After Alabama coach Nick Saban in May accused Texas A&M of “buying” players in its top-ranked recruiting class with name, image and likeness deals, A&M called on the SEC to fine or suspend him.
That’s according to documents obtained by On3.
On3, via an open records request, obtained an email from Texas A&M president Katherine Banks and athletic director Ross Bjork dated May 19 that calls on SEC Greg Sankey to fine or suspend Saban over his comments.
“We write to express Texas A&M University’s disappointment and outrage at the recent statements made by Alabama University [sic] Head Football Coach Nick Saban that ‘A&M bought every player on their team-made a deal for Name, Image, Likeness,’” the email reads.
“I know the consequence is going to be difficult for the people who are spending tons of money to get players,” Saban said while speaking at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, to promote the World Games being held there in July.
“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. We didn’t buy one player. But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain that in the future, because more and more people are doing it. It’s tough.”
Saban's comments were first reported by AL.com and echoed some of the points he made in March during an interview with The Associated Press.
The NCAA lifted most of its rules barring athletes from earning money from sponsorship and endorsement deals last July, but there are concerns among many in college sports that NIL deals are being used to as recruiting inducements and de facto pay-for-play.
“We expect the league to take strong, public action against Coach Saban and the University of Alabama to demonstrate that such unprofessionalism and disrespect for Texas A&M’s student-athletes, coaches, and the university as a whole, will not be tolerated,” the email from Banks and Bjork to Sankey continues. “A public apology from Coach Saban to Coach Fisher, Aggie Football, and Texas A&M University is a good starting point, but the league should also consider monetary and participation penalties against Coach Saban.”
Following Saban’s comments, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called him a “narcissist.”
“It’s despicable that a reputable head coach can come out and say this when he doesn’t get his way or things don’t go his way,” Fisher said. “The narcissist in him doesn’t allow those things to happen — it’s ridiculous — when he’s not on top. And the parity in college football he’s been talking about? Go talk to coaches who have coached for him. You’ll find out all the parity. Go dig into wherever he’s been.”
Texas A&M had the consensus No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2022 after beating Alabama during the regular season. The Tide’s class was No. 2. In his session with reporters, which lasted about 10 minutes, Fisher declared: “We never bought anybody, no rules are broken. Nothing was done wrong.”
Saban said he has reached out to Fisher but “never got a response.” He apologized for singling anybody out but stood by the gist of his message about booster-backed collectives helping to recruit players.
The SEC declined to fine Saban, but did announce public reprimands of Saban and Fisher.
Alabama is set to host Texas A&M on Oct. 8.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.