Nick Saban shook up the college football world this offseason when he accused Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies of buying recruits.
“We were second in recruiting last year. A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team,” he said. “Made a deal for name, image, and likeness. We didn’t buy one player. But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it.”
On Tuesday during SEC spring meetings, Saban was asked whether or not he has the evidence to back up his claim.
“I didn’t really say that anybody did anything wrong,” said Saban. “I’ve said everything I’m going to say about this. I should have never mentioned any individual institutions as I’ve said before.”
Saban said “I have no problem” with the Texas A&M head coach “at all.”
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Texas A&M has drawn a lot of attention from opposing SEC coaches as Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin told 247Sports’ Carl Reed in February that college football was “gonna implement a luxury tax” on Texas A&M and Texas because “what they’re paying the players is unbelievable.”
Fisher has gotten defensive amid accusations that his program is buying all of its players.
“To have coaches in our league and across this league to say it, clown acts,” Fisher told reporters. “Irresponsible as hell. Multiple coaches in our league. And the guys griping about NIL and transfer portal are using it the most and bragging about it the most. That’s the ironic part. … It’s a joke. It does piss me off.”
The Aggies and Crimson Tide will play at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Oct. 8. Texas A&M beat Alabama, 41-38, last season.
