Remember a few weeks back when Nick Saban called out Alabama fans for not being enthusiastic enough at the Sugar Bowl, thus implying they may have played a role in the 31-17 beatdown by Utah?

Despite the brushback, many wondered why fans continued to support Saban with such passion. Why did they allow the criticism by Saban to roll like water off a duck's back?

Now, we know the answer.

Alabama fans are stupid. They have low self-esteem. All of this comes from living in a backwater, racist state.

Who says? Meet Chadd Scott, a former radio producer for ESPN's Colin Cowherd, now a reporter, producer and talk show host in Atlanta at 680 The Fan. Through his work in radio and as a blogger, he has gained a lot of followers in SEC country. Among Alabama fans, he is suddenly rivaling Phillip Fulmer on the most reviled list.

In a recent interview, I talked to him about Alabama's recent NCAA sanctions (he thinks they were way too harsh) and he agrees with the school's decision to appeal.

The conversation covered many topics, from his opinion of Nick Saban ("he is a liar") to the Tide's cross-state rival ("Auburn embarrassed itself nationally by firing Tuberville").

Scott's line about the Tide's fan base, however, struck the most sensitive nerve.

"It's low self-esteem, low self- esteem," Scott said in relation to why fans support Saban with unconditional love. "If you're living in Alabama, you've been told all your life that you're stupid, your health care is inferior, your education is inferior, the only thing you've ever been told that is not inferior is your college football."

And what does this have to with the price of tea in China?

"As a resident of Alabama, you have a self-esteem issue to begin with," Scott said. "Because all of your life, from the national media, you've been told your state is essentially a racist backwater. So Alabama fans or Auburn fans are willing to take this criticism because they don't have the self-esteem to stand up for themselves and say, 'I'm not a dope, an idiot. It wasn't my fault we lost to Utah. You can't treat me that way, Nick Saban. Take it back. You're doing a great job. I want to like you. But you can't give me this B.S. about we had anything to do with the Sugar Bowl. That's nonsense.'"

OK, so does he have a point or is Scott a typical shock jock trying to make a (bigger) name for himself?

Certainly, Saban opened the door for the criticism by starting the discussion. The overwhelming majority of fans seemed to back him. I'm not sure it has anything to do with education or self-esteem. I believe it has more to do with years of inconsistency, losing and mismanagement of the Crimson Tide football team, to say nothing of NCAA sanctions and the fact Saban is the best coach Alabama has had since Bryant (and fans don't want to lose him).

Scott believes there is more to the story.

"You're telling me as a fan, when your coach bangs on you and blames you for a loss, you don't have a problem with the way your coach treats people. How can you not have a problem with it? Nick Saban is a classic bully."

When Saban was hired, Scott joined the chorus of others, mainly at ESPN, in banging on Saban's head.

"He is a liar and a coward and a quitter and maybe by being all of those things, that will put him in good standing with Alabama fans because I lived in Alabama for 10 years and I've never met a bigger group of narrow-minded, ignorant, boastful, obnoxious jerks in my life," he said at the time. "I'm painting with a broad brush here and I have every intention to. I've met dozens of Bama fans and alumni and the honest, decent, moral, trustworthy ones I could probably count on one hand. This, however, I'm not wrong on: Nick Saban is a liar. Nick Saban is a coward. Nick Saban is a quitter. Nick Saban is all of those things and he couldn't be rewarded with a more likeminded group of fans than the one he's about to inherit in Tuscaloosa."

Today, Scott concedes Saban has done a masterful job in Tuscaloosa. He just believes Saban doesn't need to treat people so badly.

Oh, by the way, did I mention Scott has a liberal arts degree from Auburn?

"It has nothing to do with my opinion of Nick Saban and Alabama," Scott said quickly. "Auburn made itself look ridiculous firing Tommy Tuberville. I am just as happy to bury Auburn as I am Alabama."

Scott said because of Tuberville's firing, he ceased donating money to the school as a means of protest. This is probably a good thing. Now, he can use the saved money for a bullet-proof vest in case he decides to take in an Alabama game this fall at Bryant-Denny Stadium.





(Contact Paul Finebaum at finebaumnet@yahoo.com His column appears Tuesdays in the Press-Register.)