He has some years left in him to continuing coaching at the University of Alabama, but Nick Saban decided to retire from his position of Crimson Tide football on Jan. 10 before spring practice started.
People have their reasons as to why the 72-year-old walked away after establishing an empire of six national championships, nine Southeastern Conference Championships, four Heisman Trophy winners, and a host of other accomplishments, but one of his players dove into the primary process of why Saban left. Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry came to the Crimson Tide as a five-star athlete in the 2021 signing class. The Birmingham (Ala.) native came in the final recruiting cycle before name, image, and likeness (NIL) took its form and players became compensated.
McKinstry turned in a strong career at Alabama, posting 22 pass breakups and developing into a successful cornerback. He projects as a first round pick for Thursday’s NFL Draft via ESPN.
McKinstry earned two Southeastern Conference Championship rings (2021, 2023) and two College Football Playoff appearances.
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He named NIL as the reason for Saban’s early departure on a podcast with former NFL quarterback, Robert Griffin III.
Kool-Aid Mckinstry believes the changes to college football made Nick Saban retire,
“I was the last class that really he didn’t have to worry about (guys) asking for money and stuff like that coming out of high school. People worry about the wrong things.”
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— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 24, 2024
“I could not believe it, honestly,” McKinstry said about how he felt when Saban retired.
“I definitely still see seen Coach coaching for like five more years. I was the last class that he did not have to worry about money and stuff like that coming out of high school. People worry about the wrong thing. They worried about money. He [Coach Saban] always looked at it like ‘you are going to get the money when you get to the league, I’m just trying to help you be a better man, be a better person, be a better player, help you make all the money that you want to make in the league. There is money here, but this is not the money that’s going to help you take care of your family. This is not the money that is going to help you change generational wealth. Coach Saban always wanted the best for us as a player and as a person.”
McKinstry understood Saban’s mindset and is headed for the generational wealth.
His teammates, Terrion Arnold, Dallas Turner, JC Latham, Chris Braswell, Will Reichard, Justin Eboigbe, Jase McClellan, Jermaine Burton, Trezmen Marshall, Jaylen Key, and others, listened as well and look forward to hearing their names called in the NFL Draft from Thursday to Saturday on ESPN.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
