ESPN's Mike Greenberg getting roasted for Nick Saban, Jalen Hurts tweet
Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma defeated Baylor 30-23 in Saturday’s Big 12 Championship. That puts the Sooners in prime position to make the College Football Playoff, pending the LSU-Georgia outcome.
The Sooners need the Tigers to beat the Bulldogs in order to punch their ticket to the Playoff.
One team that is out of the Playoff running is two-loss Alabama. The Crimson Tide dropped from No. 5 to No. 12 following the loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. So, naturally, folks will talk about Hurts making the Playoff, while Alabama is sitting at home. It appears that ESPN’s Mike Greenberg was the first media member to offer is take on the subject.
Nick Saban watching Jalen Hurts in the playoff would be among the great last laughs in the history of sports. #Oklahoma #Big12Championship
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 7, 2019
Saban has had nothing but respect for Hurts since he left, and Hurts handled the entire situation trying not to be a distraction. Earlier this year, Saban was asked about Hurts’ terrific debut at Oklahoma, and he had a classy response.
“I didn’t see the game last night. We work on Sunday nights, but I hear he played extremely well and did an outstanding job,” Saban said of Hurts. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least bit.”
He added that he was “very happy for him,” and that’s always been the case.
In order to keep Oklahoma out of the Playoff, Georgia will need to find a way to upset LSU in the SEC Championship Game.
Social media reacted to Greenberg’s tweet accordingly:
Saban would be happy for Jalen. Was he supposed to start Jalen ahead of Tua? Was Jalen supposed to sit at UA instead of start for a contender? https://t.co/Kh6OgHrffm
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) December 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/milehighkeske/status/1203420564989202432
https://twitter.com/zthartman/status/1203416022725857285
Nick Saban has a special place in his heart for Hurts. That is obvious. What was he supposed to do? Sit Tua?
That being said, for being one of the classiest players in recent memory, I will be rooting for Jalen Hurts!
— ND Fan in an unholy land (@elkman1966) December 7, 2019
Terrible take
— Ocean (@OveanMan) December 7, 2019
This implies that there is some kind of bad blood between the two, which I can't believe would be the case. Hurts stayed all last season knowing he was using a year of eligibility to do so. Don't think he does that if he's upset about losing his starting job to Tua.
— Michael. (@hotspur03) December 7, 2019
Why? It was a very amicable divorce
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) December 7, 2019
Huh? Saban loves Jalen… Tua just earned the start. Wild swing and a huge miss Greeny
— Austin (@AustinMc904) December 7, 2019
Wrong take – a true winner took another team to another championship…Hurts is your story. This isn’t about Saban. Be better.
— Frank Imschweiler (@fimschweiler) December 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/TRunny24/status/1203419371613360134