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Saban still steamed about “Saban Rule”
By Tony Barnhart | Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 08:26 AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Destin, Fla.-Needless to say that Alabama coach Nick Saban is still steamed about the new rule that has taken head coaches off the road during the May evaluation period for recruiting.
It didn’t take much prodding here at the SEC Meetings for him to continue to make his displeasure known. It may have something to do with the fact that the change, which was passed in January, has become known as the “Saban Rule.”
“I understand why they did it,” Saban said. “It was because everybody was paranoid about what everybody else is doing. I got turned in all kind of times because I was supposedly doing this and that and I wasn’t doing it. I was just watching practice and evaluating players, which is part of our job.”
In the past head coaches could visit schools in May to evaluate a rising senior. They could talk to the coaches, watch practice or film. But they could not talk to the player other than an incidental contact or “bump.”
The problem became that many of these visits by head coaches were turned into big events. The high school coach, trying to help his player, would make sure the player came in contact with the head coach. Some coaches followed the rules. Some coaches participated and stretched the bump rule pretty thin.
There was really no effective way to enforce the no contact rule. So legislation was proposed to end the uncertainty by taking head coaches off the road and letting assistants do the evaluation.
It is worth noting that the legislation to make the change was sponsored by the SEC, whose coaches voted overwhelmingly for it. The vote, according to someone in the room, was not close. The NCAA passed the legislation last January.
Even some coaches who don’t agree with the new rule, like Florida’s Urban Meyer, understand why it was put into place.
“Coaches were being put in very uncomfortable positions,” Meyer said. “You’re not supposed to talk to the kid but you get to the school and a lot of people show up. The high school coach brings the kid out and so what do you do?”
Saban, who is known in the business as an aggressive and hands on recruiter, is not so understanding about the new rule.
During his NFL days Saban said he learned the value of player evaluation ahead of the draft. He takes the same approach in determining who Alabama will recruit. This rule, he said, takes one evaluation tool out of his hands.
“We get paid a lot of money and part of our job is evaluating players. If I’m in the NFL I’m watching guys play in college. I watch them in the combine. And then I work them out,” Saban said. “I think the interest we show in high school athletes promotes our game. And I like doing it.”
That is the key phrase. Saban knows that other head coaches don’t like that aspect of recruiting and he felt that gave him an edge. And when you’re trying to rebuild a program like Alabama, you need every edge you can get. A year ago he used that edge to put together the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. Now it’s gone. That’s why he’s not happy.
Digg
DEL.ICIO.US
Newsvine
Saban still steamed about “Saban Rule”
By Tony Barnhart | Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 08:26 AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Destin, Fla.-Needless to say that Alabama coach Nick Saban is still steamed about the new rule that has taken head coaches off the road during the May evaluation period for recruiting.
It didn’t take much prodding here at the SEC Meetings for him to continue to make his displeasure known. It may have something to do with the fact that the change, which was passed in January, has become known as the “Saban Rule.”
“I understand why they did it,” Saban said. “It was because everybody was paranoid about what everybody else is doing. I got turned in all kind of times because I was supposedly doing this and that and I wasn’t doing it. I was just watching practice and evaluating players, which is part of our job.”
In the past head coaches could visit schools in May to evaluate a rising senior. They could talk to the coaches, watch practice or film. But they could not talk to the player other than an incidental contact or “bump.”
The problem became that many of these visits by head coaches were turned into big events. The high school coach, trying to help his player, would make sure the player came in contact with the head coach. Some coaches followed the rules. Some coaches participated and stretched the bump rule pretty thin.
There was really no effective way to enforce the no contact rule. So legislation was proposed to end the uncertainty by taking head coaches off the road and letting assistants do the evaluation.
It is worth noting that the legislation to make the change was sponsored by the SEC, whose coaches voted overwhelmingly for it. The vote, according to someone in the room, was not close. The NCAA passed the legislation last January.
Even some coaches who don’t agree with the new rule, like Florida’s Urban Meyer, understand why it was put into place.
“Coaches were being put in very uncomfortable positions,” Meyer said. “You’re not supposed to talk to the kid but you get to the school and a lot of people show up. The high school coach brings the kid out and so what do you do?”
Saban, who is known in the business as an aggressive and hands on recruiter, is not so understanding about the new rule.
During his NFL days Saban said he learned the value of player evaluation ahead of the draft. He takes the same approach in determining who Alabama will recruit. This rule, he said, takes one evaluation tool out of his hands.
“We get paid a lot of money and part of our job is evaluating players. If I’m in the NFL I’m watching guys play in college. I watch them in the combine. And then I work them out,” Saban said. “I think the interest we show in high school athletes promotes our game. And I like doing it.”
That is the key phrase. Saban knows that other head coaches don’t like that aspect of recruiting and he felt that gave him an edge. And when you’re trying to rebuild a program like Alabama, you need every edge you can get. A year ago he used that edge to put together the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. Now it’s gone. That’s why he’s not happy.
