Nate Oats addresses potential of Auburn fans cheering against Alabama during game vs. Maryland
Nate Oats is preparing his top-seeded Alabama squad for what could be a bit of an interesting atmosphere in Birmingham Saturday evening.
Though playing in separate regions, Alabama and Auburn both play games in Birmingham during the Round of 32 action on Saturday. Auburn — the No. 9 seed in the Midwest Region — faces No. 1 seed Houston at 7:10 pm ET. Alabama as the No. 1 seed in the South Region faces No. 8 seed Maryland at 9:40 pm ET.
With the Tigers getting the early game, Oats knows some Auburn fans are likely to hang around for Alabama’s matchup. Oats made it clear he would like it “if… we could get all the SEC fans to cheer for the SEC team in our game.”
At the end of the day, Oats knows some Auburn fans will stay in the arena to pull against the Tide because “they can’t help themselves.” Nevertheless, Oats says he’s “pulling for the SEC. I want the SEC teams to do well (in March Madness.”
Nate Oats: “I’d like it if, during our game, we could get all the SEC fans to cheer for the SEC team in our game.”
The Auburn-Houston game will be before #Alabama-Maryland.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 17, 2023
Nate Oats on the potential for Auburn fans sticking around and cheering for Maryland tomorrow: “Some will, I’m sure. They can’t help themselves. It is what it is. For our league, I’m pulling for the SEC. I want the SEC teams to do well.”
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 17, 2023
Can Iron Bowl rivals bury the hatchet for March?
We’ll see if fans on opposite sides of the Iron Bowl can come together to pull for one another on Saturday. Anything can happen, but that would likely take a particular set of March magic to make it happen.
To his credit, Maryland head coach Kevin Willard has urged Auburn fans to “stick around” for the nightcap against the Tide. He’s clearly hoping to use some of those rivalry feelings from the Tiger faithful to his advantage in Birmingham.
This alabama fan is pulling for Auburn to take down Houston, but I’m sure I’m in the minority.
This Auburn fan to hoping bama beats those turtles. What kind of mascot is a terrapin anyway?
As long as they aren’t those ninja turtles lol.
Sure it would be easier to beat Auburn in the final 4 than to beat Houston.
There’s zero reason to pull for an arch rival, even in the SEC it ‘never means THAT much’. Nice try Oats, just another example of how out of touch with reality that donk is.
I literally just said I’m pulling for auburn, so seems silly to think he is out of touch. My love of Bama runs deeper than my hatred for Auburn. I don’t even hate Auburn, just Auburn fans. Not to mention eliminating a 1 seed and giving us a very very very tiny chance to beat auburn a 3rd time.
Hoping we get to beat y’all again too
Yeah, you’re scared of Houston.
Why are we scared of Houston? We already beat them in their own place. 2-0 vs Misery too.
Funny coming from someone so obsessed with all things Alabama.
Oats would be an out of touch, despicable human being no matter where he coached.
LSU is a rival to both Alabama and Auburn. I’ll still be pulling for both.
I agree. The more the SEC dominates, the better it is for all of us.
Coach Oats, the SEC has 14 Universities x 20+ sports I’m supporting more than Alabama basketball. Give us a reason to move you up the list one place. Character matters.