Nick Saban explains NIL's involvement in recruitment, again opens up on Jimbo Fisher feud

Nick Saban had an interesting offseason to say the least when it came to the topic of NIL. On one hand, he often shared how his players at Alabama benefitted from it with the Crimson Tide team earning over $3 million in NIL. On the other, he was at the center of a feud centered around it with former assistant Jimbo Fisher.

Saban spoke on those topics a final time for the offseason during an interview with ESPN’s Chris Low. When it came to NIL, he says Alabama doesn’t have to recruit using it. Saban knows how players see his program and how they can build their own stock on the field. From there, the money will handle itself.

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“The one thing, because of the brand that we have here, that players can see is they can earn a tremendous amount of money because of the brand and because of the image that they can create using that brand to promote themselves, which has happened,” said Saban. “The players that we’re recruiting are not coming here because of the money we’re giving them to come here. They’re coming here because of what they can earn being here because of the history that we have of guys creating value for themselves.”

Nick Saban has continued to be vocal, though, on what NIL shouldn’t be. Involvement from collectives or alumni is what he says the system has ‘always tried to make sure college football wasn’t.’ However, that’s becoming the new norm whether he likes it or not.

As for the spat with Fisher, Saban has long been ready to put it behind him. He has said before how he regrets ever using a specific name or school when it came to his NIL concerns. He has also tried to defuse a media hyped matchup between the Tide and Aggies October 8th. Saban realizes is wasn’t his finest moment but also that he can’t let Fisher’s words get to him.

“Maybe I can get better from some of these things…Things like that used to bother me a lot, and no one is happy about those things when they’re said about you. But I’ve kind of learned that you really can’t let this kind of stuff affect who you are,” Saban said. “I don’t feel any differently. I really don’t because I don’t take things personally. You know, some people take things personally – when they win and when they lose. I mean, when you play pickup basketball, some people take things personally and some people don’t.”

Nick Saban’s offseason highlights how a lot of coaches are struggling in this new NIL space. They’re excelling in some ways, especially when it comes to early benefits for the players. Even so, misspeaking or concerns on where it goes from here has tripped up more than just Saban. NIL isn’t going anywhere and now neither is he. He’ll surely have made a significant leap in the subject by the time his new contract runs out.