Anyone who thought Alabama coach Nick Saban might back off somewhat after his comments on name, image and likeness (or NIL) deals was mistaken.
Saban was back at it on Wednesday with more comments about NIL deals and some of the colleges to sign players to them — specifically Texas A&M and Jackson State.
The comments about Jackson State, in particular, caught the eye of several college football fans. Notably, there’s one important question that lingers. What will the relationship be like between Saban and Jackson State coach Deion Sanders when the next set of Aflac commercials is filmed?
Them Aflac commercials finna be a fool https://t.co/5vNEBKDgAQ
—
FFERTUNITY (@TrustMyEyesO) May 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/downi75/status/1527126915089412096
So Saban and Deion gonna keep doing Aflac commercials….? https://t.co/KiJcCveGm3
— R&R Cigars (@RandRCigars) May 19, 2022
Those Aflac commercials about to be awkward… https://t.co/w9GSaanAkY
— Dillon (@boomsoon2021) May 19, 2022
Coach Saban voiding Coach Prime's Aflac contract! https://t.co/1vYmFzPrhO
— Sergeant–Sarge for Short (@SergeantMartee) May 19, 2022
There’s another lingering issue that goes beyond the potential awkwardness that may exist on the Aflac commercial sets.
Not even one week before these comments, Saban expressed a desire to see NCAA Football return to parity. Ignoring, for a second, that NCAA Football has historically had less parity than any other major American sport — college or professional — if Saban wants parity, why is he complaining about other schools getting top talent?
Texas A&M has some wins against Saban’s Alabama teams but the program has never been on Alabama’s level in Saban’s era. Jackson State certainly isn’t close. It’s not even a Division 1 program. If Saban wants parity, isn’t seeing top players going to those teams a good thing?
Given all of that — and that Alabama will certainly do fine with NIL players — college football fans were highly critical of Saban’s most recent comments.
It’s becoming more and more apparent that certain coaches are like the bootleggers that got mad when prohibition was ended. https://t.co/FGQjARfLVx
— Charley Dumas (@CharleyDumas) May 19, 2022
Nick Saban must have not watched his players IG stories for the last 10 years. https://t.co/h37IvqGuV4
— WolverMemes (@wolvermemes23) May 19, 2022
This is funny coming from the highest paid employee in the state of Alabama…I’m sure Bama will end up close to the top if you total all the deals…they just don’t like a more level playing field https://t.co/VnoPjnwmKV
— JJ (@c11utch) May 19, 2022
Nick. Sit this one out dawg. I know all those dodge chargers at the practice facility didn’t appear out of thin air https://t.co/3ahdYGRiM2
— Governor of West Tennessee (@VolGov53) May 19, 2022
Ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun. https://t.co/0hEEthKt8b
— Tom Cat (@ThatsMrTtoyou) May 19, 2022
There’s something beautiful about watching someone who is used to getting their way all the time completely unravel when they don’t get their way. https://t.co/8oe19gr7Yh
— LG (@LGhail) May 19, 2022