By Rock Westfall
On Tuesday Nick Saban unloaded with his displeasure on what college football is transforming into. Saban confirmed what this space has warned about for months in regards to college football’s crisis. But Senator Ted Cruz warned not to expect legislative action this year.
“Why Are We Doing This?”
On Tuesday, Nick Saban, along with former Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, visited with several senators and political figures in what was described as a Capitol Hill roundtable. Topics such as recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL, and conference realignment were discussed. When Senator Ted Cruz asked Saban if college football’s changes led to his decision to retire, Saban unloaded.
Saban said that all the things that he believed in during his 50-year coaching career no longer exist. The GOAT of college football coaching said that his career was based on developing players and helping them be more successful in life. Saban told of an incident at his home during a breakfast for all of the recruits and their parents. Saban said his wife, Terry, asked him, “Why are we doing this?” When Saban asked her for clarification his wife explained that all anyone, including parents, was asking about was how much they were going to be paid.
At that point, Nick and Terry Saban realized that it was no longer about preparing young men for success at the game of life and instead was all about the bag. So Saban retired.
https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1767760179989193067
Saban Ambiguous on Paying Players – Other Sports Threatened
Saban said that while he favors paying the players, he does not favor making players employees of their respective universities. Saban told the Senate group that players should be paid but within limits. There were no substantive details given on how to thread that needle. Saban was critical of booster-led NIL collectives that have created a pay-for-play environment. However, any system that pays players is, in essence, pay-for-play.
More Sports News
Dire warnings about the elimination of non-revenue sports in relation to players becoming paid employees were also discussed. Only two sports, football and men’s basketball, turn a consistent profit. Most of the other sports lose millions each year. Byrne warned that if players were paid employees, that money would come from other non-revenue sports.
Meanwhile, Byrne and Phillips encouraged lawmakers to pass legislation that creates a more regulated approach instead of the current booster-led NIL approach, in which players are paid as a front for their relationship with various businesses that sponsor collectives.
Also, Byrne wants a “safe haven” from athlete employment and Title IX restraints along with antitrust protections. Byrne warned the senators that despite public perceptions, there is not an unlimited amount of athletic department money. Phillips warned that schools could go from sponsoring 28 sports programs to six in a single year if players become university employees.
Cruz said that Congress has only two months left to pass something in this election-year cycle and that the chances are “50-50.”
Multiple Disagreements On Governance and Revenue Sharing
There was also disagreement on what a new governing body would look like, whether it would be by a reformed NCAA or the government itself. The biggest hurdle on Capitol Hill is how much protection from lawsuits could be put into any potential governmental bill. Democrats and Republicans continue to debate the details of an antitrust exemption.
Saban lamented the lack of parity in college football and that revenue sharing is necessary for competitive balance. Despite the discussion on revenue sharing for college athletics, there were no serious ideas on how to achieve it.
https://twitter.com/32tbyrd/status/1767762915321434344
Why Would Anyone Ask for Government “Help?”
While Saban made his points and the senators seemed earnest listeners there was nothing close to any specifics on what a new bill would look like. Thus, without a serious framework in an election year, Cruz’s 50-50 assessment seems overly optimistic.
More to the point, as this space has repeatedly stated, college football would do well to solve its own problems, especially when considering just how poorly the government has performed on issues of greater importance than sports. The smart money is that anything the government comes up with would make matters worse.
https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1767584505362096269
Shallow Social Media Pajama Boys Have Collective Meltdown
Nothing is more predictable than the media whining about how much money college football coaches and their families have. Saban’s comments regarding his wife’s observation that all the players care about is money triggered much of the media, social and otherwise.
Of course, the tantrums came with predictably cliched responses. Most were about Saban and his beachfront homes and Mercedes-Benz dealerships. These deep thinkers were, as always, on the level of toddlers envious of other kids having more toys or candy.
Of course, such media comments totally miss the point. Saban had more personal responsibility running the Alabama football program than all his players, past and present, combined. Saban’s success led to massive upgrades in enrollment and the quality of students and teachers at the University of Alabama. Saban’s dynasty turned Tuscaloosa into prime real estate as a city that was transformed into a modern destination locale.
Indeed, Saban’s success greatly benefited the University of Alabama, its sports programs, and the city of Tuscaloosa. And that does not even consider the countless lives of football players he permanently impacted for the greater good of society.
Few human beings have had a more positive impact on the youth of America, his community, and institution than Nick Saban. Certainly, the entire media never made an impact.
Whatever Saban was paid or has, it was and is not nearly enough.
https://twitter.com/realkellye/status/1767713408344850869
The Continuing Crisis and a Warning From History
College football remains where it was before Saban visited Capitol Hill. There is no credible leadership or direction, and the Big Ten and SEC continue to threaten the rest of the conferences with bullying tactics. The networks don’t care about the game’s cultural and traditional fabric, and most of the players don’t care about anything except money.
Meanwhile, coaches are burning out as their rosters are revolving doors of entitled players. Too many coaches are terrified of coaching up their players in fear of offending them. And valuable programs are facing the real possibility of being left behind.
Indeed, the game we all fell in love with, Nick Saban’s game, is on its deathbed.
https://twitter.com/vo_ldemort/status/1767633668770517042
College football must get an immediate grip to save itself. Other sports have destroyed themselves in the same way as college football is now.
Boxing and horse racing used to be the top American sports. Greed and corruption permanently destroyed their status. Major League Baseball was once the true national pastime. Now, it is a megamarket game that has left numerous cities behind because of its lack of sustainable competitive balance. Baseball’s hubris made it a niche sport. The NBA turned millions of fans away by forgetting why it opened its doors for business in the first place. Previously, the NHL and NASCAR had more success when they accepted who they were (cults with die-hard, passionate followers) instead of trying to hang with the cool kids and be something they were never meant to be.
College football as we know it is gone. Whatever it becomes will be less than what it was. Turning to the government will only serve to make matters worse, guaranteed.
College football must find the courage and intelligence to save itself. But there is zero evidence of that happening. Tuesday’s meeting was mostly hot air and a remedial presentation of what we already know.
Still, all is not lost. Nick Saban has added yet another accomplishment to his storied career. Those who previously loathed Saban are converting into fans.
