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From the moment college football players gained both the freedom to change teams and to make money — freedoms college coaches have enjoyed for years — it was clear that former Alabama coach Nick Saban didn’t like it.
He ultimately didn’t like it enough that he decided it was time to move on.
In an interview with ESPN, Saban mentioned some of the changes that the new age of player empowerment had brought to the game.
“I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play because they’re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?” Saban said, via Will Backus of CBSSports.com. “Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field.
“So I’m saying to myself, ‘Maybe this doesn’t work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it’s all about how much money can I make as a college player?’ I’m not saying that’s bad. I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m just saying that’s never been what we were all about, and it’s not why we had success through the years.”
They had success, frankly, because in a climate where all things were equal financially, Saban could recruit the best of the best players. Once the players had the ability to change teams and to make money, it became harder for him to stack the deck — and to keep the deck stacked — the way he once did.
“I want to be clear that wasn’t the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed,” Saban said. “I was really disappointed in the way that the players acted after the [Rose Bowl loss to Michigan]. You gotta win with class. You gotta lose with…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nil-world-nick-saban-wondered-045931874.html
Author : ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-03-07 04:59:31
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