Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was involved in a car accident that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old woman.
Back in November, Alabama coach Nick Saban, who coached Ruggs, said his thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family. “Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to all involved in this tragic situation, especially the victims,” Saban said. “Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with them. But our thoughts and prayers are also with Henry and his family.”
This month, Saban is speaking out more about the incident when he gave a powerful speech to the Alabama Football Coaches Association this week. Saban talked about what it means to be a leader and why no one wants to do it anymore. Saban cited Las Vegas Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III, a former Alabama star, and his drunk driving incident that left a woman dead. He explained that if Ruggs had stronger leaders around him, perhaps tragedy could have been averted:
“People are more apprehensive about being leaders than they’ve ever been before because they’re worried about what everybody thinks” Saban said. ” … If there was a player in Las Vegas, who was drinking at 3 o’clock in the morning with his buddies and his girlfriend, and somebody would have taken his keys away, probably would have pissed him off, probably would have made him mad, probably wouldn’t have thought very much of you for doing that.
But would he be better off now? Or, would he be better off where he was, going 156 mph running into the ass end of somebody and killing them? And he’s in jail. And he doesn’t have a career anymore. And he’s a good kid. And he never had 1 problem while he was on our team at Alabama. What kind of friend were you? What kind of leader were you when you allowed the guy to do it? But nobody wants to do that, because they’re afraid of what somebody is going to think of them.”
Ruggs is currently awaiting trial for killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor, who burned alive after the former WR rear-ended her at a high speed this past November.
If convicted, Ruggs faces decades in prison.
