SEC Media Days typically provide at least one big showdown between a head coach and a media member.
This year, it was Paul Finebaum, host of The Paul Finebaum Show while also working as an SEC Network analyst. But the fireworks didn't happen as much on-camera as they did once the main cameras were turned off.
It started when Saban had his turn Wednesday to go in front of main local and national media to talk about his team and various topics around college football. However, none of the questions asked of Saban involved his decision not to suspend Cam Robinson or Hootie Jones following their May 17 arrest.
That didn't sit well with SEC Network analysts Dari Nowkhah and at least one other member of the panel (Marcus Spears, Greg McElroy and Finebaum). Before the commercials started, those microphones picked up one of the panelists squawking like a chicken, a clear shot at the media for not grilling Saban harder.
They went ahead and acknowledged it after the break and directly called out the media for tossing up so many softball questions to Saban.
Later, things then got heated on the SEC Network stage when Saban and Finebaum briefly spoke over the decision to not suspend Robinson or Jones following their May 17 arrest.
"If they really did something wrong, they would have been charged with something," Saban said. "Do we condone the behavior? No, but you're innocent until you're proven guilty in this country regardless if you get convicted in the media or not, which is what you're doing."
Did Paul @Finebaum strike a nerve with Nick Saban on the Cam Robinson situation? Watch:https://t.co/BySCqTJbB2
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 13, 2016
Finebaum called that "debatable," and once the cameras went off, the two apparently got into a more heated discussion afterwards, which AL.com caught most of:
It apparently has continued off the set:
Saban V. Finebaum may be bigger than Wilder V. Arreola this week in B-ham @wvua23 @B_Kamerman @garyharris_wvua pic.twitter.com/kQAYV1dEGX
— Jenn LaMonaca (@JennLamonaca) July 13, 2016
Of course, all of this happened before Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops was set to take the stage and talk about his team. Still, this is probably the best thing that will come out of any conference media day this year.
Props to Finebaum and the SEC Network for not being afraid to challenge Saban, even if he bites back.