Saban against Confederate flag, calls symbol 'mean spirited'

HOOVER -- Nick Saban isn't in support of the Confederate flag.

In light of Gov. Robert Bentley's decision to have four Confederate flags removed from outside capitol grounds in Montgomery last month following the killings at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, Saban said he's not for a symbol that doesn't represent equal rights for all people.

"My opinion is anytime that we have a symbol that represents something that is mean spirited or doesn't represent equal rights for all people, I'm not for having that symbol represent anything that we're involved in," Saban said. "It's not my decision as to what the governor does or my decision what our university does. It's just my opinion about the way I feel about symbols that are not positive toward human rights and everybody having equal opportunity."

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey discussed the flag removal on capitol grounds in Columbia, S.C. into his opening statements Monday at SEC Media Days as part as his theme of change.

"On that point, I'm particularly proud of the leadership demonstrated on our campuses in the states at the center of this debate," Sankey said.