Alabama Crimson Tide Football

Do not expect a war of words between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher to continue into the regular season.

The Alabama coach addressed his offseason spat with Fisher on Tuesday at SEC media days in Atlanta, saying he has "no issues" with his Texas A&M counterpart.

"First of all, I have no issues or problems with Jimbo," Saban told reporters. "He's done a great job at A&M, and he did a great job for us. I always take criticisms or whatever in a positive way to self-assess me personally to feel like there is maybe something I can do better.

"Any comment that anyone makes, I always take into consideration. But there are no problems."

Saban and Fisher traded barbs in May when Saban made a comment about how the Aggies "bought every player on their team." Fisher responded forcefully the following day, saying A&M has broken no NCAA rules and calling Saban's character into question. The SEC publicly reprimanded both coaches for their comments.

Fisher and Saban hashed things out before the conference's spring meetings.

"It's over with," Fisher said last month. "We're done talking about it. We're moving on to try to fix the problems of what we have in college football. There are a lot more pressing needs than our arguments."

Texas A&M signed 2022's top recruiting class thanks in large part to a robust investment from boosters in name, image and likeness deals for players. Saban has bemoaned the new NIL rules for creating an even wider gulf between top programs and the rest of the country, though he acknowledged Alabama benefits from the new rules.

"Name, image and likeness is not an issue for us at Alabama,” Saban said Tuesday. "And our players, I think, did better than anybody in the country last year. ... The biggest concern is how does this impact and affect recruiting because on the recruiting trail right now there's a lot of people using this as inducements to go to their schools by making promises they may or may not be able to keep in terms of what players are doing."

The seven-time national champion has also expressed concern over the rise of megaconferences in college football. The SEC is set to add Oklahoma and Texas in 2025, and the Big Ten will bring in UCLA and USC a year prior.

"Megaconferences will create more of a caste system, maybe, in college football, and everyone has to decide if that's the direction we really want to go or not," Saban said on ESPN's Get Up.

Saban estimated Alabama players earned more than $3 million in NIL deals over the past year. It's likely that number will continue to rise as booster groups look to keep their teams competitive.

Alabama received a commitment Sunday from 5-star prospect Tony Mitchell, one of the top cornerbacks in the 2023 college football recruiting class.

"The program knows how to develop players on and off of the field, while winning national championships," Mitchell said of Alabama, per Hayes Fawcett of On3.com.

The defensive back chose Alabama over Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M.

Mitchell possesses all the tools to become a shutdown corner in college, ranging from great ball skills to a terrific first step that rarely sees him get beat clean off the line. He's also as aggressive a tackler as you'll see from a boundary CB at the high school level.

So, it's easy to understand why he's rated as the No. 15 overall prospect and the second-best cornerback in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The Thompson High School standout is also ranked as the No. 2 recruit from Alabama.

He already possesses NFL size (6'2", 180 lbs), which when combined with his tackling ability makes him a candidate for an eventual switch to safety or a hybrid role if necessary. He shouldn't have much trouble sticking at corner in the short term, though.

Mitchell generated interest from numerous top programs throughout his recruitment, and he told Jeff Sentell of DawgNation last March that the ability to get on the field quickly would be a key factor in his final decision.

"They have got to be home," he said about what he was looking for in a school. "Just the fans, the coaches and the environment. They have got to show a lot of love. I have to have a great relationship with the coaches. My family and I have to like it a lot, and I want to play right away. That's another major thing for me."

While he's got the talent to make an instant impact, getting on the field immediately at a top-tier program often isn't easy for a true freshman, so that interest in finding a place where he could play right away added some intrigue to his recruiting process.

Mitchell will likely have to fight for his place on the depth chart at Alabama, but even if he's not in the starting lineup instantly, it shouldn't take long before he starts seeing snaps. Everything he's done so far suggests he'll make a quick, smooth transition to the collegiate level.

Timeline aside, his commitment represents a massive in-state addition for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide as they continue building their 2023 class.

Arch Manning, the top prospect in the Class of 2023 and the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, made an official visit to Alabama over the weekend.

Manning took an official visit to Georgia earlier in June, and is scheduled for an official visit to Texas between June 17-19.

While Alabama, Georgia and Texas appear to be the frontrunners for Manning, Chad Simmons of On3.com reported in May that Florida might still have a shot at his commitment as well.

He has already taken unofficial visits to Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss and SMU.

Manning, a 5-star quarterback out of New Orleans, is the top player and quarterback in the Class of 2023, per 247Sports.com's Composite Rankings.

