Coming off the field, Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban snapped at ESPN reporter Maria Taylor in the customary post-game interview coming off the field.
She asked Saban what he learned about each of his quarterbacks after watching them play tonight. Saban started Tua Tagovailoa, who started the game with a brilliant touchdown pass.
“Well, I still like both guys,” he said of Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. “Both guys are good players. I think both guys can help our team, alright?
Nick Saban responded critically to a question about his QBs after Alabama's win. pic.twitter.com/sZCvIox2Dq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 2, 2018
To her credit, Taylor rolled with the comment with a “I hear you” response.
She followed up with a question about the execution of the offense as a whole.
“When we executed and did what we were supposed to do, we did pretty well,” he said. We had way too many penalties in the game. We shot ourselves in the foot a bunch. We made a lot of errors on defense. We have a lot of work to do for the challenges ahead.”
Taylor didn’t seem to mind as social media blew up over the exchange. Plenty of others had their opinion.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the question Maria Taylor asked Nick Saban last night. He is handling the qb thing his own way and that’s fine. But to expect not to be asked about it is ridiculous. #Alabama
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) September 2, 2018
At what point in time did Maria Taylor ask Nick Saban to say something that “doesn’t respect” one of his quarterbacks? https://t.co/pSjV6KzGcE
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) September 2, 2018
I understand there is a lot of competition for this distinction, but this might be Nick Saban’s all-time most ridiculous, unwarrated, idiotic lashing out at a reporter. https://t.co/Pb7Iv4JNNz
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) September 2, 2018
Nick Saban is wrong for this https://t.co/ZxqBjjIFq0
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) September 2, 2018
Here is how it works: Reporters decide the questions. The coaches decide the answers. Nick Saban came off small. Next post-game, if it is a storyline, Maria Taylor should ask Saban about his QB situation again.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) September 2, 2018
I'm going to let y'all in on a little secret.
Nick Saban doesn't care what you think. Never has, never will.
His job is to win championships at Alabama and guess what he does?
Win championships.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) September 2, 2018
