Texas A&M remains angry about Nick Saban’s comments on its 2022 recruiting class.
On May 18, Coach Saban told boosters at the 50-day countdown to the World Games in Birmingham that the Aggies “bought every player” in its signing class. Texas A&M grabbed the No. 1 class for 2022, and it included seven five-star players.
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Jimbo Fisher called a press conference the next day and fired shots at Saban. Both coaches have agreed to move on from the situation. Greg Sankey, SEC Commissioner, reprimanded Saban and Fisher for their actions. The coaches are focused on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the officials for the Aggies cannot get over Saban’s comments on the class.
According to a report from On3, M. Katherine Banks (Texas A&M University President) and Ross Bjork (Texas A&M University Director of Athletics) told Sankey the conference should consider suspending and fining Saban for his comments. The publication obtained open records of phone calls that Banks and Bjork have had with Sankey. Bjork also exchanged an email with Sankey, voicing his thoughts about how disgusted he was about Saban’s comments. The written statement via On3 is below.
“We write to express Texas A&M University’s disappointment and outrage at the recent statements made by Alabama University [sic] Head Football Coach Nick Saban that ‘A&M bought every player on their team-made a deal for Name. Image. Likeness,’” Bjork and Banks’ email to Sankey stated.
“Coach Saban’s statement was a blatant violation of SEC bylaws regarding sportsmanship. More significantly, without citing any facts to support his statement, Coach Saban is accusing every, single player in Texas A&M’s recruiting class and current football team of violating NCAA NIL guidelines and Texas state law.”
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The email continued with Saban’s comments “are false” and “beneath the dignity of the SEC.”
Texas A&M wants a public apology from Saban, but it feels the league should also suspend and fine him.
Alabama opens its regular season against Utah State, but Tuscaloosa will be rocking when Texas A&M comes to town.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
