🏈 Nice Hatchet Job on Saban....

[bradenob]

But it's been stated in this thread that a graduate must sit out a season before playing at another member school. Why would Smart try to cause drama for his former boss like this when the rule presently forbids this??

Well, he can either pressure Saban to grant a waiver (which you HAVE to have to NOT sit out the season - and which Saban is NOT going to do) or he can at least use the bad press against him in the tight recruiting wars for GA prospects. Smart has cut the umbilical cord, and drawn a line in the sand.

 

[musso]

I'm trying to give Smart the benefit of the doubt because he has seemed nothing less than a classy guy this whole time, but damn, it sounds like he's contradicting his own policy towards his own players all the while burning bridges with a mentor who would be a gracious rival at least until Smart gets his legs under him.

 

[TerryP]

But it's been stated in this thread that a graduate must sit out a season before playing at another member school. Why would Smart try to cause drama for his former boss like this when the rule presently forbids this??

It's all about recruiting, musso. That, and this is Smart's way of "doing it his own way" in Athens. He's instigating the drama and the support system I mentioned earlier is in full force behind him.

I'm trying to give Smart the benefit of the doubt because he has seemed nothing less than a classy guy this whole time,

I would suggest stopping.

 

[EasyTider]

Cecil's right, SEC office should weigh in.

 

[UAgrad93]

Once again, Cecil nails it!! Sankey and the SEC office need to step up to the plate and take their swings.

 

[ElephantStomp]

This entire ordeal has been idiotic.

The SEC being all tight lipped has probably been the worse of it all.

Smith is a little crybaby that's still hanging onto the boob. Mommy fighting his battles with Daddy jumping in. Smith didn't like the fact that there were/are better players than him and he wanted his cake and to eat it too.

Anybody that is surprised by what Kirby has/is doing has had their head in the clouds. Kirby is going to do what he has to do to keep his job and to make his team better even crapping on Alabama and Saban. There's never been a benefit of the doubt to me for him. Just like he's said he doesn't negative recruit against Alabama really??

 

[Tidestalker]

This entire ordeal has been idiotic.

The SEC being all tight lipped has probably been the worse of it all.

Smith is a little crybaby that's still hanging onto the boob. Mommy fighting his battles with Daddy jumping in. Smith didn't like the fact that there were/are better players than him and he wanted his cake and to eat it too.

Anybody that is surprised by what Kirby has/is doing has had their head in the clouds. Kirby is going to do what he has to do to keep his job and to make his team better even crapping on Alabama and Saban. There's never been a benefit of the doubt to me for him. Just like he's said he doesn't negative recruit against Alabama really??

Don't forget Saban's 180.... Probably plays the biggest part in the whole thing. Keep it real

 

[UAgrad93]

Don't forget Saban's 180.... Probably plays the biggest part in the whole thing. Keep it real

What 180? Are you talking about his final days at Miami fielding 500 questions about the BAMA job? If so, what did anyone expect? He was employed by the Dolphins and would have been and should have been fired on the spot IF he answered "yeah, I'm headed to BAMA tomorrow!"

I think if you are referring to this situation itself, then look no further when he said, "we don't make the rules, the SEC does!" He used that comment for Sankey and the SEC to step in and have the final say. To me, they left Saban hanging by his short curlies!!! If it is something else, please clarify.

 

[Tidestalker]

What 180? Are you talking about his final days at Miami fielding 500 questions about the BAMA job? If so, what did anyone expect? He was employed by the Dolphins and would have been and should have been fired on the spot IF he answered "yeah, I'm headed to BAMA tomorrow!"

I think if you are referring to this situation itself, then look no further when he said, "we don't make the rules, the SEC does!" He used that comment for Sankey and the SEC to step in and have the final say. To me, they left Saban hanging by his short curlies!!! If it is something else, please clarify.

Has nothing to do with Miami... Good 180 there though too.

The SEC didn't leave him hanging. They can't rule on anything until Saban/Alabama signs his waiver.... Now it's up to them decide if he's eligible under their conditions.

And regardless Saban siting the SEC rule as the reason for not signing the waiver... Over and over... Then signs his waiver and you all act like that didn't happen.

Soooo... Keep it real. He changed his mind, and there's no way that happens if this story didn't get in the media.... Period.

 

[UAgrad93]

He signed off on the waiver to keep it from becoming even more of the distraction that it already is. The media wasn't going to drop it.

 

[Tidestalker]

He signed off on the waiver to keep it from becoming even more of the distraction that it already is. The media wasn't going to drop it.

Exactly. His principles on this issue were tested and he signed the waiver.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Exactly. His principles on this issue were tested and he signed the waiver.

His principles were tested? He didn't want anymore of a distraction and he tried several times to get the SEC to rule, they ignored so he signed the waiver and put it on their lap

 

[Tidestalker]

His principles were tested? He didn't want anymore of a distraction and he tried several times to get the SEC to rule, they ignored so he signed the waiver and put it on their lap

You guys don't quite get it...

Look - Part of the SEC approving or not approving his in conference transfer is Alabama giving him that release waiver to other conference schools (Georgia). Until that happens, the SEC can't rule on it.

Regardless of what the SEC does from here, until Saban did his 180, the transfer would not have been possible.

In the furor over whether Nick Saban should release Smith to transfer to Georgia, people haven't mentioned very often that there are two parts to the process: the release, which is where Alabama comes in, and the waiver, which is where the SEC Office comes in. The assumption seems to be that if Saban signs the release, the SEC Commissioner, Greg Sankey, will capitulate immediately in giving Smith a waiver

TideSports.com - CECIL HURT: It's about time we heard from SEC on transfers

2 parts - Meaning without both happening, the transfer doesn't happen. As long as Saban was going to deny the request, the SEC could not rule on it.

The article Cecil Hurt wrote (linked above) was simply Saban trying to put pressure on the SEC, but it did not work because the SEC came back and said they don't comment on these situations. (Especially before Saban even releases him, because it would be a moot point)

"The SEC does not comment on requests to waive SEC rules," the SEC release said. "As part of the SEC waiver process, a due diligence procedure ensures that pertinent information from the involved parties is gathered."

TideSports.com - Alabama grants release to Maurice Smith