Alabama football coach refutes that "wrong place, wrong time" comment was a dig at Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats

Nick Saban denied that his comment was directed at Alabama coach

Alabama football coach Nick Saban denied sending what many considered a dig at Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats while discussing his suspension for defensive back Tony Mitchell.

In his remarks on the subject, Saban appeared to make a reference to Oats' handling of star basketball player Brandon Miller.

Miller, a star freshman on the Tide's basketball team, was alleged by a Tuscaloosa police officer to be connected to a shooting that killed a woman, though he is not facing any charges.

Nick Saban reacts

"There's nothing to clarify," Saban told reporters when asked if he wanted to clarify what he said at the time.

"I don't watch basketball coaches' press conferences. How many years have I been coaching? Never watched one, never listen to what other people say. 

"That was strictly about our program and what we do. It had nothing to do with anybody else. I don't make any comments about anybody else. We hope the basketball team does really, really well."

Nate Oats responds

For his part, the Alabama basketball coach never thought Saban was directing any venom his way with the comments.

"[Saban] and I talked that night," Oats said.

"I didn't take it that way at all. I've got a ton of respect for Coach. I said in my opening press conference when I got hired at Alabama that he may be the best coach for team sports in modern sports history."

What happened with Tony Mitchell

Police arrested Mitchell in Florida and charged him with marijuana possession with the intent to sell and/or deliver and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.

Reports indicate he was allegedly driving 141 miles per hour at the time of the incident.

At his announcement of Mitchell's suspension, Saban noted, "There's no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

That statement was met with some interest by analysts given that a month earlier, Oats had said Miller was in the "wrong spot at the wrong time" when facing questions about the star Alabama player's alleged connection to the killing of a 23-year-old woman.

But according to Saban, there's nothing more to be read in his comments than what he said at the time.

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