Nicky Laughing-it-up Over Miami Recruiting Allegations

[Sabanocchio]

Old Slick Nicky Lou don't seem too worried from the sound of it.
Miami Hating Saban? Funny to Coach (http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/118051352977440.xml&coll=2)

[BAMAPERRY]

he shouldn't be. An obviously biased Miami media, Canesports, wrote the initial piece and then pulled it within two hours. The other media just copied what they wrote. The players denied it happened. (I don't believe that, but EVERY coach in Div. 1-A talks to the players during this time and the players and HS coaches don't want to burn bridges) The only ones who took this seriously were douchebag, easily duped anti-Bama hacks and Saban haters. If the shoe fits, wear it! :laugh:

[DEHIII]

The 2 things I noticed when reading that this morning in the paper:

(1) Very disappointed in CNS for refering to himself in the 3rd person. :brick: Please Nick, lets keep this to a minimum.

(2) Whenever CNS addresses the media, it seems the report on the subject always includes this word the most: "briefly". In other words, whatever he says, he ain't talking about it too long. :rolling2:

[Sabanocchio]

The 2 things I noticed when reading that this morning in the paper:

(1) Very disappointed in CNS for refering to himself in the 3rd person. :brick: Please Nick, lets keep this to a minimum.
:laugh:

"Nick Saban don't like Miami. That's why Nick Saban left. All them people down there just out to get Nick Saban. They Nick Saban haters. Nick Saban didn't do nuthin' but say hey to them Joes. Nick Saban damn sure aint no coon-ass."

[BAMAPERRY]

B]"In other words, whatever he says, he ain't talking about it too long"[/B]

Do you blame him? Whatever he says/does is gonna be parsed and attacked. And if he does talk to the media they'll attack him. So, I agree with him. Do the absolute MINIMUM in reference to the media. Screw 'em.

[jthomas666]

:laugh:

"Nick Saban don't like Miami. That's why Nick Saban left. All them people down there just out to get Nick Saban. They Nick Saban haters. Nick Saban didn't do nuthin' but say hey to them Joes. Nick Saban damn sure aint no coon-ass."Jthomas666 approves. :thumpsup: :laugh: :thumpsup:

[BAMAPERRY]

Saban discusses recruiting accusations



By Christopher Walsh
Sports Writer

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DESTIN, Fla. | Nick Saban denied reports that he’s been using illegal recruiting tactics at the University of Alabama, but also hinted Tuesday that his accusers in the media may not have been entirely objective.

“You really can’t prove what you didn’t do," Saban said Tuesday during a 30-minute sit-down session with reporters at the spring SEC Meetings. “We respect the rules and have always respected the rules and will continue to do that.

“It’s funny that it came from Miami."

When pressed and asked if the reports were inadequate, Saban repeated, “It’s funny that it came from Miami. It’s kind of funny to me."

The coach’s public comments were his first since two South Florida media outlets reported that he may have violated NCAA rules when he had conversations with three prospects during a recent trip to the area. From April 15 to May 31, college coaches are permitted to evaluate high school players on their campuses, but not have contact exceeding a greeting.

If so, the incident would be considered a minor, or secondary, violation, even though other reports indicated that the athletes said they had similar contact with other college football coaches as well, none of whom were named.

“It’s really kind of funny to me that we have meetings about this stuff and whether head coaches should go out in the spring," Saban said.

“We’re put into very awkward situations relative to going into high schools and people come up to you and want pictures and autographs, and certainly high school coaches want you to meet and promote their program.

“I think it’s really important that one of the things that we have is a responsibility and an obligation to do and I’m actually one of the guys that is for going out in the spring [because] we need to promote our game. It’s important to all the high school players, every school that we go into has assistants or head coaches who know what they’re doing is important, and that football is a good game, an important game that we continue to promote so people want to participate in it."

Saban’s return to the SEC, where he won a national championship with LSU in 2003, is an obvious highlight, if not THE highlight, of this year’s meetings, which will last through Saturday at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort. They’re expected to conclude with an announced record payout to the 12 schools exceeding $120 million, surpassing last year’s record of $110.7 million.

Although a number of issues are being discussed this week, everything from television ratings to the latest Academic Progress Rate report, Saban did express his opinion regarding three items already being debated for football:
Five years of eligibility -- Saban doesn’t support it, nor see a need for it unless it somehow helped an athlete graduate.

“A guy has five years to play four right now," he said. “I’m satisfied with that."
Early signing period -- Under consideration is the addition of an early signing date in December, similar to basketball. Although Saban has a reputation for being extremely pro-active in recruiting, he’s against this idea as well.

“It would really increase the intensity of recruiting during the season, where you had more guys trying to visit during the season that it would actually impact the players you have on your team right now," he said.
A playoff for the national championship -- Florida president Bernie Machen is aggressively seeking support for a playoff, possibly through an independent organization separate from the NCAA and Bowl Championship Series organizers.

