a little heated when discussing the topic, as both men will definitely stand up for what they believe.
Related: Watch Nick Saban and Paul Finebaum go at it over the Cam Robinson fiasco
It doesn't sound like Saban took too kindly to being put under fire and it definitely seems like he is extremely upset about the whole situation. Thanks to Finebaum, we got some answers in the case and we learned something.
Alabama opens the season against USC in AT&T Stadium on September 3.
