I have to agree with him here. Alabama is no longer a place where someone of meager means can visit or experience anything. For goodness sake, they charged for Fan Day a couple yeats back. It's always a play for money. It's simple stuff like car tags and programs that come with your season ticket packages that are no longer given. The entire seating issue a few yeats ago to make room for more expensive suites and such. You have zero access to this program anymore unless you cut a massive check, and then it's ass kissing time to make sure you keep giving, not genuine appreciation where they remember your name and anything about your family. The question is, how much is enough? Tuscaloosa is a different place than when even I came on board back in 2011.
College was a place for families and where kids could benefit from seeing the guys they watch every weekend. That's why college football is the best ever and that alumni/family/wholesome environment made it a place we all gravitated towards. Now a player and his handler will say "fuck you" to anyone that doesn't sign them to a $5,000 autograph session. The athletic department soaks it up as well and opened a store to make even more mkney off of. The experience is more professional and not so wholesome as it's hearding cattle rather than providing entertainment.
Kind of blame Bill Battle for a lot of it with collegiate licensing, but I do feel Byrne is a guy that is a little smug, knows the power he had with Saban under him, and is more about the money than the people. He didn't have to earn his stripes like Moore and Battle. He's just now getting it going his way, but he did do very well with Oates. Just a few observations from me, but he is also a byproduct of where college football has taken us. I don't buy the "gotta keep up or get left behind" deal, because there are plenty of ways to get money out of people without affecting the way our kids get to view and see the university.