By Rock Westfall
Last week, Nick Saban caused controversy with remarks to senators about college football’s crisis. In an indirect response, Mike Krzyzewski disagreed with much of what Saban said, but Coach K did not come off as completely credible.
The Great GOAT Debate
Last week the college basketball coaching GOAT Mike Krzyzewski and his college football counterpart Nick Saban had an indirect debate about NIL and the future of college sports.
Saban had a round table discussion with senators on Capitol Hill. He admitted to senators that he retired because his values of over 50 years in the game were no longer relevant.
Saban’s comments came off to most observers as behind the times and out of touch. Social and traditional media screeched that Saban made millions while his players got “nothing.”
Meanwhile, on the Dan Patrick Show, Coach K claimed he didn’t retire because of the new environment of college sports. Krzyzewski said it “would’ve been exciting to try and adapt to that.” While many bought what Coach K was selling, those with memories of slightly higher quality than a goldfish saw it as duplicitous.
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Both Coaches Score Points
In regards to Saban’s comments, social and traditional media did not make much effort to dig one level deeper than the surface. The juvenile argument that coaches got to make millions and could leave on a whim is an easy sell but ignores the deeper truth.
Last week we made the case as to why Saban was UNDERPAID during his time in Tuscaloosa. Saban impacted the University of Alabama, the city of Tuscaloosa, and countless lives positively.
Furthermore, the media and fans overlook the value of a college education, room and board, Saban’s invaluable life lessons, and, in many cases, NFL preparation skills. The dollar value of just the full-ride scholarship is well in excess of six figures, if not more, depending on the school.
But Coach K was not wrong to say that coaches must adapt to the new dynamics of college athletics. He said he could do without coaches complaining and instead preferred they learn to conform. This is an undeniably realistic view.
Two Control Freaks Find Agreement
Saban and Krzyzewski did agree that the ultimate governing body for college sports must fundamentally change. Coach K admitted that college sports and NIL “are not being coordinated” and have not been for “three years.” He also added that NIL is “the biggest adaptation” in the history of college sports.
Regardless of what side fans and media take in the Saban-Coach K debate, there is universal agreement that college sports need a new governing body or a radically revamped NCAA with rules that apply to the times.
"I wish people would stop talking about changing the NCAA tournament right now. It's a treasure, it works, it's beautiful. You don't expand something not knowing what it's going to fit into in the future.
-Coach K is not in favor of expanding the NCAA tournament field right now pic.twitter.com/E7YusTLjgw
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) March 14, 2024
Coach K’s Pump Fake
Few coaches in any sport were more of an abrasive control freak than Mike Krzyzewski. Insiders knew him as Bobby Knight with table manners. The timing of his retirement directly coincided with NIL and the transfer portal exploding into prominent issues.
Indeed, Coach K retired at age 75 in 2022 and was never going to change his ways. It is true that he potentially felt fatigued and ready to retire. But if college sports still did things the old way without the chaos of NIL, the portal, and college basketball’s “one-and-done” issues, the smart money would have been on him remaining.
Krzyzewski demanded total control of everything in his program. But when he retired, the players were in control instead. Coach K was not alone in his retirement timing. Legendary college basketball coaching greats such as Jay Wright of Villanova (2022) and Roy Williams of North Carolina (2021) retired while still effective but with no desire to deal with the new dynamics of the sport.
Coach K says he did not retire because of the new environment in college sports. (NIL, Transfer Portal, etc…)
"Instead of complaining about what it is, just accept the fact that this is a new time. And because it's not like the old doesn't mean that it's not ok." pic.twitter.com/uQ31sX0vNh
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) March 14, 2024
Saban Comes Clean – Emerges as College Football’s Conscience
As for Saban, at least he admits that the constant changes and chaos drove him away. He came off as the more directly honest of the two. Many found Saban’s comments to the senators behind the times. Still, he represented the traditionalist wing of college football exceptionally well, with substantive points that require deeper thought than a toddler.
The great irony of the current debate is that Nick Saban was a loathsome personality to millions during his time as a head coach. But many of the same people who hated Saban now find him a refreshingly forthright elder statesman and the conscience of college football.
Certainly, there has been nothing phony about elder statesman Nick Saban. By contrast, the same can’t be said about Coach K in the eyes of those who observed his entire career and the timing of his retirement.
Nick Saban:
“Name, Image, and Likeness is a great thing for players. I’m all for players having an opportunity to create whatever value they can create for themselves.”
For the people in the back that keeps spewing the lie that Saban is against players getting paid. pic.twitter.com/ef9kP7IPJb
— 18x National Champions 🐘 (@_Tide18Tymes) March 13, 2024
Education Continues to Be Undervalued
For anyone who has worked or interacted with younger generations, it does not take long before the conversation turns to student debt. These individuals will reminisce about working different jobs to get through school in addition to their student loans.
In the old-school days before NIL and the transfer portal, college football players did not have those things to worry about. Their education and expenses, while certainly hard-earned, were paid for in full. If they applied themselves academically, they left college with a degree and departed their schools without debt. Yet to many, these players were “exploited” and got “nothing” for their “labor.” Seriously?
It is astounding how the media and fans continue to miss those vital points. It is as if they aren’t making an effort—and it’s a good bet they aren’t. Instead, it is the “player’s rights” narrative that matters most to them.
Now, we face the potential of dropping the “student” from “student-athlete.” Don’t be surprised if universities have teams using their nameplates with players who don’t have to go to class. Players would represent such schools just as NFL players represent their team’s cities, even as few of the players had any connection to those locales.
Indeed, We face the potential of college football becoming another pro sport.
For those who can think beneath the surface, Nick Saban is right.
