AJC Writer's Take On Saban's Rant...

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

 

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/07/21/its-no-coincidence-that-saban-is-suddenly-concerned-about-agents/

Jeff Schultz It’s no coincidence Saban suddenly is concerned about agents
6:04 pm July 21, 2010, by Jeff Schultz


"Hello, my name is Nick Saban, and suddenly I feel the urge to talk about something."
HOOVER, Ala. – Far be it for me to steer attention away from an important issue like sports agents trying to recruit impressionable young men as their future clients, especially when said student-athletes clearly are in the middle of summer school classes as they work toward their doctoral thesis and certainly have no time to go to South Beach for a party.

But exactly when did Nick Saban become so concerned about sports agents, or, as he calls them: “pimps.”

Because I certainly don’t remember him speaking out when Reggie Bush helped get Southern Cal thrown into the NCAA’s penitentiary. And I don’t remember him saying anything when an Alabama player, Antonio Langham, took money from agent back in 1993. Just wondering: Was he upset a few days ago when he heard reports that a Florida player, Maurkice Pouncey, might have taken $100,000 from an agent. Because maybe we all missed that.

Saban has been coaching football for a lot of years and for a lot of teams, college and pro. This issue of agents preying on college players isn’t new. It predates 8-tracks. So it must just be an amazing coincidence that the Alabama coach is only now speaking so passionately about this issue, the day after his best defensive player, Marcell Dareus, was reported to be on an agent’s party list in Miami.

What prompts a coach generally so guarded in public to say of agents, “How are they any better than a pimp”? (and that should go over well with Saban’s agent, who was pimping the coach to NFL teams, including the Falcons, when Saban was still at LSU and then back to the SEC when he was with the Miami Dolphins, for roughly 10 minutes).

And what do we call it when Saban, in expressing how this issue affects everybody in the big picture, has an epiphany: “Maybe we need to not be so self-absorbed about how it just affects us and the NFL and see how it affects everyone and do something about it.” Because somehow “ironic” or “disengenous” just don’t seem strong enough. (Breaking news: Elvis living on Neptune, and Nick Saban wants what’s best for everybody.)

Truth is, if you want to know why Saban is such a successful college football coach, this is reason No. 1. So many coaches know Xs and Os. So many can recruit. So many can sell their program and schmooze the mom and spot talent from a mile away and with the lights turned off.

Not every coach can do the things that really separate a program from the pack. Not every coach can motivate players like Saban or so flawlessly distract to his benefit by overinflating a storyline. A year ago, Alabama was coming off a great season but not nearly great enough. The Crimson Tide went through the regular season undefeated, but then lost to Florida in the SEC title game and got drilled by Utah in the Sugar Bowl.

Saban seized on that ending. He told everybody that Alabama had accomplished nothing. Nothing! He wouldn’t let his players forget the loss to Florida all season. By the time of last year’s SEC title game rematch, Alabama players were ready to run through cinderblock. They steamrolled Florida like they were Ball State.

Now comes this: a sports agent reportedly hosted a gathering this summer. Players from Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina have been connected to reports. But Saban’s pyrotechnics have created bigger headlines.  Stories of Alabama trying to repeat as national champions have faded. Even Dareus is an afterthought. Brilliant.

Saban kept referring to what agents do as “entrapment.” Really? Was the agent wired or disguised as a plumber?

He said if the NFL doesn’t do something about this, his “hospitality” of opening practices to scouts might stop. That should go over well with his players, who want to play in the NFL.

At one point, Saban, who obliterated the college coaches’ salary ceiling when he signed with Alabama in 2007, said with almost a sigh: “I think most everything gets a little bit about money somewhere along the way.”

Yes, Nick. A crushing realization.

[The Prowler]

Oh NOES!!!!! Lord midget is going to close his practice to NFL Scouting Agents....

[Birmingham]

So guys who are currently dealing with something aren't allowed to have a feeling one way or the other about it?  WTF???  I would think given Saban's current situation with MD it makes him the most able to talk about this issue, why would that be a bad thing?

If your kid is killed while drinking and driving you're not supposed to have an opinion that stands against people who drink and drive?  Marcel and Alabama will pay for this the same as every other player and university pay for it.  The ones dangling the bait walk and it needs to be addressed.  Who other than Saban is in a better position to confront this right now?

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

So guys who are currently dealing with something aren't allowed to have a feeling one way or the other about it?  WTF???  I would think given Saban's current situation with MD it makes him the most able to talk about this issue, why would that be a bad thing?

If your kid is killed while drinking and driving you're not supposed to have an opinion that stands against people who drink and drive?  Marcel and Alabama will pay for this the same as every other player and university pay for it.  The ones dangling the bait walk and it needs to be addressed.  Who other than Saban is in a better position to confront this right now?

This is so astoundingly stupid in relation to the point the writer made in the original post, I'm not even sure anyone should post anything in response.  Just maybe sit back and read it over and over. 

[wesfau2]

 The ones dangling the bait walk and it needs to be addressed.  Who other than Saban is in a better position to confront this right now?

