It would be difficult to find a more powerful and well-respected football coach to represent the Southeastern Conference regarding the Confederate flag controversy than Alabama’s Nick Saban. Four total national championships won at two SEC schools over a span of 13 seasons will do that for a guy. Especially when the West Virginia native works in a state that recently removed the flag from state government grounds.
So it’s more than a little timely to repeat his thoughts on the subject during his turn Wednesday at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.
University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban speaks Wednesday at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.
Mark Wiedmer“My opinion is that anytime we have a symbol that represents something that is mean-spirited or doesn’t represent equal rights for all people, I’m not for having that symbol represent anything that we’re involved in,” Saban began.
“It’s not my decision as to what the governor does, or my decision what our university does. It’s just my opinion about the way I feel about symbols that are not positive towards human rights and everybody having equal opportunity.”
We’ve all seen them flying from cars and trucks throughout the South in recent weeks. Flying with defiant pride and prejudice, the Stars and Bars in all its woefully misplaced glory.