According to Cooper Petagna's scouting report for 247Sports, Manning has "average athleticism and adequate mobility as a runner" and "excellent arm talent, showing the ability to make every throw on the field within the pocket. Shows the ability to drive the ball down the field and play with velocity."

He also has a long line of elite quarterbacks in his family tree, from his grandfather Archie Manning to his uncles, Peyton and Eli. All three played in the NFL, all three were Pro Bowlers, Peyton Manning is a Hall of Famer and there is ongoing debate about whether Eli will, or should, join him in the Hall one day. Peyton and Eli were also both two-time champions.

His father, Cooper Manning, was a highly regarded wide receiver who committed to play at Ole Miss before being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which ended his career.

His family history carries with it its own level of pressure for Arch Manning, which will only ramp up once he joins a prominent college program. Alabama and Georgia have been two of the top programs in college football over the past decade. Texas, meanwhile, would need Manning to help restore them to their former glory.

Expectations will be sky high no matter where he goes. To this point, it appears that will come down to one of those three schools.

Officials from Texas A&M wrote to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey asking the conference to punish Alabama head coach Nick Saban for his comments about how the Aggies "bought every player on their team."

On3's Andy Wittry shared a portion of a letter by A&M President M. Katherine Banks and athletic director Ross Bjork:

We write to express Texas A&M University's disappointment and outrage at the recent statements made by Alabama University [sic] Head Football Coach Nick Saban that 'A&M bought every player on their team-made a deal for Name, Image, Likeness.'

Coach Saban's statement was a blatant violation of SEC bylaws regarding sportsmanship. More significantly, without citing any facts to support his statement, Coach Saban is accusing every, single player in Texas A&M's recruiting class and current football team of violating NCAA NIL guidelines and Texas state law.

Banks and Bjork said the SEC should "consider monetary and participation penalties against Coach Saban."

There typically isn't much to talk about in college football during the summer months. Spring practice is over and everybody is gearing up for the season ahead.

Saban changed that when he—intended or not—took a shot at Texas A&M after Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff assembled a potentially historic 2022 recruiting class.

Saban almost assuredly isn't alone in believing NIL deals, despite the fact they can't be offered as direct inducements for a player to sign, played a role in A&M's success on the recruiting trail.

Fisher didn't take the remarks lying down. He quickly arranged a press conference to respond and didn't hold his opinions about Saban back. At one point, Fisher told reporters to "go dig into his past" to learn more about his conference rival.

The SEC publicly reprimanded Fisher and Saban, while the latter apologized for his comments about Texas A&M.

While the conference's desire to rein the two in is understandable, some bad blood between coaches isn't necessarily a bad thing. The back and forth between Fisher and Saban was a bit reminiscent of the intense rivalry between Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer.

The Oct. 8 meeting between Alabama and Texas A&M was already a highly anticipated clash, and now it's must-watch television as the Crimson Tide look to avenge their upset last year.

Former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker has been sentenced to 11 months and 29 days of probation after being found guilty of reckless endangerment following his arrest in January in Tennessee, per WBRC FOX6.

Barker was initially held on a $10,000 bond after receiving a charge of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, per WBRC.

He was found guilty on the lesser charge of reckless endangerment not involving a weapon, a misdemeanor.

WRBC relayed what occurred via the affidavit:

An affidavit obtained by WBRC says the victim, wife Sara Evans Barker, was at a party at a neighbor’s house, and when the party was coming to an end, she had someone drive her home across the street. As the car crossed the driveway, the affidavit states the victim saw Barker reverse his car at a high rate of speed, trying to hit them, but missed. The affidavit says Barker then drove away, but an officer made contact with him when he drove back by the house.

Barker played for Alabama from 1991 to 1994 and in the NFL from 1995 to 1996 before suiting up for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL from 1998 to 2001. He finished his career with the XFL's Birmingham Thunderbolts. He has worked as a radio personality in his post-playing days, including hosting The Jay Barker Show on The Tide 100.9.

If you want Nick Saban to retire or coach your favorite team, an offer of $5,000 isn't going to cut it.

Speaking to reporters at his charity golf event Thursday, Saban joked that he was approached by an LSU fan who offered him five grand to either retire as Alabama head coach or return to the Tigers.

"He made an offer for me to retire or come back to LSU, one or the other," Saban said. "But I think LSU has a good coach. They have a lot of good players. We've had a lot of competitive games with them, and I'm sure it'll be no different in the future."

