Marcus Spears on Nick Saban: He was out of line calling out Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

The recent NIL controversy swirling around Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher has consumed headlines in college football for the past six days. The verbal sparring between the two of the sports’ most recognizable faces caught the attention of many people in the national media, including ESPN’s very own, Marcus Spears. The former LSU star has never been afraid to speak his mind and two days ago, he said Nick Saban was completely out of line with his recent verbal assault on Jimbo Fisher.

“Hell yeah he was out of line. And first, everybody knows my affinity for Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect and love for both of those gentlemen as well as Deion Sanders–Coach Prime. But for Nick Saban to come out and make a statement saying Texas A&M bought every one of their players. Okay. When coincidentally, they ended up with the No. 1 recruiting class, which you’ve (Nick Saban) been accustomed to having for the last 15 years at the University of Alabama,” Spears said on ESPN’s First Take a few days ago.

“This has nothing to do with jealousy or somebody wanting to be Alabama or Nick Saban. Jimbo Fisher took it as a shot, and he should have. Because what the rules allow Texas A&M to do, they used to their advantage. Now, let me explain something to the audience that’s watching. Nick Saban has always been the first to the party to be able to use within the rules to create advantages. Whether it be in recruiting or on the football field. That’s what he’s done as well as anybody else in college football–which lends itself to the tremendous amount of success that he’s had,” Spears said.

“But we know what type of connotation goes along with saying a program bought players. Let’s not have a conversation like we’re oblivious to what that actually means and how that looks. If Nick Saban would have said Texas A&M had a collective, and I don’t know the full definition of collective, I think it’s a sum of money that you can use for NIL deals, for players that you bring [in]. If he were to explain how you can have an advantage within how the structure of college football is right now, I don’t think anybody would have a problem with it. But if I say that a University bought players, what type of damn connotation y’all think that’s going to have to the public? Coming from the most visible and recognizable face in college football. The guy that everybody deems as the guy who carries the torch for the game like Jimbo Fisher said,” Spears said.

The only thing certain about NIL and college football at this point, is that it all faces a remarkably uncertain future. The good news about the verbal sparring between Fisher and Saban is that it will make sure more eyeballs are tuned in on the Alabama-Texas A&M game this fall. It should be one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2022-2023 season. The Crimson Tide and Aggies are set to square off on Saturday, Oct. 8 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Pull up a seat.