Nick Saban gives half-assed apology for going after Jimbo Fisher, Deion Sanders

A day after making comments on Jimbo Fisher and Deion Sanders, Alabama head coach Nick Saban issued an apology.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban brought a ton of attention to the college football world after some comments he made regarding some college football programs. In his diatribe, Saban accused Texas A&M of buying all of their players to make them the top recruiting class in the nation last year. That, and he singled out Jackson State, who he accused of paying a recruit seven figures to commit to their program.

One day later, Saban issued an apology for the comments that he made regarding Texas A&M and Jackson State.

“I should have never really singled anybody out,” Saban said while on the ESPNU radio show Off Campus, h/t Sports Illustrated. “That was a mistake and I really apologize for that part of it.

“I really wasn’t saying anybody did anything illegal in using NIL. That was something assumed by what I said. It’s not what I meant. There’s nothing illegal about doing this. It’s the system. That’s the issue I have.”

Nick Saban apologizes for comments towards Jimbo Fisher, Deion Sanders

Saban’s comments about the Aggies made for a very newsworthy press conference held on Thursday morning by Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher. He called the Alabama head coach a “narcissist,” and his comments “despicable.” Not only that, but he said to “go dig into his past” when talking about Saban being regarded as “the czar of football.”

Following both Saban’s and Fisher’s comments, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement, reprimanding the two for violating conference bylaws related to “ethical conduct for derogatory comments and public criticism of another institution’s athletics program.”

Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders also addressed Saban alleging that Jackson State paid $1 million to secure the commitment of top recruit Travis Hunter. The Hall of Fame defensive back called Saban’s accusations a “lie.”

In an interview with AndScape’s Jean-Jacques Taylor, Sanders said he wants to speak with Saban publicly after the Alabama head coach said that he tried reaching out to the Jackson State head coach privately.

"“I haven’t talked to Coach Saban. I’m sure he’s tried to call. We need to talk publicly — not privately. What you said was public. That doesn’t require a conversation. Let’s talk publicly and let everybody hear the conversation,” Sanders said, via AndScape.“You can’t do that publicly and call privately. No, no, no. I still love him. I admire him. I respect him. He’s the magna cum laude of college football and that’s what it’s going to be because he’s earned that.“But he took a left when he should’ve stayed right. I’m sure he’ll get back on course. I ain’t tripping.”"

Even after the apology, Saban’s comments are going to be remembered, especially for the remainder of the year, and especially when Alabama plays Texas A&M on Oct. 8.

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