You Can't Make This Stuff Up, But I'm for Nick Saban for NCAA President

STILLWATER – Every college football reporter and radio talk show host in America should be thanking Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and in the aftermath Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher. During a period in college sports where there is good stuff going on with NCAA Softball, the end of the baseball regular season, and NCAA Track and Field, but many of those don’t draw as much interest as football or basketball. Saban’s comment at an event in Birmingham on Wednesday night on NIL and the future of college sports in dealing with it and the misuse of it were epic. It became really epic when he singled out Texas A&M and their No. 1-ranked football recruiting class.

"We were second in recruiting last year, A&M was first," Saban started in on recruiting. "A&M bought every player on their team. Made a deal for name, image and likeness. We didn’t buy one player. But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it."

Then Saban went to his Progressive television commercial partner Deion Sanders and his recruitment at Jackson State of five-star football recruit Travis Hunt.

"If the NCAA doesn't get some protection from litigation, whether we gotta get an antitrust or whatever it is, from a federal government standpoint, this is not going to change because they cannot enforce their rules," Saban said. "Just like (Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats) said, we have a rule right now that says you cannot use name, image, likeness to entice a player to come to your school.

"Hell, read about it in the paper. I mean, Jackson State paid a guy $1 million last year that was a really good Division I player to come to the school. It was in the paper, and they bragged about it. Nobody did anything about it.”

Finally, Saban singled out the Miami, Fla. debacle this spring with the portal process of Miami, Fla. basketball landing former Kansas State guard Nijel Pack and current Hurricanes player Isaiah Wong wanting a renegotiation on his NIL deal as a result.

“I mean, these guys at Miami that are going to play basketball there for $400,000, it's in the newspaper,” added Saban. “The guy tells you how he's doing it."

This afternoon (May 19) Saban stayed with a scheduled appearance on ESPNU and their afternoon show on Sirius-XM. He fell on his sword in a hurry.

© Mickey Welsh | 2022 May 19

Fisher and Saban after the game last fall.

"I should have never really singled anybody out," Saban said. "That was a mistake and I really apologize for that part of it.

“I feel bad about it, but I'm not changing my philosophy," Saban continued. "I look at the betterment of college football. What is good for the game? Sometimes those things are not what's best for Alabama. I've been doing this for a long time. My whole focus has always been, how can we help players be successful." 

Saban made it clear that he was not saying anything that Texas A&M and Fisher, Deion Sanders and Jackson State, or Miami, Fla. were doing anything illegal. The NCAA has yet to punish anybody, although they should. I’ve said all along there are even better schools to start with like LSU. Check out their transfer portal haul. Those players didn’t show up to dance with Brian Kelly. I can guarantee that. Maybe USC too. The latest news on this amazing day was former Pitt wide receiver announcing he is heading to USC. Time to revisit Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi and I still would like to see him in a steel cage match with Lincoln Riley.

Speaking of getting personal, I watched the Fisher press conference too. I’ve spoke to coaches that have been on the staffs for both Saban and Fisher. Both are very demanding, but the coaches I’ve spoke with and the opinions that I’ve gleaned have me leaning a lot closer to Saban than Fisher. In my recruiting coverage I’ve heard of multiple stories from third parties about Fisher in recruiting.

Saban was indicting the system, including the transfer portal tampering. Has Alabama done some of that? I bet they have, but I sincerely believe Saban doesn’t want it. In fact, listening to the entire near seven-minute video on YouTube I agree with everything Saban said. I love NIL. I think players deserve to make money on their name-image-and-likeness. A jersey sold with their name and number then they get a cut. The NCAA video game comes back then every player gets a few cents off each purchase. Autographs, personal appearances, commercials, camps, speaking engagements, etc. should all be rewarded. No problem with any of that. However, in the recruiting process, the transfer process, and to simply reward athletes with cash is not NIL, it is pay-for-play.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Gundy says he agrees with Saban.

Honestly, I’m for Nick Saban becoming President of the NCAA. I think Saban understands this. I think he understands what is best for college athletics. There is a lot of good in athletics, especially the non revenue sports, and young men and women receiving an education that helps set them up for a productive career and, as a result, a productive life.

I can’t help but remember Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy saying after he came back from speaking at Alabama’s coach’s clinic and spending time with Saban that he agreed with so much of what Saban said during their meeting. I agree with Saban too.