What appears to be gaining momentum is the idea of having two, or four, teams play for the title after the BCS and other bowl games are completed.

“You would solve a lot of those problems if there was just one more game," Saban said. “That would be a little better way of doing it and still respect the tradition and integrity of the bowl system. Also, the BCS bowl games would mean even more."

Saban also likes the idea of having all money raised from a championship playoff go to all student-athletes on top of their scholarships.

With a number of Louisiana media on hand, Saban was asked a number of questions about having his former team in the same division as the Crimson Tide and what he thought of coach Les Miles, who has openly said he’s looking forward to facing his predecessor on the field.

Saban said he didn’t know Miles well. (“I don’t have any bad feelings toward him," he said, before adding, “I can’t speak for him, though.") He also said that Alabama isn’t specifically recruiting against LSU even though both staffs are obviously targeting some of the same players.

“I try and sell what we have," Saban said. “I don’t try to go against what everyone else has. I don’t negative recruit; we don’t negative recruit; I don’t promote negative recruiting. The things we can control are what we do and that’s what we try and do.

“There’s a special respect on my part for LSU and the people of the state of Louisiana and the program they have there that we spent five years of blood, sweat and tears in trying to make it what it is. Some people have done an outstanding job of continuing that there and we respect that as well."

However, the coach did open up somewhat about two subjects, the first being his two-year stint as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Apparently, Saban and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier held a brief conversation about their time in the NFL.

“I don’t know if I’m glad [I went to the pros]," he said. “It creates a lot of changes in your life when you do things like that. But I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn about myself, so that now we seem like … you know there were a lot of occasions in the 10 or 11 years I was a college coach people always kind of assumed that I would go back to the NFL. I turned down several opportunities to do that so I could stay in college, but it still persisted. I always thought maybe someday, but I really enjoy doing what I’m doing in college so why would I do that? Then eventually I did do it.

“Wayne Huizenga is a tremendous person. I really appreciate the opportunity he gave me, but in large part my respect for him was part of the reason why I thought that was the right time to do it. And that has never changed and I still feel the same way about him. That was the most difficult thing about leaving."

The other was regarding the death of former LSU standout Marquise Hill, who drowned in Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans on Sunday. The New England Patriots defensive end was 24 years old, and authorities have ruled it an accidental drowning.

“He was in our first great recruiting class, he was one of the leaders in that class in terms of being a significant player from New Orleans who actually kind of broke the barrier for us to get great players in New Orleans," Saban said. “The same year we recruited Marcus Spears, Michael Clayton, Andrew Whitworth, Rudy Niswanger, a really strong group of guys in the state of Louisiana.

“Marquis was a great person, a great leader, certainly was a great player for us. I thought he played his best game ever for us in the national championship game against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. His family, his mother, his grandmother are great people. There’s no question, you sit around a lot and think about why does this have to happen? Such tragedy that affect young people and their families. He had such a bright future and its cut short. Our sympathy is certainly with his family and loved ones."

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.

[CRIMSONWHITE]

The 2 things I noticed when reading that this morning in the paper:

(1) Very disappointed in CNS for refering to himself in the 3rd person. :brick: Please Nick, lets keep this to a minimum.

(2) Whenever CNS addresses the media, it seems the report on the subject always includes this word the most: "briefly". In other words, whatever he says, he ain't talking about it too long. :rolling2:


MoooAgEwe. :laugh:

[Sabanocchio]

Uh, you could've just clicked on the link. :confused:

[OldManNoPants]

BamaPerry is too cool for links.

[bamafan0001]

BamaPerry is too cool for links.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: hahaha. I don't know BamaPerry from Adam, but that's funny.

[SavageOrangeJug]

Let's do a little reading between the lines.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said he found it "funny" that reports accusing him of illegal contact with recruits surfaced from Miami, where he previously coached in the NFL.
"Not as funny, as when I screwed them."

"You really can't prove what you didn't do," Saban said Tuesday at the SEC spring meetings, where he addressed the topic for the first time.
"Catch me if you can."

"We respect the rules and certainly have always respected the rules and will continue to do that. And I think it's funny that it came from Miami."
"We'll get away with what we can, when we can."

When asked if the reports were inaccurate, Saban responded: "I said I think it's funny it came from Miami."
"They know me well down there."

Saban declined to comment further.
"I had better shut up before I incriminate myself."

Speaking generally about spring recruiting, Saban said head coaches face "very awkward" situations on the road.
"Have to be careful, you never know who is watching."

[PuddingTime]

^ You got repped for that post Orange Jug. hilarious!

But who can fault him. He's getting paid so much, I guess he just thought he was getting paid OT so he's putting in that "extra" effort lol

[pvilleguru]

^ You got repped for that post Orange Jug. hilarious!

But who can fault him. He's getting paid so much, I guess he just thought he was getting paid OT so he's putting in that "extra" effort lol

the "extra effort" that every other coach is putting forth?