Anyone who thought Alabama coach Nick Saban might back off somewhat after his comments on name, image and likeness (or NIL) deals was mistaken.
Saban was back at it on Wednesday with more comments about NIL deals and some of the colleges to sign players to them — specifically Texas A&M and Jackson State.
Nick Saban says 25 players on Alabama last season earned NIL revenue totaling $3 million and did it “the right way.” Saban speaking at a 50-day countdown event for the World Games in Birmingham.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 19, 2022
Saban: We were 2nd in recruiting last year. A&M was first. 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 https://t.co/uwEcLQa2u4
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 19, 2022
More from Nick Saban tonight: “Jackson State paid a guy a million dollars last year that was a really good Division I player to come to school. It was in the paper. They bragged about it! Nobody did anything about it."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 19, 2022
The comments about Jackson State, in particular, caught the eye of several college football fans. Notably, there’s one important question that lingers. What will the relationship be like between Saban and Jackson State coach Deion Sanders when the next set of Aflac commercials is filmed?
Them Aflac commercials finna be a fool https://t.co/5vNEBKDgAQ
— TrustMyEyes (@TrustMyEyesO) May 19, 2022
Hey @DeionSanders I think you better bring @danabeers to the next @Aflac commercial shoot so the word can see his apology for spreading debunked rumors. https://t.co/ffEiTXZ6q5
— Matt Millslagle (@MattMillslagle) May 19, 2022
Saban snitching on Deion? Things might get tense on the Aflac set https://t.co/ixMHUz1X3s
— James David Dickson (@downi75) May 19, 2022
Saban & Sanders fighting over the AFLAC budget 😂 https://t.co/qe3Yuc2M3V
— The Prize 🤌🏾 (@MeGaMoBux) May 19, 2022
So Saban and Deion gonna keep doing Aflac commercials….? https://t.co/KiJcCveGm3
— R&R Cigars (@RandRCigars) May 19, 2022
Those Aflac commercials about to be awkward… https://t.co/w9GSaanAkY
— Dillon Harrington (@boomsoon2021) May 19, 2022
Coach Saban voiding Coach Prime's Aflac contract! https://t.co/1vYmFzPrhO
— I Hate the Block Charge Call (@SergeantMartee) May 19, 2022
There’s another lingering issue that goes beyond the potential awkwardness that may exist on the Aflac commercial sets.
Not even one week before these comments, Saban expressed a desire to see NCAA Football return to parity. Ignoring, for a second, that NCAA Football has historically had less parity than any other major American sport — college or professional — if Saban wants parity, why is he complaining about other schools getting top talent?
Texas A&M has some wins against Saban’s Alabama teams but the program has never been on Alabama’s level in Saban’s era. Jackson State certainly isn’t close. It’s not even a Division 1 program. If Saban wants parity, isn’t seeing top players going to those teams a good thing?
Given all of that — and that Alabama will certainly do fine with NIL players — college football fans were highly critical of Saban’s most recent comments.
It’s becoming more and more apparent that certain coaches are like the bootleggers that got mad when prohibition was ended. https://t.co/FGQjARfLVx
— Charley Dumas (@CharleyDumas) May 19, 2022
Nick Saban must have not watched his players IG stories for the last 10 years. https://t.co/h37IvqGuV4
— WolverMemes (@wolvermemes23) May 19, 2022
This is funny coming from the highest paid employee in the state of Alabama…I’m sure Bama will end up close to the top if you total all the deals…they just don’t like a more level playing field https://t.co/VnoPjnwmKV
— JJ (@c11utch) May 19, 2022
Nick. Sit this one out dawg. I know all those dodge chargers at the practice facility didn’t appear out of thin air https://t.co/3ahdYGRiM2
— Honcho DaVinci (@DCrock53) May 19, 2022
Ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun. https://t.co/0hEEthKt8b
— Tom Cat (@ThatsMrTtoyou) May 19, 2022
There’s something beautiful about watching someone who is used to getting their way all the time completely unravel when they don’t get their way. https://t.co/8oe19gr7Yh
— LG (@LGhail) May 19, 2022
