HOOVER, Ala. — Every year in Hoover, Alabama, the coaches and premiere players of the Southeastern Conference gather for SEC Media days to talk to the press about the prospects for the upcoming season. The preseason ritual draws hundreds, if not thousands of fans, particularly of the Crimson Tide and Auburn Tiger variety.

Nick Saban’s time slot has been the most crowded of the week for the past several years and the sage of college football receives questions about his team and the broader sports landscape in general.

This year, one of the more unexpected inquires was about the Confederate flag, a reporter surprised many when he asked for Saban’s take on the controversial issue.

“My opinion is anytime we have a symbol that represents something that’s mean spirited or doesn’t represent equal rights for all people, that I’m not for having that symbol represent anything we’re involved in,” Saban said. “It’s not my decision what the governor does or what our university does. It’s just my opinion and how I feel about symbols that are not positive towards human rights and everybody having equal opportunity.”

After the shooting at the AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina last month, Governor Robert Bentley (R-AL) ordered that the Confederate Battle Flag flying on Capitol grounds be taken down. South Carolina followed suit shortly thereafter and numerous national companies have stopped the sale of the Civil War Era banner.

With everyone from football coaches to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. coming out against the it, there appears to be a growing consensus among public figures that the controversial flag “belongs in the history books.”