Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats says he’s NOT offended by Nick Saban’s comments

Alabama coach Nate Oats said Thursday that he was not offended by comments Nick Saban made about Saban’s handling of a football player’s arrest in contrast to the way the Crimson Tide has handled the controversy surrounding to rookie All-American Brandon Miller.

Saban suspended freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell Monday following his arrest on a drug charge.

In handing down the punishment, Saban said, “everyone has the opportunity to choose and make decisions.” And he added: “There is no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The comment “there is no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time” was perceived by many as directed at Oats, the Alabama basketball coach who has not disciplined Miller for being at the scene of the fatal shooting on September 15. January involving a former teammate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Oats initially said Miller was “in the wrong place at the wrong time” during the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.

Nate Oats (R) told reporters he was not offended by Nick Saban’s (L) comments

Saban is alleged to have thrown shade at Oats over comments about the Brandon Miller situation (24)

Jamea Harris, a 23-year-old mother, was shot to death near the University of Alabama campus on January 15. Former Crimson Tide forward Darius Miles and another man, Michael Lynn Davis, were arrested and charged with capital murder in her death. Miles has since been kicked off the team.

Darius Miles and another man have been charged with capital murder in Harris’ death, and police reports indicate Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun before the shooting.

Miller has not been charged with any crime. Miller’s attorney claims the striker never handled the gun and did not know it was going to be used to commit a crime.

Miller, who has a security guard with him at the NCAA Tournament due to threats he received, is cooperating in the investigation.

Oats said he spoke to Saban on Monday night, adding that he did not take Saban’s comment as direct criticism.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Oats said during a news conference on Thursday. ‘He has been a great support to our program since he came here. He says it all the time.

He wants the entire athletic department to do well. He has been to several games this year.

Saban attended Alabama practice on Wednesday. The Crimson Tide take on No. 5 seed San Diego State in a South Region semifinal on Friday night and Miller is expected to be in the lineup.

Saban said on Thursday: ‘There is nothing to clarify. I don’t watch the basketball coaches’ press conferences. How many years have I been training? I never looked at one. I never listened to what other people say. That was strictly about our show and what we do and had nothing to do with anyone else. I don’t comment on anyone else. And we expect the basketball team to do very, very well.’

Alabama safety Tony Mitchell was arrested and charged last week with possession of marijuana

Holmes County police officers released a photo of the evidence they say they recovered from the car.

Miller did not address the issue of Saban’s comments.

“It was a great experience in practice for me,” Miller said of Saban’s presence. “I always grew up an Alabama football fan, so Coach Saban has always been a great role model for me. It was great to see him within an arm’s length of me.’

Oats apologized for both his comments and for allowing a pregame introduction in which Miller was frisked by another teammate.

The fourth-year coach and the best team in the country have come under scrutiny for allowing Miller to play. Miller is the Southeastern Conference player of the year.