Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) money has become a central topic in college athletics. The University of Alabama’s football program is no different.
Recent reports from the news outlet Outkick have shown that Alabama’s Nick Saban may have a limit on the amount of NIL money that he is willing to insure players.
According to the report, Saban touched on the topic while speaking last week at the 18th annual Alabama Football Coaches Association (ALFCA) convention at the Embassy Suites in downtown Montgomery.
Several high school football coaches recounted Saban’s comments including one where a representative of a possible high school recruit asked for $800,000 in NIL money from the university.
This didn’t go over well with Coach Saban.
“I told him he can find another place to play. I’m not paying a kid a bunch of NIL money before he earns it,” Saban was reported to have said.
Saban also referenced a player that was no longer on the team due to NIL payment issues.
“One of them wanted $500,000 and for us to get his girlfriend into law school at Alabama and pay for it. I showed him the door,” the head coach reportedly said.
He registered his opinion last year on how to ensure the best competitive balance under the NIL system.
“The best competitive balance you can have is like in the NFL. They have rules to create competitive balance. Whether it’s salary cap, difficulty of schedule, where you draft, where you pick relative to your won-loss record. Those things are important in the interest of creating a lot of good matchups on a national basis.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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