Saban had a successful five-season run as LSU head coach from 2000 to '04. He went 48-16, won two SEC titles and led the program to a national title in 2003.

It's understandable why an LSU fan would like it if Saban stopped coaching against the Tigers. The Crimson Tide have won 10 of the last 11 meetings in the rivalry since 2012.

The Tigers fared well with a 3-2 record against Saban from 2007 to '11. Their lone win in the past 10 seasons came in 2019 when the program was on its way to a 15-0 record and winning the national title with Joe Burrow at quarterback.

LSU is on its third head coach since Saban's tenure at Alabama began. Brian Kelly was hired in November after 12 seasons at Notre Dame. Les Miles and Ed Orgeron previously led the Tigers. Brad Davis served as interim head coach for one game last season after Orgeron stepped down.

Saban's contract doesn't really make a $5,000 offer very appealing. The 70-year-old signed an extension in August that averages $10.6 million per season through 2028.

If the LSU fan can find several hundred friends who will also chip in $5,000 each, perhaps Saban will reconsider his position.

Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher said Wednesday he's "moving on" from his feud with Alabama counterpart Nick Saban.

Fisher told reporters his focus has shifted to college football's "more pressing needs" as it tries to evolve in the name, image and likeness (NIL) era:

The verbal exchange began May 19 when Saban said "A&M bought every player on their team" since NIL deals became available following a Supreme Court ruling last June that barred the NCAA from limiting payments to student-athletes.

While it was just the latest in a long line of comments the longtime Bama coach has made questioning the direction of college sports in the NIL era, it was also his most direct rebuke of any program's specific use of collective pools—each program's money available for endorsement deals—to attract recruits.

It drew a strong response from Fisher, who described Saban as a "narcissist" and urged people to dig into Saban's past.

"Some people think they're God. Go dig into how God did his deal, you may find out about a guy that a lot of things you don't wanna know," Fisher said. "We build him up to be this czar of football. Go dig into his past or anybody that's ever coached with him."

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey issued a public reprimand against both coaches, saying they didn't meet the "established expectations for conduct and sportsmanship."

On Tuesday, Saban apologized for singling out Texas A&M in his prior remarks, but he didn't retract the allegations and instead refocused his ire toward the NIL environment.

"I didn't say anybody did anything wrong," Saban said.

The situation generated ample headlines not only because the coaches are currently rivals in the SEC, but also because they worked together at LSU in the early 2000s.

Saban was the head coach of the Tigers from 2000 through 2004, and Fisher was his offensive coordinator for all five of those seasons.

Brody Miller, Bruce Feldman and Matt Fortuna of The Athletic reported there were a lot of issues between the pair during those years despite the on-field success, which included the 2003 national championship.

"There was [friction] all the time," one source told The Athletic. "Will [Muschamp] and Kirby [Smart] and all the defensive guys all bowed down to Nick, but Nick depended on Jimbo a lot. But Nick is so hard on his [offensive coordinators]. They were always at each other's throats."

Another added: "Oh, it ain't like Nick and Kirby. There is no love lost between Nick and Jimbo—at all."

Two decades later, those lingering frustrations appeared to re-emerge in recent weeks.

Fisher's comments Wednesday may push the tension to the back burner for awhile, but the topic is sure to return ahead of the Oct. 8 clash between the Aggies and Crimson Tide.

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban doesn't have a personal grudge against Jimbo Fisher.

Speaking to reporters at the SEC spring meetings on Tuesday in Destin, Florida, Saban said "I have no problem" with the Texas A&M head coach "at all."

The comment comes nearly two weeks after Saban told the audience at a business event that the Aggies "bought every player on their team" in recruiting the past two years, per ESPN's Alex Scarborough:

I mean, we were second in recruiting last year. A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team -- made a deal for name, image, likeness. We didn't buy one player, all right? But I don't know if we're gonna be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it. It's tough.

Saban tied his comment about the Aggies into his thoughts about how name, image and likeness rules are impacting college football.

Texas A&M has drawn a lot of attention from opposing SEC coaches recently. Mississippi's Lane Kiffin told 247Sports' Carl Reed in February that college football was "gonna implement a luxury tax" on Texas A&M and Texas because "what they’re paying the players is unbelievable."

Fisher has gotten defensive amid accusations that his program is buying all of its players.

Coming out of national signing day in February, Fisher called out an anonymous message board post that said the Aggies had $30 million in NIL funds.

Fisher also had strong words for his fellow coaches, including Kiffin, and others who were spreading rumors about Texas A&M spending to recruit players.

