Nick Saban’s not going to suspend Da’Shawn Hand

Alabama DE Da’Shawn Hand won’t be suspended by Nick Saban after his DUI arrest last weekend.

The fact that the junior was found asleep in the driver’s seat of his car by Tuscaloosa police – something that is counted as a DUI in the State of Alabama – but he was not driving may have saved his bacon on the suspension front.

“Da’Shawn put himself in a bad situation, obviously made a mistake being where he was at the time,” Saban said. “But the fact that he didn’t drive the car, which is what we tell the players not to do — and it’s not OK that he was drinking, with me, and that’s a behavioral issue that needs to be addressed, and we will address it — but the fact that he didn’t drive the car and wasn’t driving the car and didn’t put other people at risk, which to me is the most significant thing when you drive under the influence — but he didn’t drive.”

Hand still will face charges from the Tuscaloosa system on September 18th, but such is Saban’s influence in the town that you can expect them to be dropped fairly quickly.

Of course there is a massive argument for the fact that Da’Shawn had every intention of driving, bearing in mind that he was passed out (sorry – ‘asleep’) in the driver’s seat of his car. It’s not like he was in the passenger or backseat of his car. But fortunately for him, he’d had so much booze (and other stuff, which would surprise anyone who knows the lives of football players in Tuscaloosa) that he passed out before driving. He was probably going to take a little rest before driving intoxicated.

So in fact, Nick Saban is basically saying that drinking and driving is OK.

Just remember, this has NOTHING to do with the fact that Da’Shawn Hand is Nick Saban’s starting DEs, and a preseason all-SEC player, will you? Oh, and the fact this definitely has nothing to do with the fact that Alabama plays Florida State in the season opener in Atlanta.

Nope, nothing to see here.