Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork says Nick Saban’s comments about the university violate the SEC sportsmanship bylaws.
Alabama football coach Nick Saban’s comments about Texas A&M’s program has taken the college football world by storm.
Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork says Saban’s comments about the Aggies football program and head coach Jimbo Fisher were not only out of line, but violated key SEC bylaws regarding sportsmanship. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been in discussions over the evolving situation regarding two of the league’s 14 teams on the issues concerning NIL and sportsmanship.
Bjork spoke with Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated to discuss the ongoing matter Thursday.
"“I don’t know why Nick Saban would say what he said except he’s threatened,” said Bjork to Sports Illustrated. “There is a saying … an emperor who loses their dynasty lashes out. He seems to be making excuses."
Fisher used to work for Saban at LSU nearly two decades ago. Though both have roots growing up in West Virginia, these attacks by Saban on Fisher are viewed as “personal.”
"“This is personal. Coach Fisher views this as a personal attack on his integrity and on Texas A&M’s integrity,” Bjork followed. “To have personal attacks, to say that the only reason A&M is [recruiting well] is NIL money is wrong.”"
Alabama hosts Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 8 this year at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork says Nick Saban violated SEC sportsmanship bylaws
Obviously, the big criticism Saban has with Texas A&M is he believes the SEC West rival school is using NIL to induce players to attend their university, which is not what the original legislation was intended for. In years past, many of these top-end college football prospects would have chosen to attend the University of Alabama, not Texas A&M University. Clearly, you can see the issue here.
"“There are sportsmanship bylaws in the SEC. We believe Coach Saban violated those bylaws,” continued Bjork. “Everyone knows NIL is here to stay. We’ve embraced it. We have all the tools and technology. We are educating our athletes and boosters. There is all kinds of awareness here. The part that is frustrating is to say NIL is the only reason kids are choosing our program. That is hypocritical, and I don’t know why we are the target.”"
Texas A&M has made the transition to the SEC from the Big 12 marvelously in its first decade in the new league, as the university’s football program is steeped in tradition and has a passionate fan base. The Aggies just put together the best recruiting class not only in school history, but all time for any program. No wonder Saban is so frustrated by what the Aggies assembled for 2022.
"“A&M has a huge former student base. The Aggie network is strong. We’ve rebuilt Kyle Field and joined the SEC. I guess people don’t like A&M disrupting the power base of college football.”"
Overall, what Texas A&M is supposedly doing is not illegal. Unless the university is dumb enough to have a contract written out to prospective recruits that they will get X number of dollars to come play for the Aggies, they are not going to get dinged for what Saban is alleging: Inducement. While NIL clearly needs some guardrails, Texas A&M is so taking advantage of its Wild, Wild West.
While most coaches at or near Saban’s age would tap out of the profession because of the never-ending process that is recruiting, the Alabama head coach welcomes the challenge, or at least to some extent. He is good with players getting compensated for NIL, but every player receives that compensation in an equitable manner. It is the pay-for-play can of worms he has a problem with.
Ultimately, it is clear that Saban feels threatened by now having two conference foes recruiting at Alabama’s level. Georgia, who is led by former Saban protege Kirby Smart, just won its first national title in 41 years due in large part to its No. 1 recruiting class from 2018. With what Texas A&M just pulled in for 2022, the Aggies may be the team to beat by the end of the 2025 season.
No conference game will have as much hype as will Texas A&M at Alabama coming up on Oct. 8.
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