Nick Saban fires back after blocking yet another recruit from transferring
Alabama offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy decided earlier this month that he wants to leave Tuscaloosa and transfer to another SEC school, according to Al.com.
The Crimson Tide, however, have refused to sign off on Kennedy’s move.
The lineman, who graduated in December, is blocked from having any contact with his two preferred transfer destinations, Auburn and Tennessee, or with any other SEC school or future Alabama opponent.
The same thing happened two years ago when cornerback Maurice Smith wanted to transfer to Georgia: Alabama coach Nick Saban refused to let him go.
In that case, the conference stepped in and granted Smith a waiver allowing his move to Athens. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the young man earned the exception by graduating from Alabama in three years.
“The standard for granting waivers has been clear and compelling evidence that there is reason for allowing an exception to SEC rules,” Sankey said in a statement. “I found, among other contributing factors, that a student-athlete who graduates in three years and exhibits a strong commitment to his or her academic future provides compelling motivation to help them achieve their goals on and off the field.”
Saban has come under fire for blocking the transfers, with some of the criticism coming from other SEC coaches.
“You know, the big thing when it comes to guys that are grad transfers is if they’ve shown the maturity to do what it takes to get their degree,” Tennessee’s Jeremy Pruitt told WNML-FM in Knoxville earlier this month. “Obviously I don’t think they would be leaving a situation where they felt like they could continue to have success. If they’ve earned their degree, in my opinion, they’ve earned the right to choose where they want to go by their maturity and the things that they’ve accomplished.”
Now Saban is shooting back.
Asked about the issue Tuesday during the SEC spring meetings in Florida, the coach gave a fiery response.
“Then we should change the rule,” Saban said. “I don’t think it should be on me. I think we should change the rule. If we agree at the SEC at these meetings that we’re going to have free agency in our league and everyone can go wherever they want to go when they graduate, that’s what’s best for the game, then that’s what we should do. Then Brandon Kennedy can go where ever he wants to go.
“But if we don’t do that, why is it on me? Because we have a conference rule that says he can’t do it. And he can do it but he’s supposed to sit out for a year. So, why is it on me? It’s not even my decision. It’s a conference rule. I always give people releases. And he has a release to go wherever he wants to go, but the conference rule says he can’t go in conference. So, why is that on me?
He then added, “The Maurice Smith thing wasn’t on me either.”
Saban said his program would benefit if the SEC allowed such “free agency.”
“I think that’s something we should address as a league,” he said. “And to be honest with you, if we allow that to happen in our league, I think it will benefit some schools more than others. And I think we’re one of the schools it would benefit. But I’m still not for it.”
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