Nick Saban To Speak In Athens, TN
By Zach Ragan
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The Athens, TN chamber of commerce has scheduled their speaker for an annual event that last year featured former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer.
Nick Saban will be taking the stage to speak to a group of ticket buyers in Athens, TN.
The announcement has angered many Tennessee fans, as you might expect. A quick Twitter search of “Nick Saban Athens” revealed these tweets.
Boycott Athens for bringing in a known terrorist to speak...Aka Nick Saban #vols
— Chucky Blalock (@chuckyblalock) February 18, 2013
Keep Nick Saban out of our state!!!!http://t.co/xWg2vBQ8
— NeylandNation (@NeylandNation) February 18, 2013
If I lived in Athens and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, I would totally boycott Nick Saban's appearance.
— Larry Carter (@LarryTheDeuce) February 19, 2013
It’s very easy to understand why this has drawn the ire of Tennessee fans. Can you imagine the uproar if Urban Meyer was speaking somewhere in Michigan, it wouldn’t be pretty.
In the southeast football is religion. In Tenenssee, football is religion, and trust me Nick Saban is far from a deity in Tennessee. The only person that would have Vol fans more up in arms would be Lane Kiffin. I don’t think Vol fans will have to worry about that. I doubt Kiffin ever sets foot in Tennessee again.
The event in Athens is scheduled for June 11th. I’m sure there will be plenty of protesting surrounding the event. After all it’s SEC football we’re talking about, I would expect no less.
Follow along on Twitter @allfortennessee @captainzach1