Nick Saban said sometimes punishment is not the best discipline.
The Alabama coach spoke Wednesday on the weekly SEC conference call when asked about his decision not to suspend wide receiver Jermaine Burton for last Saturday’s Mississippi State game. .
Burton, a junior who moved from Georgia after last season, played Mississippi State a week later. Attacking a Tennessee female fan on the field after the Crimson Tide lost 52-49 in Tennessee.
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“I think everyone is watching what you do all the time.
“I think the difference in what a lot of people think is, is discipline necessarily punishment? And you only punish your child if you think it changes behavior,” he said. “Otherwise, we try to learn lessons from the behavior of our players. That’s basically how we look at discipline and how we try to discipline our players.”
Saban was then asked what message he sent to the other players after not suspending Burton.
How and why Nick Saban misdisciplined Jermaine Burton
“We had no problems with our team,” he replied.
Alabama WR Jermaine Burton goes to counseling
Saban said after Saturday’s Mississippi State game that Burton was going to get counseling in light of the incident, but that’s apparently it.
“I think that’s what we’re basically trying to do and see if it works for him,” Saban said.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman was asked what he would do if one of his players punched a fan on the field while the field was packed with crowds.
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“Obviously we’re going to have to do something there,” said Pitman. “But it’s going to be hard to say right away. But I certainly don’t condone it or want it to happen. Certainly something will have to be done.”