Alabama head basketball coach Nate Oats was questioned about one of the player’s controversial introduction ahead of a game, saying he “dropped the ball on it.”
ESPN reported walk-on player Adam Cottrell patted down freshman player Brandon Miller.
Last month, it was reported that a police investigator said Miller was on the scene of a fatal shooting.
During a press conference, Oats explained to reporters, “That situation’s on me. We addressed as a team soon as I brought it up to them. They immediately understood how it could be interpreted, and we all felt awful about it.”
He added, “They explained to me that it’s like when TSA checks you before you get on a plane. And now Brandon’s cleared for takeoff.”
Oats continued, “We, as the adults in the room, should’ve been more sensitive to how it could’ve been interpreted. I dropped the ball on it. We addressed it. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”
Watch the video below:
Nate Oats addresses the Brandon Miller intro after it was discussed with the team @abc3340
— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) February 28, 2023
"They explained to me it was like when TSA checks you before you get on a plane and now Brandon is cleared for take off" pic.twitter.com/Ppb7uA6wtG
Oats received criticism from some on Twitter with radio host Maggie Gray asking, “Did he really need to be looking at notes for this one?”
Did he really need to be looking at notes for this one? https://t.co/3MUaMHfT30
— Maggie Gray (@MaggieGray) March 1, 2023
Reporter Ethan Budowsky tweeted, “If I were Nate Oats I would stop talking.”
If I were Nate Oats I would stop talking. https://t.co/h0zOTWgZwX
— Ethan Budowsky (@ethanbudowsky) March 1, 2023
One tweet pointed put TSA “doesn’t pat you down unless they see something.”
TSA doesn’t pat you down unless they see something.
— Mark Whicker (@MWhicker03) March 1, 2023
USA Today noted Branden Culpepper of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit testified that a man named Darius Miles and Michael Lynn Davis were in Miller’s car prior to the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris in January.
Investigators are convinced Miles provided the gun and that Davis fired, killing Harris.
Culpepper says Miles gave Davis the gun while in Miller’s car.
Miles then reportedly texted Miller and Miller brought the gun to the scene, per USA Today.
