Should Nick Saban have suspended Da'Shawn Hand? Reactions are mixed
Alabama coach Nick Saban made it official on Thursday, DL Da’Shawn Hand will not be suspended. The news received a variety of reactions on Twitter from media and fans on Twitter. Saban had his defenders and detractors, while many just pointed it to as the expected outcome. There’s also some trolling of FSU fans were perhaps hoping Hand would miss the big Week 1 showdown in Atlanta.
CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum both felt the decision was justified. Finebaum had originally called for Hand to be suspended until it was revealed that Hand was sleeping in the car, not driving.
Da'Shawn Hand didn't drive drunk and doesn't have a history of bad behavior. No problem with Saban's decision to let him play.
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) August 3, 2017
Saban made the right decision not suspending Da’Shawn Hand after his DUI arrest given the new information that Hand was not driving his car.
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) August 3, 2017
Good for Nick Saben to not suspend Da'Shawn Hand. He did not really put any lives in danger. pic.twitter.com/IdmoP0AnUe
— Alli PBJ913 (@PBJ913) August 3, 2017
Some called it a predictable outcome:
Is anyone actually surprised that Nick Saban won't discipline Da'Shawn Hand? The King of "it will be handled internally" #SEC #Bama
— Kerry Belkin (@BelkinKerry) August 3, 2017
No suspension for Da'shawn Hand. Shocking! ? Got behind wheel, started the car, passed out.
— CruelloDuuuval (@UncleSoli) August 3, 2017
Well knock me over with a feather. https://t.co/KCpoZGlbvl
— Dustin (@dustinjkent) August 3, 2017
"Hand would not be suspended"#shocker
Nick Saban makes a decision on Da'Shawn Hand's discipline https://t.co/iXNSKHYcts
— BigOrangeHeupel (@BigOrangeHeupel) August 3, 2017
RT @ChaseGoodbread: Nick Saban says Da'Shawn Hand won't be suspended for DUI.
— 2026 National Champs ?? (@Miami_DaU) August 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/ChristianHall_/status/893236433951092738
Critics thought the DUI charge warranted a suspension:
So Da'Shawn Hand won't be suspended b/c he was asleep in the car & not driving the car. If Bama were playing Bethune-Cookman Week 1 he sits.
— Ian Fitzsimmons (@Ianfitzespn) August 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/thoreAU_WDE/status/893234194423459844
https://twitter.com/BeautyEyes0693/status/893233139014881281
https://twitter.com/JeffEpps16/status/893235114741837826
https://twitter.com/The_GBrooks/status/893232596330713088
There was also some trolling of fans of FSU, Alabama’s Week 1 opponent:
https://twitter.com/WhoisWilks/status/893232884982665216
Nick Saban announces he isn't suspending Da'Shawn Hand
FSU fans pic.twitter.com/37ySGGgkpA
— Ash ♕ (@ar_wise) August 3, 2017
FSU fans can go ahead and add "Da'Shawn Hand should've been suspended" to the list of excuses they'll have post game
— Oliver Dobbsdale (@eddieacworth) August 3, 2017
