Tired of anti-SEC talk? Nick Saban pours it on Jim Harbaugh with late TD
By Keith Farner
Published:
Jim Harbaugh has made it a hobby to criticize the SEC for years, and because of that, he’s become Public Enemy No. 1 across the SEC. He’s a nemesis of the first rate. SEC Network host Paul Finebaum regularly calls out Harbaugh and Michigan for hanging on to the coach despite consistent losses in big games.
This relationship came to mind when Alabama tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run from Najee Harris with 26 seconds remaining to make the final score 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl. In fact, Alabama outscored Michigan 21-0 after halftime, and overall rolled up 480 yards compared to 395 from the Wolverines.
Harbaugh’s history of calling out the SEC and multiple coaches, from Harbaugh to Georgia’s Kirby Smart, along with the summer camp controversy from 2016 was fresh on the minds of many fans.
Here’s a sampling of the reaction at the end of the game:
I feel like Saban didn’t take a knee there because of all of Harbaugh’s anti-SEC talk over the past couple of years.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 1, 2020
Nick probably thought about this tweet when letting Najee score that last touchdown https://t.co/rJB5zxjYK9
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) January 1, 2020
Nick Saban telling the Tide to go for the TD up 28-16 pic.twitter.com/LZpp6qjNLv
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 1, 2020
Nick Saban pays Jim Harbaugh back for those satellite camps in Alabama
Alabama beats Michigan 35-16 pic.twitter.com/TkH243nFxo
— Ryan C. Fowler (@RyanCFowler) January 1, 2020
Did Saban just disrespect Harbaugh? Let’s discuss
— B1G Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 1, 2020
The odd dagger from Saban at the end, but that was probably a combination of things:
*Reward Najee for a good drive
*Get Najee some more draft tape
*Defend a little SEC honor re: Harbaugh’s many shots at the conference.— Jess Nicholas (@TideFansJessN) January 1, 2020
That handshake between Saban and Harbaugh had more room for Jesus than a middle school dance
— Ñic Gulas (@Nic_Gulas) January 1, 2020
Alabama was without 9 (NINE) starters today, including their best player on each side of the ball. They’re also without a projected major contributor at RB. Nick Saban unsurprisingly took his 2nd string to Orlando and tea bagged Jim Harbaugh. https://t.co/5MVucd0BCl
— Wesley Gullett (@WesleyGullett) January 1, 2020
I love that Nick Saban hates Harbaugh. Punching in that TD to rub salt in the wound is maybe one of the top 5 plays of the Saban era. Beautifully done.
— papaw ghost (@BourbonGhost) January 1, 2020
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
