Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was not happy with the way his Alabama Crimson Tide players acted following the team’s season-ending loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
During a recent interview with ESPN, Nick Saban expressed his disappointment and frustration with the way his players responded to the loss, saying “you gotta lose with class.”
“I want to be clear that wasn’t the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed,” Saban said of his decision to retire. “I was really disappointed in the way that the players acted after the game. You gotta win with class. You gotta lose with class. We had our opportunities to win the game and we didn’t do it, and then showing your ass and being frustrated and throwing helmets and doing that stuff … that’s not who we are and what we’ve promoted in our program.”
Saban also revealed that the majority of the players on the roster approached him after the season seeking guarantees of playing time and NIL money, and that didn’t sit well with him.
“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 recounted. “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.”
These were some pretty revealing comments from Saban, and they led to a lot of reactions on social media.
I respect him saying this. Many coaches are being naive and delusional that the game has changed, right or wrong! https://t.co/Gv5LChp2hD
— Aaron Hayden (@Ran4UT) March 6, 2024
https://twitter.com/MORTONLB53/status/1765430711689805956?s=20
Worth a read about the current state of college athletics. https://t.co/duUxVnKQ0W
— John Yaglenski (@levelbest) March 6, 2024
I've never been a fan of Nick Saban and I've been hard on him, but to see things like this really puts it into perspective how much of a negative impact the transfer portal and NIL have had on the NCAA. Either one, on its own, would be a GREAT thing. But together, they are awful. https://t.co/dPaKOusfyq
— Mike Frazer ✝️ (@MPFrazer) March 6, 2024
NIL – in theory – was supposed to be that kids can profit from endorsements and all. That’s great! Not this unfortunate side effect. Money made college sports more complicated/takes away from some terrific positives. https://t.co/uRa9BryWCa
— Matt Mihalich (@CoachM_AOFhoops) March 6, 2024
There is no more college athletics. I don’t understand how much longer we have to pretend. We now have European Model Professional Sports
That’s it. Everything will be salary and contract based going forward. https://t.co/8FHEIFZ5dp
— Major Madness (@low_madness) March 6, 2024
These instances may not have been the sole thing that drove Saban to retirement, but it sure didn’t help.
