Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article was originally posted in 2014.
Count now-former Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban — he of 10 (at the time) SEC Championships and seven National Titles — among those who would have no problem with an openly gay player on his team.
Speaking at a Pro-Am golf event in Shoal Creek, Ala., in 2014, shortly after NFL prospect Michael Sam came out publicly, Saban said:
“I would expect everybody to be very respectful of what is private for most people and treat that person with dignity and respect,” Saban said at the time, “and respect them for being a good teammate and being a part of our team and doing the things that require them to be a good person on our team.
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“I can’t speak for everybody, but that’s what would be my expectation for the people that we control in our organization and on our team.”
This is not a surprise, even though one does not associate Alabama with progressive views on gay issues. Saban wanted to win more than anything, so he would not have any problem with a gay player or maybe even a vegan atheist one as long as the player helped the Tide win.
That reflects just about every head coach in college football, including Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, who embraced Scott Frantz when he came out publicly as gay.
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I suspect most ‘Bama fans would be the same way, especially if the gay player was able to chase down an Auburn runner and prevent a game-winning touchdown.
Al.com reminds everyone that Crimson Tide safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix tweeted this after Michael Sam was drafted on Saturday:
Clinton-Dix would later wear an Orlando United shirt under his Green Bay Packers jersey during a game, in solidarity with the Orlando Pulse victims.
At the end of the day, winning trumps everything else for football coaches, players and fans. And inclusion helps.
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