Nick Saban decries the use of NIL to entice players to come to a school, saying it "creates a situation where you can basically buy players." https://footballscoop.com/news/alabama-sec-nick-saban-nil . This from one of the highest-paid coaches at any level, at a school that's been paying players for decades.

Split Zone Duo has a great episode about NIL on their podcasr. These coaches aren't saying these things like they're throwing stones through glass houses. The problem is this aura they've built for themselves; the god-like status on campus that football legends have had for years - it's now in jeopardy.

You mean you can just get better players by offering them more money? No way! Only I can do that because I'm a magical "recruiter." Now that NIL is more prevalent it makes their genius look less so. Hence you get things like Nick here.

I don't think coach Saban gives a shit about whether his players get big NIL deals or not. He wants to be able to sell it to his recruits, but I think the question is whether it is now on the coaches to arrange such things. I don't think it should be. Is that legal as part of this agreement? Also, who reviews the deals to make sure they are legit? Is that something else coaches have to audit in addition to keeping up with all the other rules?

Also, corrected subject line.