Texas A&M goes after Nick Saban, saying he violated SEC bylaws
The drama between Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban has taken another turn, and this time Texas A&M wants to get the SEC involved directly.
Saban claimed that A&M "bought every player on their team" this offseason, which resulted in Fisher going on an all-time rant that got very personal.
Now A&M athletic director Ross Bjork is getting involved, claiming that Saban's accusations against the school violate existing SEC bylaws.
"There are sportsmanship bylaws in the SEC," Bjork said.
"We believe Coach Saban violated those bylaws. Everyone knows NIL is here to stay. We've embraced it. We have all the tools and technology.
"We are educating our athletes and boosters. There is all kinds of awareness here. The part that is frustrating is to say NIL is the only reason kids are choosing our program."
The war between Saban and Fisher could mean that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has to personally intervene and make some kind of peace between them.
Bjork said he has already spoken with Sankey over Saban's comments, but Fisher in his press conference said he didn't think the conference would get tough.
"They'll reprimand, say something," he said. "Move on, I guess."
Which appears to be the most likely case, as Saban is the king not just of SEC coaches, but of college football, holding the sport's record for seven national championships.
Establishing any kind of long-term animosity among SEC coaches could threaten the unified front the conference has cultivated during its run of domination this century.
If the conference does punish Saban, it would be under SEC Bylaw 10.5, which governs sportsmanship and forbids public criticism of coaches, schools, and players.
But Sankey and the SEC will have to work out some kind of armistice between two of its most high-profile coaches as they work to keep things on an even keel as the sport enters a new era with enough challenges of its own.
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