“I Hate Auburn” Guy Compares Being Called Out By Saban To Being Called Out By God

Earlier today, after asking Alabama and Auburn fans to show more respect to one another, Nick Saban was asked specifically about a Tide fan attending Media Days who was wearing an “I HATE AUBURN” t-shirt.  Saban said that he would tell the man, “I would tell him it’s not personal, that it really isn’t personal” and that “That is not really the way that we should respect the opponents that we have.”

As soon as Saban’s media session ended, the press members raced to the lobby to find 28-year-old fork lift operator Eric Blackerby.  When told of Saban’s rebuke, Blackerby said that he “felt this big,” holding his fingers an inch apart. 

“It’s like I went to church and God told me He didn’t approve.”

As Jon Solomon of The Birmingham News writes — perfectly, I might add — “Only in Alabama.”

So will Blackerby become a household name like Harvey Updyke?  If so, it won’t be because he’s poisoned trees.

“I’m not going to poison no trees.  I don’t agree with that.  I wrote a blog condemning the destruction of any landmark at any university.  It’s not cool.  I’m just extremely passionate.  SEC football is a religion, and that’s the difference to me.”

Ah.


(UPDATE — Originally we attributed the above column to Kevin Scarbinsky.  Our apologies.  It’s been a long week.)