Something interesting unfolded during SEC Media Days on Wednesday. After Nick Saban’s press conference, during which no reporter asked him about the status of Cam Robinson, SEC Network cut to a commercial.
However, the microphones of Dari Nowkhah and at least one member of the panel (Marcus Spears, Greg McElroy, Paul Finebaum) were still on, and before the commercials started, those microphones picked up one of the panelists squawking like a chicken and Nowkhah asking if Saban owned the media.
The situation took another twist when SEC Network came back from break, and the panel blasted the reporters in attendance for not asking about Robinson at all.
Nowkhah then acknowledged his comments before the break, and asked Finebaum if the notion of Saban owning the media was debatable. He said it wasn’t, and directly said that Saban owned the media while also saying the press conference was an embarrassment for the media.
Furthermore, ESPN isn’t shying away from the situation – because they tweeted out Finebaum’s quote almost immediately after he said it.
"I may not be the most objective person to make this statement, but Nick Saban owns the media." – @finebaum pic.twitter.com/Bbf7Ph4Wau
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 13, 2016
The status of Robinson was eventually questioned, but not during the main press conference. Saban was asked about Robinson in something called the “Internet Room”.
Nick Saban is taking questions in the Internet Room right now at #SECMD16 pic.twitter.com/3illzKfVec
— Derek Ponamsky (@DerekPonamsky) July 13, 2016
Saban: If Robinson/Jones continue to finish community service tasks they will be able to play in the opener
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 13, 2016
Saban: "To think the only way to help players is suspend them for games is a punitive attitude that may not be correct."
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 13, 2016
Saban: "I think the prosecutor made the decision based on the body of work and what the laws are."
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 13, 2016
Alright, so let’s recap.
-ESPN calls out the media for not asking Saban about Robinson.
-ESPN questions whether or not Saban owns the media, and an ESPN personality directly states he does.
-Meanwhile, a question about Robinson actually is asked, but it’s not on TV.
What a bizarre situation. Accidentally get caught calling out a coach, acknowledge you called out the coach, call out the coach again, call out the media at the same time, and then the coach answers the question the media didn’t ask on camera in a lower profile setting.
Exhausting.
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