Saban complained to a crowd in Birmingham, Alabama, about Texas A&M “buying players” as opposed to Alabama’s NIL efforts, which have been done “the right way,” according to Saban. He specifically railed against the concept of NIL collectives instead of relying on players to create their own opportunities.
Let’s circle back on who he complained to:
a group of business leaders in Alabama’s second-largest city. People who could form a NIL collective to benefit Alabama.
This is pitch-perfect Saban. He probably does believe what collectives do is unfair. But this was more a signal to local boosters who should get with the times, as well as a warning to competing schools that their “advantage” with collectives could be short-lived.
Remember: In 2013, Saban complained about up-tempo offenses ruining the sport. By 2015, Saban had hired Lane Kiffin as offensive coordinator and overhauled his offense to run a more tempo-focused scheme.
Alabama has won three national titles and played for three more since, and in the last three drafts, the Crimson Tide produced five first-round wide receivers and two first-round quarterbacks.
This LSU fan knows the game all too well. Welcome to the club.