Saban: Ex-Ole Miss aide wasn't coaching
The Alabama football team received no help Saturday from an ex-Ole Miss staffer who now works for the Crimson Tide, coach Nick Saban said Monday.
Tyler Siskey, Alabama's associate director for player personnel, was spotted Saturday using binoculars in the press box during the Tide's 25-0 win over the Rebels. Siskey was Ole Miss' recruiting coordinator last year.
"He didn't really assist in the game plan, and he wasn't on a headset," Saban said during his media press briefing. "He didn't talk to anybody during the game. I don't know if there's any rule that says he can't go into the press box and watch the games. And he wasn't in any different position than he's ever been in a game."
According to multiple media reports, if Siskey were assisting the coaches, it would have represented an NCAA violation. Bylaw 11.7.2 limits teams to one head coach, nine assistants and four graduate assistants as part of the game-day staff.
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze shrugged off the potential controversy.
"I don't know where he typically is, but certainly I'll say that Alabama had a wonderful defensive plan for us," Freeze said during his Monday press conference. "Give them a lot of credit for the work that they put in, in preparing for us, whether it was in the summertime or whether it was just in the week.
"Nick and Kirby (Smart, Alabama's defensive coordinator) are two of the best in the business, and not that they need a lot of help in preparing a game plan, but I'm sure Siskey helped in some way (prior to the game). Tyler Siskey is a good man, and I hate that it's been quite the drama."
