Nick Saban turns down 2023 prospect's huge NIL request

[Jason Svoboda]

Was just driving home and heard this on local sports talk radio. The jocks were high fiving Saban but I don't think they were paying attention to his actual statement. "I told him he can find another place to play. I'm not paying a kid a bunch of NIL money before he earns it." So it wasn't the $800k request that it was the problem -- it was $800k before he earned it for Bama.

Alabama's Nick Saban turns down recruit's huge NIL request: report

Alabama has signed another top-flight recruiting class, the No. 1 group in the nation in 2023 according to our College Football HQ rankings and many others, but

www.si.com

 

[CoachShipp]

Where do we see this going in 4-5 years? Will mid-major programs in football and basketball be able to keep ANY high performing kid without the Power 5 schools snatching them up?

Before Texas running back Bijan Robinson declared for the NFL Draft, it was projected that he might stay at Texas and make more than a rookie NFL contract for a year before then heading to the NFL...

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Where do we see this going in 4-5 years? Will mid-major programs in football and basketball be able to keep ANY high performing kid without the Power 5 schools snatching them up?

Before Texas running back Bijan Robinson declared for the NFL Draft, it was projected that he might stay at Texas and make more than a rookie NFL contract for a year before then heading to the NFL...

For football, no chance. Game was already over, but now you're going to see even a larger separation.

For basketball, there is still scarcity of opportunity with only 13 scholarships per team. So teams can only do so much year-to-year but they will definitely find creative ways I bet. For example, walk-ons getting NLI money means they can essentially fund their college opex like they're on scholarship. There will also always be kids that actually want to play vs sitting as the 11-12th men.

 

[CoachShipp]

For football, no chance. Game was already over, but now you're going to see even a larger separation.

For basketball, there is still scarcity of opportunity with only 13 scholarships per team. So teams can only do so much year-to-year but they will definitely find creative ways I bet. For example, walk-ons getting NLI money means they can essentially fund their college opex like they're on scholarship. There will also always be kids that actually want to play vs sitting as the 11-12th men.

That makes sense...great explanation...

 

[IndyTreeFan]

I’ve heard that the NCAA is considering eliminating scholarship limits for all sports. Hmmm, wonder who that will benefit?

 

[treeman]

I’ve heard that the NCAA is considering eliminating scholarship limits for all sports. Hmmm, wonder who that will benefit?

At that point they should just get rid of eligibility restrictions. I wouldn't mind seeing a team that looks like: Odum, Menser, Green, Renn, Bird, Nicks, Klueh. Might be a little slow getting up and down the hardwood, and playing 3 in 3 days in St. Louis might show some deficiencies with our conditioning, but I'm sure it could draw a solid Hulman crowd.

 

[bent20]

Only so much playing time to offer, so maybe we see Alabama 1, Alabama 2, and Alabama 3 competing, like it's the USA bobsled team at the Olympics. Old school programs and coaches will begin to come back to the park even more than they already have though if they take Saban's approach. If a kid has to earn it, at those schools they don't usually get to start until they're a junior or senior. Many kids won't be patient enough to wait that long.

 

[bent20]

At that point they should just get rid of eligibility restrictions. I wouldn't mind seeing a team that looks like: Odum, Menser, Green, Renn, Bird, Nicks, Klueh. Might be a little slow getting up and down the hardwood, and playing 3 in 3 days in St. Louis might show some deficiencies with our conditioning, but I'm sure it could draw a solid Hulman crowd.

Might get to 5,000 for a game or two.