Who indeed?  $urely $aban isn't $elling hi$ NFL connection$ to recruit$. 

[Birmingham]

Who indeed?  $urely $aban isn't $elling hi$ NFL connection$ to recruit$. 

Is telling a kid that if he plays hard enough he can make it to the NFL an NCAA rule?  What are you accusing Saban of doing, wes?

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

Is telling a kid that if he plays hard enough he can make it to the NFL an NCAA rule?  What are you accusing Saban of doing, wes?

[RWS]

Saban was asked questions about agents by the media. He's a dick if he says "no comment", so what do you want him to do? As far as the comments about his departure from Miami and his salary, if anything, that was Alabama's doing. If anybody was pimping anything, it was Alabama.

A team is going to give you a lucrative contract, great money, and the keys to the program to stop doing something you hate. You would be a fool to turn it down.

I wonder if this writer is going to ask Richt how he feels about agents when the NCAA leaves their campus. Bottom line, any coach in the SEC in a similar situation would have made similar comments. I think we will see that in the coming weeks.

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

Saban was asked questions about agents by the media. He's a dick if he says "no comment", so what do you want him to do? As far as the comments about his departure from Miami and his salary, if anything, that was Alabama's doing. If anybody was pimping anything, it was Alabama.

A team is going to give you a lucrative contract, great money, and the keys to the program to stop doing something you hate. You would be a fool to turn it down.

I wonder if this writer is going to ask Richt how he feels about agents when the NCAA leaves their campus. Bottom line, any coach in the SEC in a similar situation would have made similar comments. I think we will see that in the coming weeks.

The real question will be to see if Richt goes off and threatens banning them from campus, and then calls them pimps.  I mean, cause banning, or alienating the entire NFL presence on campus would do absolute wonders for recruiting.  Most recruits today would LOVE to hear that they'll be in a safe, non-NFL type environment. 

TV and the combine will give the NFL all they NEED!  Aight!

[boartitz]

Saban was asked questions about agents by the media. He's a dick if he says "no comment", so what do you want him to do? As far as the comments about his departure from Miami and his salary, if anything, that was Alabama's doing. If anybody was pimping anything, it was Alabama.

A team is going to give you a lucrative contract, great money, and the keys to the program to stop doing something you hate. You would be a fool to turn it down.

I wonder if this writer is going to ask Richt how he feels about agents when the NCAA leaves their campus. Bottom line, any coach in the SEC in a similar situation would have made similar comments. I think we will see that in the coming weeks.

Just because you stick a feather up your ass doesn't mean you are a peacock.

[The Prowler]

The real question will be to see if Richt goes off and threatens banning them from campus, and then calls them pimps.  I mean, cause banning, or alienating the entire NFL presence on campus would do absolute wonders for recruiting.  Most recruits today would LOVE to hear that they'll be in a safe, non-NFL type environment. 

TV and the combine will give the NFL all they NEED!  Aight!

I'm gon' to play at bamuh
(while sippin' on dat Purple Drank)

'cause sabbin will help me get to dat nex' level....ya heard

[boartitz]

Nick was a lot smarter than that 4 years ago. Hmmmm.

[The Prowler]

Nick was a lot smarter than that 4 years ago. Hmmmm.

The fanbase is starting to rub off on him.

[RWS]

The real question will be to see if Richt goes off and threatens banning them from campus, and then calls them pimps.  I mean, cause banning, or alienating the entire NFL presence on campus would do absolute wonders for recruiting.  Most recruits today would LOVE to hear that they'll be in a safe, non-NFL type environment. 

TV and the combine will give the NFL all they NEED!  Aight!

Saban specified his statement to the agents who know they are breaking the rules.

"I don't think it's anything but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents," Saban said. "Agents that do this, I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people, none. I mean, none. How would you feel if they did it to your child?"

Do I think the following quote was serious?

"I'm about ready for college football to say, 'Let's just throw the NFL out. Don't let them evaluate players. Don't let them talk to players. Let them do it at the combine.'

No. I think it is more along the lines to get the NCAA to look at how agents are dealt with to come up with something nationwide for every school. The NCAA has already formed a committee to look at their rules regarding agents. Also, I think it is to get the attention of the NFL and the NFL Players Association so perhaps those two organizations might do something from their end about rogue agents as well. I think if the NFL stepped in and said "Hey, if you are an agent that inappropriately contacts a college player, we're going to ban you from representing any NFL player for 2 years", or something similar, that would cut down on ALOT of shit.

Do you really, really think Saban is going to ban NFL folks from Alabama? Fuck no.

[JR4AU]

Saban was asked questions about agents by the media. He's a dick if he says "no comment", so what do you want him to do? As far as the comments about his departure from Miami and his salary, if anything, that was Alabama's doing. If anybody was pimping anything, it was Alabama.

A team is going to give you a lucrative contract, great money, and the keys to the program to stop doing something you hate. You would be a fool to turn it down.

I wonder if this writer is going to ask Richt how he feels about agents when the NCAA leaves their campus. Bottom line, any coach in the SEC in a similar situation would have made similar comments. I think we will see that in the coming weeks.

FTFY.