If you don't think sports are important to people down south, check out this story about a University of Alabama star basketball player:

Earlier this year, fellow player Darius Miles was dismissed from the team because he was arrested in a murder case, along with another young man, in Tuscaloosa where the University of Alabama is located.

The situation was serious enough that the university immediately kicked Miles off the team. Alabama Coach Nate Oats even consulted former NFL star Ray Lewis, who was himself once an alleged accomplice in a murder, in how to handle the situation.

But new information that is just now becoming public reveals that Brandon Miller provided the gun and the car used in the crime.

Alabama's freshman basketball standout Brandon Miller brought the gun used on the Tuscaloosa strip killing of a 23-year-old mother that led to capital murder charges for his now former teammate Darius Miles and 20-year-old Michael "Buzz" Davis, according to law enforcement testimony today.

Miles texted Miller to bring his gun to where they were, according to police.

When Miller got to the scene, Miles told Davis, "The heat is in the hat." Det. Branden Culpepper said that meant a gun was present.

THIS DUDE IS STILL ON THE TEAM.

Alabama is currently in the midst of what might be their greatest basketball season in recent history, and I guess they don't want to mess with the juju.

It would be one thing if they didn't know. But no, Coach Oats confirmed that the school ALREADY KNEW Miller was implicated in the murder case.

Alabama coach Nate Oats said Tuesday that Miller is "not in any trouble" as a result of his alleged involvement.

"We knew about that. Can't control everything everybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out, Brandon hasn't been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time," Oats said.

The "wrong spot at the wrong time"????

I have never heard a more cowardly and ridiculous statement from a sports coach in my entire life.

He's acting like the kid was drunk and disorderly at a bar or something.

We are talking about SUPPLYING A MURDER WEAPON, not some stupid hazing prank.

Do you know how you avoid being in the "wrong place at the wrong time"? Maybe don't bring GUNS to your friend who is mad at his girlfriend and wants to kill her.

But it looks like Miller is going to get off scot-free.

Asked by AL.com why Miller was not charged, Tuscaloosa chief deputy D.A. Paula Whitley said, "That's not a question I can answer. There's nothing we could charge him with,'' according to the law, she said.

I don't see how bringing your buddy a loaded gun so he can kill his girlfriend is NOT accessory to murder.

According to police, Miller brought the Miles' weapon to him, who then gave it to Davis, who used it to kill his girlfriend.

But since it was not Miller's gun I guess he can't be charged??

They have the weapon, the texts, everything.

You can read the details of the case. The men charged are planning to plead self-defense, which seems odd since they requested Miller bring them a gun and then allegedly shot the young mother and sped off.

Here's the other relevant part of the story:

After leaving the club, Harris, her boyfriend, Cedric Johnson, and her first cousin, Asia Humphrey, stopped at a nearby grill to get something to eat.

It was then they encountered Davis, who was dancing in front Harris's Jeep.

Johnson told Davis that his girlfriend was not interested and to move along. "It got a little elevated,'' the detective testified.

Miles and Davis walked away from the victim's Jeep but later returned.

Two vehicles - a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger that belonged to Miles' teammates, Miller and Bradley - were blocking the road where the Jeep was parked.

Miles and Davis walked to Miller's car and got something - believed to be the gun - out of the back seat.

Moments later, Culpepper testified, Davis began firing through the driver's side window of the Jeep.

He fired at least eight shots, some of them while running in an arc from the driver's side around the back of the vehicle.

It was then, the detective said, that Miller's Charger was struck by two bullets.

Not only did Miller bring the gun to the scene, but, according to police, he also parked his car in a spot where it would trap the victims' car to prevent an escape!

He was close enough that his car was hit by two bullets!

I guess since they're still winning ball games, the University of Alabama doesn't care about murder.