NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Nate Oats is grateful to have ESPN’s “College GameDay” in Tuscaloosa for Alabama basketball’s rivalry showdown against Auburn on Saturday.
Although Crimson Tide players won’t be facing off against the likes of show hosts Rece Davis, Andraya Carter or Jay Bilas, Oats still has concerns that the crew’s desk lurking on the sideline of Coleman Coliseum could throw off his team in its fight to be the nation’s true No. 1.
“We’ve gotten our program to a level that back-to-back years, GameDay’s come in to do a game here, so proud of our guys, proud of the staff,” Oats said.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats yells to his team in the second half as the Texas Longhorns take on the Crimson Tide at the Moody Center, Feb. 11, 2025.
A NEW ERA: Can Nate Oats make Alabama a basketball school? Or does football loom too large?
NO COINCIDENCE! Alabama basketball vs Auburn on Saturday wasn’t happenstance: The SEC planned it that way
In his sixth year coaching against Bruce Pearl and No. 2 Auburn (22-2, 10-1 SEC), Oats acknowledges that Alabama has earned its “national spotlight.” The SEC has never had a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on the court or, per the Alabama-Texas broadcast on Tuesday, in any sport.
Nate Oats doesn’t want ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ to be a ‘distraction’ for Auburn showdown
“If we’re going to focus on all that stuff, it’s gonna be a big distraction from what we gotta do to win the game,” Oats said.
The tents being pitched by fans outside of Coleman Coliseum are hard to ignore, though.
“That’s pretty cool that it’s that important to get into the game, get good seats for GameDay,” Oats said with a grin, thanking the Crimson Tide.
Alabama (21-3, 10-1 SEC) and Auburn will face off at 3 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nate-oats-doesnt-want-espns-193901087.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2025-02-14 19:39:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
