And we’re off.
Not even an hour into Monday’s SEC Media Day coverage, it appears that ESPN analyst Nick Saban and SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum are off and running.
During an appearance on “Get Up,” Finebaum opened by stating “since Jan. 10, this has been the worst six months of my life without Nick Saban.”
Mike Greenberg, the host of “Get Up,” cued the comment for the former Alabama coach when he joined the show, telling Saban he has “ruined the life of our friend Paul Finebaum.”
The 72-year-old Saban was all smiles.
“He tried to ruin mine for 17 years,” Saban quipped. I guess we’re even.”
The duo has proven to atop the leaderboard of witty banter.
In May, Finebaum told Saban on “The Finebaum Show” during the Regions Tradition Pro-Am: “I can reveal it now, you weren’t the easiest interview.”
“Well, let me just tell you,” he started, “remember the time I first came to Alabama and tried to teach you how to play defensive back? You aren’t the easiest guy to coach either.”
The two have tangled in the past, of course. Perhaps none more notable than in 2016 at SEC Media Days. Things got heated on the SEC Network set, when Finebaum was critical of Saban’s handling of the offseason arrest of star offensive tackle Cam Robinson and defensive back Hootie Jones.
Saban accused Finebaum of trying to convict the two players through the media, even though charges had been dropped. After the show went to commercial break, Saban stood up and launched an expletive-laden tirade at Finebaum, within ear shot of the media. AL.com’s Michael Casagrande caught part of the exchange on video.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.