Since former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban went to Captial Hill to discuss NIL and basically said that he believes it’s destroying college athletics as we know it, there have been various opinions on Saban, a lot from casual college football fans who think Saban is just whining.
Saban admitted the changes to the college football landscape are part of the reason he decided to call it a career and retire in January.
But his comments about NIL have rubbed some people the wrong way and Saban has been accused by some as being a racist for wanting the NIL regulated.
One such person is former 2 Live Crew frontman Luther Campbell.
Campbell took to X last Friday to call out Saban for being a racist.
“Time and time these coaches show their true colors once they get out of the game. Nick Saban is no different than Tommy Tubberville They hate Black people they think black kids are their slaves for them to only profit off of. Trust me, there’s more races head coaches out there right now today coaching take a look at their staffs. You can easily find the ones who have never had a black OC or a quarterback coach.”
Time and time these coaches show their true colors once they get out of the game. Nick Saban is no different than Tommy Tubberville They hate Black people they think black kids are their slaves for them to only profit off of. Trust me, there’s more races head coaches out there… https://t.co/894PYLYFZ0
— Luther Luke Campbell (@unclelukereal1) March 16, 2024
Campbell’s statements were quickly shut down by mostly Alabama fans who reminded Campbell and those who agree with his comments that Saban did have a black offensive coordinator, Mike Locksley who is now the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins.
Fans came with receipts also to shut Campbell down.
Did you tell him that day how racist you thought he was? You look pretty comfortable smiling in his face. pic.twitter.com/olm8aBKXEm
— 🐘Bamagirl🏈🏆 (@BamagirlShasta) March 16, 2024
What’s the context behind why you feel that way Unc? I never played for him but IMO him retiring has more to do with being 70+ years old & yes NIL
Makes that harder but I don’t think his opinion on it him racist. & I don’t know him personally but He has had tons & tons of…— Logan Tuley-Tillman (@LoganTillman) March 17, 2024
As many may recall, the “Me So Horny” rapper at one point was a huge supporter of the University of Miami and during his days as a rap artist, Campbell would sport Miami sports gear in his music videos which helped make the school popular among football players.
But he is also a huge reason why the school was sentenced to NCAA probation for many years for cheating. Campbell even admitted in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The U,” that he had given several Hurricane players money in the past.
As one fan mentioned, Saban has done a lot to help African-American players either make it to the NFL or have a career after football, and not once has he been accused by his former players of being racist.
In fact he had one of the best graduation rates not only in the SEC but in the country as well, that’s just one of the reasons so many black athletes continued to flock to Alabama to play football for him.
He also has helped many of his former assistants land head coaching positions like Mike Locksley at Maryland. Locksley was the Alabama offensive coordinator for two years before moving to Maryland in 2019. Saban is also on a committee started by Locksley to help black coaches get head coaching positions.
He also put in a good word for Marshall head coach Charlie Huff so he could get that head coaching job. Maybe Campbell is upset because Saban grabbed several players from the Miami area like wide receiver Amari Cooper who would normally play for The U, but decided to take their talents to Tuscaloosa.
Or maybe Campbell is just jealous that The U is a shadow of its former self and there is nothing he can do about it.
