sport news Brandon Miller: Alabama coach Nate Oats takes blame for pat-down pregame intro trends now
Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats has taken the blame for Brandon Miller's pat-down pregame interaction Saturday which caused outrage.
The controversial move came days after Alabama Det. Branden Culpepper testified Miller brought now ex-teammate Darius Miles's gun to him prior to the killing of 23-year-old mother Jamea Jonae Harris.
Postgame Oates admitted he had not seen the customary pregame pat-down - part of Miller's introductions all season - but described it as 'not appropriate.'
He spoke with reporters Tuesday and took a different tone, in fact assuming culpability for Miller and teammate Adam Cottrell.
'That situation is on me. We addressed as a team and as soon as I brought it up to them, they immediately understood how it could be interpreted and we all felt awful about it,' Oats said.
Brandon Miller was 'patted down' by Adam Cottrell (L) before playing for Alabama on Saturday
'They explained to me that it's like when TSA checks you before you get on a plane and now Brandon's cleared for takeoff.
'We, as the adults in the room, should have been more sensitive to how it could have been interpreted.
'I dropped the ball. That's it. I dropped the ball on it. We've addressed it. I can assure you that it won't happen again.'
Culpepper testified that Miles texted Miller on January 15, asking his then-teammate to bring his gun to an off-campus area. Miller allegedly complied, driving the gun to Miles and Davis.
When Miller arrived at the scene, he allegedly contacted Miles in a text message, writing that 'the heat is in the hat,' and adding that 'there's one in the head,' according to Culpepper.
As the