"To have coaches in our league and across this league to say it, clown acts," Fisher told reporters. "Irresponsible as hell. Multiple coaches in our league. And the guys griping about NIL and transfer portal are using it the most and bragging about it the most. That's the ironic part. ... It's a joke. It does piss me off."

On Tuesday, Saban noted he "didn't say anybody did anything wrong" regarding Texas A&M's recruiting practices.

Texas A&M has the nation's top-ranked class for 2022, per 247Sports' composite rankings. The class includes 27 players who are 4- or 5-star prospects, including two top-10 overall players in defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Shemar Stewart.

Saban could also be playing mind games in an attempt to get under Fisher's skin. They know each other well from their last four years coaching against each other in the SEC. Fisher was also on Saban's coaching staff at LSU from 2000 to '04.

The Aggies and Crimson Tide will play at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Oct. 8. Texas A&M beat Alabama, 41-38, last season for the first time since 2012.   

Coaching legend Steve Spurrier may not be in the profession anymore, but that's not stopping the 77-year-old from needling some of his former peers.

Alabama's Nick Saban drew the ire of Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher when he said the Aggies "bought every player on their team" after they put together a historic 2022 recruiting class. Fisher immediately responded with a press conference for the ages.

Spurrier wondered why Fisher had been so incensed and questioned whether Saban said anything that lacked a level of truth.

"I don't think Saban told any lies in there, so I don't know what he was mad about," he said to DawgNation's Mike Griffith.

It's a shame the "Head Ball Coach" isn't still active because he otherwise might have waded into the matter with some more pointed trash-talking.

Bobby Bowden once described Spurrier as a "natural-born needler." He's someone who once remarked upon learning of a fire that destroyed 20 books at an Auburn library that "the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet."

Some of that acerbic wit came out in the interview with Griffith when he spoke about Fisher's A&M tenure.

"He hasn't beat much of anybody, but he beat Saban last year," he said. "But they haven't won the division or anything since he's been there."

Saban issued an apology to Fisher on Thursday, saying he was wrong to call out a specific school when expressing his concerns with the NIL era.

Unfortunately for fans, this might be the end of the war of words between Saban and Fisher for now. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey reprimanded both coaches, and he asked all of the conference's coaches to avoid media appearances for the time being.

Miami-area billionaire and University of Miami booster John Ruiz clapped back at Alabama head football coach Nick Saban on Saturday after Saban's recent comments about the NCAA's name, image and likeness rules' role in recruiting.

Saban took aim at multiple programs while talking to local business leaders Wednesday in advance of the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, saying the following about Miami, per AL.com's Mark Heim:

"These guys at Miami that are going to play basketball there for $400,000, that's in the newspaper. The guy tells you how he's doing it. But the NCAA can't enforce their rules because it's not against the law, and that's an issue, that's a problem. And unless we get something that protects them from litigation, I don't know what we're going to do about it."

Per Heim, Saban was referencing men's basketball player Nijel Pack, who transferred from Kansas State to Miami and agreed to a $400,000 NIL deal.

Ruiz had plenty to say about Saban's comments to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, including: "It felt like a little teenager whining about why previously they had free reign and all of a sudden when you level the playing field [it changes for Saban]. It was very ugly of him."

Ruiz added:

"Shocked, shocked that somebody in the business for such a long time and on top of his game was totally clueless of what all of this means. He basically said, 'I'm losing my market dominance because of everything that is going on' and then starts … throwing everyone under the bus."

Ruiz also called Saban's comments a "very, very poor display of judgment and character," and said it was "totally inappropriate the way he conducted himself and handled everything."

Miami wasn't the only school Saban took aim at Wednesday, as he also mentioned Texas A&M and Jackson State.

Per ESPN's Alex Scarborough, Saban said head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies "bought every player on their team—made a deal for name, image, likeness."

He also referenced a report that 5-star recruit Travis Hunter spurned Florida State in favor of head coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State in exchange for $1 million, though Sanders and Hunter denied that.

Fisher took great exception to Saban's comments, calling them "despicable" and saying Saban is a "narcissist," according to ESPN's Dave Wilson.

On Saturday, Saban appeared on ESPN's PGA Championship simulcast and told Joe Buck, "It was not my intention to really criticize anyone," per AL.com's Mike Rodak.

With regard to Miami basketball, the addition of Pack could be huge since the program was already on the rise.

The Hurricanes went 26-11 and reached the Elite Eight last season. They could be even better with Pack, who averaged 17.4 points per game with 43.6 percent three-point shooting during the 2021-22 campaign.