Sports

Saban scuttles Fulton steamer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Candidates for the “Person in College Football You’d Least Like to Be Today,” are:

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman is the easy choice. One week after blowing a 17-point lead at home and losing to Oklahoma St., the Aggies blew an 18-point halftime lead and lost to Arkansas, 42-38.

But Sherman is a big boy. Alabama’s John Fulton, a talented defensive back/special teamer, is still a sophomore with lots to learn.

The most important lesson he must learn is that his coach, Nick Saban, doesn’t suffer fools.

So when Fulton got caught up in a scrum with Florida’s Jelani Jenkins on a punt return with 7:19 left in third quarter and the Tide leading 17-10, Saban ripped off his head phones and bolted off the sidelines to grab his player and bum-rush him off the field.

If I were an experienced lip reader I would swear Saban’s lips uttered the following the words, “Get the bleep out of here.”

The seemingly innocuous play actually highlights the subtle reason why Saban’s teams are so successful: They are accountable.

“When you got guys on the field that don’t do their job, it’s kind of embarrassing,” said nose tackle Josh Chapman.

How’s this for accountability? ‘Bama is second in the nation in fewest penalties committed per game (3) and fifth in fewest yards penalized (29.60).

“One thing he stressed all week was us not getting involved in the little scrums that might occur,” tackle Barrett Jones told The Post. “Overall I think we did a pretty good job of that; we made them make some dumb penalties and I think we stayed away from that.”

The dumb penalties killed the Gators when the Tide wasn’t. A roughing the passer penalty and a personal foul helped Alabama roll on a 10-play, 61-yard drive that culminated with A.J. McCarron plunging over from the 1 for a 24-10 lead.

As the nation awaits the Tussle in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5 when LSU and Alabama decide the world order of college football, there is one area in which the Tide currently has a huge advantage.

LSU is tied for 51st in the nation in fewest penalties (six for 48.4 yards per game). Accountable Alabama won’t beat itself. Hopefully John Fulton will be on the field and the only time he sees Saban is on the sidelines.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com