“Should have been on pay-per-view”: Lane Kiffin of the Rebels has never seen anything like the Saban-Fisher rift before


“Should have been on pay-per-view”: Lane Kiffin of the Rebels has never seen anything like the Saban-Fisher rift before

The world of college football has been shaken in the past two days following Alabama’s Nick Saban‘s accusation of Texas A&M bought their players in order to land the number 1 recruiting class in the nation. He also accused Deion “Primetime” Sanders of doing the same. Sanders coaches at Jackson State University, an HBCU that was not popular before Sanders became the HC. Travis Hunter, a five-star cornerback opted to go to Jackson State over any other top-tier college, Saban believes that he did so because he was paid a million dollars.

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Texas A&M’s coach Jimbo Fisher did not stay mum following these accusations, he clapped back at the coach over his words and both of them began to go back and forth. Saban’s primary accusation was that he bought players under the pretext of name, image, and likeness, “A&M bought every player on their team.” Fisher did not hold back and called Saban a “narcissist” and that people should dig into his past.

Also read: “Nick Saban needs to apologize,” Colin Cowherd slams Alabama coach over his feud with Jimbo Fisher

“This can’t really be happening”: Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels is in shock over this entire situation:

Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin

Coach Lane Kiffin who will enter his third season at Ole Miss this fall, was watching the entire drama unfold from the sidelines. “First time in my life. I kept saying, ‘This can’t really be happening.’ I still haven’t moved from my seat. Should have been on pay-per-view,” he told The Athletic Thursday.

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Fisher called a press conference on Thursday morning and went into Alabama’s HC. Fisher said that Saban did reach out to him but that he did not take his call, “We’re done,” he concluded.

Some people think they’re God. Go dig into how God did his deal. You may find out about a guy, a lot of things you don’t want to know, we build him up to be this czar of football. Go dig into his past or anybody who’s ever coached with him. You can find out anything you want to find out what he does and how he does it,” Fisher said.

Fisher denied that A&M broke any rules while securing the top class in 2022. “I don’t cheat. I don’t lie. If you did my old man slapped me across the face. Maybe someone should have slapped him (Saban),” Fisher added.

Saban made these allegations at a conference in Birmingham. “I know the consequence is going to be difficult for the people who are spending tons of money to get players, you read about it, you who they are. We were second in recruiting last year. A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team. 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 going it. It’s tough,” Saban said.

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Nick Saban
Nick Saban

Earlier last week, the NCAA’s Divison I Board of Directors approved guidance that was developed by a bunch of college administrators that clarified the types of NIL payments and booster involvement that have to be considered recruiting violations.

“Specifically, the guidance defines as a booster any third-party entity that promotes an athletics program, assists with recruiting or assists with providing benefits to recruits, enrolled student-athletes or their family members, the definition could include ‘collectives’ set up to funnel name, image, and likeness deals to prospective student-athletes or enrolled student-athletes who might be considering transferring.”
The new guidance has come into effect immediately, however, the organization has not changed its rules nor made any new ones. The NCAA directed enforcement staff to look for possible violations that took place before the 9th of May, 2022 but to “pursue only those actions that clearly are contrary to the published interim policy, including the most severe violations of recruiting rules or payment for athletics performance.”

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