Brandon Miller: Alabama coach Nate Oats takes blame for pat-down pregame intro

Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats has taken the blame for Brandon Miller’s pregame interaction on Saturday, which caused outrage.

The controversial move came days after Alabama Det. Branden Culpepper testified that Miller transported a gun to his former teammate Darius Miles that was used in a fatal shooting last month that killed a 23-year-old mother.

Postgame Oats admitted he hadn’t seen the usual pregame pat-down, part of Miller’s introductions all season, but described it as “not appropriate.”

He spoke to reporters Tuesday and took a different tone, actually taking the blame for Miller and his teammate Adam Cottrell.

‘That situation is in me. We went as a team and as soon as I brought it up to them, they immediately understood how it could be interpreted and we all felt really bad about it,” Oats said.

Brandon Miller was ‘patted’ by Adam Cottrell (L) before playing for Alabama on Saturday

“They explained to me that it’s like when the TSA checks you before you get on a plane and now Brandon is cleared to take off.

“We as adults in the room should have been more sensitive to how it might have been interpreted.

‘I dropped the ball. That’s all. I dropped the ball for him. We have addressed it. I can assure you that it will not happen again.

Oats said over the weekend: ‘I don’t watch our presentations, I’m not involved with them, I’m making plays during that time.

‘Regardless, it is not appropriate. It has been addressed and I can assure you that it definitely won’t happen again for the rest of this year.’

Culpepper testified that Miles texted Miller on Jan. 15, asking his then-teammate to take his gun to an off-campus area, where 23-year-old Jamea Harris was later shot to death. Miller allegedly complied, turning the gun on Miles and Davis, who are facing capital murder charges in Harris’s death.

When Miller arrived on the scene, he allegedly contacted Miles in a text message, writing that “the heat is in the hat” and adding that “there’s one in the head,” according to Culpepper. As the detective explained, Miller was allegedly indicating that there was a gun in a hat inside his car with a bullet in the chamber.

On February 21, Tuscaloosa Deputy District Attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com that Miller could not be charged with anything.

Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats (right) has taken the blame for Saturday’s presentation.

Miller (No. 24) was playing days after it emerged he was involved in a situation in which a 23-year-old mother was shot to death.

The next day, Alabama said it had investigated the situation further and cleared Miller to play South Carolina on February 22. Miller was not charged in the shooting death of Harris on January 15.

“UA Athletics continues to fully cooperate with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation of this tragic situation,” Alabama said in a statement this week.

“Based on all the information we have received, Brandon Miller is not considered a suspect in this case, only a cooperating witness.”

Michael Lynn Davis and former Alabama player Miles face capital murder charges. Miller took the gun to Miles, who was fired from the show after his arrest. Davis has been identified as the shooter. Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, said his client did not see the gun.

Numerous members of the media have been vocal about the situation and perhaps none were more outspoken than FS1 personality and NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.

“I get that you had been doing this routine, but once you become part of a murder investigation, you let it slide. It’s inappropriate,” Sharpe said.

‘Someone tragically lost the young woman’s life and family, I am so sorry for what happened. It doesn’t make sense, it shouldn’t have happened.

‘It’s not funny, it’s not cute. What’s so funny about a black being frisked? Do you understand what is happening in the United States? Do you think that’s cute? No.

“Is that the one that resonates with you?” Sharpe said of the celebration. ‘Is that the reason you want people to know you? That’s why you want attention, even though you’re part of an active murder investigation, do you still think this is appropriate young man?

Shannon Sharpe stunned by Miller’s weekend walk