Alabama coach Nate Oats apologizes to Coach Ok for questioning his concern about enjoying nonconference video games

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Alabama coach Nate Oats issued a public apology on Saturday to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski after questioning the Corridor of Fame coach earlier within the week over his resolution to nix the remaining nonconference slate for the Blue Devils, a call Krzyzewski stated was rooted in giving gamers a break for Christmas to see households but additionally of their well being and security.

“I wish to publicly apologize to Coach Ok for what I stated,” Oats stated after Alabama’s 64-56 loss to Clemson. “I assigned a motive to him and a call made for his staff, which I should not have performed. I truly felt horrible about it. After I obtained out of the press convention, I reached out to him. He was gracious sufficient to return my name. We had a very good discuss on the telephone. I’ve the utmost respect for him as a coach.”

Oats had beforehand questioned Ok’s motives for canceling nonconference play, posing this query to reporters on Thursday: “Do you assume if Coach Ok hadn’t misplaced the 2 nonconference video games at dwelling he’d nonetheless be saying that?”

Oats got here off cavalier about COVID in his earlier remarks, taking a agency stand that school hoops ought to proceed regardless of well being issues. He apologized for that, too, emphasizing that precautions must be taken and that he has the well being of everybody — his staff most of all — on the forefront of his thoughts.

“I undoubtedly wasn’t making an attempt to say COVID’s not severe,” he stated. “Some individuals might have taken that. I do know the numbers aren’t nice proper now. We have to take all of the precautions we will. I believe our coaching employees, our medical employees on the College of Alabama has performed an unbelievable job with all that. However one lesson I realized is to only communicate for our program. I can not communicate for what is going on on elsewhere. That is incorrect and pointless.”

Duke is 2-2 on the season after taking losses at dwelling to Michigan State and Illinois in December, its worst begin to a season in additional than 20 years. However Krzyzewski’s issues of pushing ahead are associated not simply to the general well being of gamers and staffers, as he stated earlier this week, but additionally the planning of the season and the way it might unfold.

“We’re simply plowing by this,” Krzyzewski stated through ESPN.com. “Individuals are saying the subsequent six weeks are going to be the worst. To me, it is already fairly unhealthy. On the opposite facet of it, there are these vaccines which are popping out. By the top of the month, 20 million vaccine photographs might be given. By the top of January or in February, one other 100 million. Ought to we not reassess that? See simply what can be finest?”

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As for Oats, who has contracted and already recovered from COVID-19, he nonetheless feels groups ought to push forward regardless of the continued surge. From his view, Oats argues, the quantity of assets gamers have at their disposal on campus far exceeds any they’d have out there elsewhere.

“We must be enjoying,” stated Oats, including that his gamers wish to play. “It is one of the best factor for them. Alabama basketball is a giant a part of their life. It is nice for a psychological and bodily standpoint each, to be trustworthy with you. I am 100-percent assured saying that I believe our staff is the most secure right here with our medical individuals. We’re getting examined three or 4 occasions every week, and if something pops up, we have got numerous assets right here on the College of Alabama.”

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