Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided harsh criticism of recruiting efforts by Texas A&M and coach Jimbo Fisher versus those of the Crimson Tide. While speaking at an event celebrating the 50-day countdown to the World Games in Birmingham, Saban reportedly claimed that Texas A&M “bought every player on their team” with NIL deals.
“I know the consequence is going to be difficult for the people who are spending tons of money to get players,” Saban said via AL.com. “You read about it, you know who they are. We were second in recruiting last year. A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team. Made a deal for name, image and likeness.
Yea Alabama has launched as the NIL collective for Crimson Tide athletics, with the backing of football coach Nick Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne.
… Yea Alabama will have a three-pronged approach. Individuals who want to make tax-deductible contributions can contribute to Walk of Champions, a registered 501(c)3.
Fans will be able to join as subscribers, ranging from $18 to $150 monthly options. On the entity’s website it states 100% of Yea Alabama subscriptions will go to the athletes.
Tuscaloosa businesses will also be given the opportunity to join the cause, as Yea Alabama plans to help facilitate endorsement deals with athletes.
“I have always believed that our players should have the chance to benefit from their name, image and likeness,” Saban said in a statement. “Yea Alabama is an exciting new resource to help Crimson Tide student-athletes create value for themselves through a variety of NIL opportunities.
“The Alabama brand is one of the most powerful in sports, and our partnership with Yea Alabama provides exposure for our athletes that is unmatched in college athletics.”
To quote a head coach who once railed similarly about no-huddle offenses, “I just think there’s got to be some sense of fairness in terms of asking is this what we want football to be?”
I guess Saban just answered his own question.
Get The Picture 
Hypocrisy? Nick Saban doesn’t have time for that shit.
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I see what you did there!
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Jokes aside – I’ve always thought that last year Saban was NOT trying to diss Jimbo – he was trying to light a fire under his booster’s asses. He was saying “this is how it is now – take care of it aight?”
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So Yea Alabama gives 100% of subscriptions to athletes and sells the players’s endorsements rights to businesses. Does it keep what the businesses pay for endorsements and appearances?
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I am no accountant, but my first thought was to wonder how “Walk of Champions” can be a 501(c)3 deduction. anyone know?
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The entity has elected non-profit status, so contributions are deductible. The Church of Bama. This is an example of why I warn the NCAA running to Congress can backfire. They might get anti-trust protection, but Congress will want to get their tax hands on the NIL stuff which will hit donors. Contributions go down, NIL deals are less, so the fans and players end up paying for their stupidity. Just my guess, but I see this in a lot of other businesses that rely on favorable tax relief.
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I guess I’m going to have to start a church and see what happens…
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Buttt PAAWWLLLLL, “we ain’t paid nobody yet”, screams Broomhilda, from Shelby, al.
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Cecil Newton can assist.
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I spoke to this 501c3 matter in an earlier post about a school that had some connection with a church. If the use of the money collected by a 501c3 is not a permitted use, ie giving money to a college student for playing a sport, then the IRS will strike. You can pay employees and get a deduction, you can give scholarships but you just can’t give money to a person for playing a sport.
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The line between Saban and complete fucking asshole is non-existant.
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Saban to Media: “ They’re cheating!”
Saban to Staff: “We gotta start doing that!”
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Done said it once, done said it a million times…
documented,
When Bear Bryant got to Tejas a$m, he put a ten gallon hat on the table at his first meeting with donors,
he said fill’er up, I have to go get some players.
This was the mid 1950’s. What’s changed over the years?
501(c)s and tax deductions.
Use to be cash in brown paper bags, new cars, selling your game tickets for $100.00 each, and $20.00/hour jobs watching the sprinklers run at a bidness.
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Interesting the morph of a coach who dropped the “we’ve got a QB that’s getting a six (seven) figure deal.” @SEC Media Days 2021 for obvious recruiting advantages; then rails against a team for using that very tactic to beat him in recruiting; to lauding Yea Alabama collective. It’s interesting to me that the advantage Saban thought he was going to exploit w/the NIL grenade at SEC Media days has detonated w/in his own program and has large numbers of athletes jumping from the Bama wagon to other greener pastures.
That sword Saban was swinging has cut both ways.
Maybe if he spent more time developing players vs trying to game the system the on field product might’ve been better.
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Monthly options start at 18? That’s… hilarious
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I’m thinking about signing up. I’ll pay 18 bucks then make ’em chase me around for future payments. They’ll spend three times any money they’ll get from me trying to collect.
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It actually started the year before when Saban went to the Texas high school coaches association meeting and announced that Young had 6 figure NIL deals.
He plays it which ever way he thinks it will work for him
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