Calls for Nick Saban to rescue college football are growing. Even some who once opposed Nick Saban are now claiming that the recently resigned head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide is particularly suited for the challenging assignment.
Nick Saban’s past is one of the reasons the college football world should look to him. His tenure as a college football coach isn’t as extensive as his history of cautions about the direction college football was heading. Saban employed a single query over years to assess the possible effects of change. First, when the Transfer Portal created unrestricted free agency, the question was raised, “Is this what we want college football to be?”
After the Portal blew up and NIL happened, Saban started to fear free agency. A wild west where, in contrast to the NFL, there is no salary cap on free agency.
Nick Saban stated recently, speaking with Chris Low of ESPN,
“College football as it currently exists is not what it is today. You hear the term “athlete-student” used. That is not real.
– Nick Saban Saban raised the concern that other collegiate sports would suffer or even be destroyed by the current trends in college football. In college football and men’s college basketball, the “haves” are supposed to make it through, and some of them even thrive. However, the expense of running college football championship programs may force institutions to restrict, if not outright ban, other sports.
Nick Saban is also aware of the drawbacks of players receiving immediate financial advantages.
“I want the players to be able to build value for themselves and have a great quality of life.” However, instead of discussing education or building wealth for the future, we now solely discuss how much money we can make while we’re in college.”
– Nick Saban
For many former college athletes who fail to make it as professionals and have no backup career to support them, a financial bubble could burst.
Even though Saban has legitimate worries, coming up with workable answers will be extremely challenging. It will probably be far harder to solve college football’s numerous issues than it is to win championships. Not even the best college football coach in history will be able to undo irreversible damage.
Nick Saban’s leadership is much needed in the college football world, but sorting through viable alternatives and paving the way for a sustainable future will require the efforts of many other bright minds. Is it better for Nick Saban to accept this difficult challenge or to back off and enjoy a well-earned retirement? It might not be able to accomplish both.
