Paul Finebaum Criticizes Alabama’s Nick Saban for Bullying Local Media

Ahead of Alabama’s season opener this weekend, head coach Nick Saban opted not to release a depth chart for the first time in his Alabama coaching career. Saban said he made the decision to eliminate “distractions” from the team, but it led to an awkward conversation with the media explaining his decision.

Some college football analysts did not appreciate Saban’s tone to the media during this conversation. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said he doesn’t think Saban needed to decline giving a depth chart and overthought how secret he needed to be to the media.

“I think sometimes Saban just looks like he wants to battle with the media,” Finebaum said on ESPN’s The Matt Barrie Show. “It’s not like he’s dealing with the White House press corps”.

Then, Finebaum specifically accused Saban of being a bully towards the media.

“Every time I say this, people in Alabama get mad, I don’t like the bullying of the media,” Finebaum said. “Don’t bully people because you can, and Saban has made a career at Alabama and maybe elsewhere of bullying those who are weaker than him and don’t have the ability, and that’s just not a good look. That is my only complaint about this.”

Finebaum was not the only one to hammer Saban for his decision to not release a depth chart, as Fox Sports announcer Tim Brando also thought his attitude on Monday was “beneath him.”

“Why bully his local media in such a manner?” Brando asked on social media. “The …kissing he’s demanding here is a joke! When much is given, much is also expected and the Goat needs to act like the greatest as opposed (to) using your brand as a bully pulpit and that’s all this is!”

Nick Saban’s not delivering a Depth Chart is beneath him, despite likely giving the guys calling the game some semblance of lineups. He should be above that but clearly these days he’s not in the best of moods. I got in some trouble a few years ago condemning @CoachJim4UM, and…

— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) August 28, 2023

Alabama enters the season as a top 5 team in the country but looking up to two-time defending champion Georgia in the SEC.