Nick Saban compares agents to pimps

[Fox1994]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38347909/ns/sports-college_football/?utm_source=bleacherreport.com

I don't think it's anything but greed that's creating it right now on behalf of the agents. The agents that do this — and I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people. None. How would you feel if they did it to your child?

Interesting article about ongoing investigations by Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina into improper conduct by agents concerning their players.

[longhornfan]

If anyone is a pimp in this whole situation it's the coaches and the university's.

[dave]

Nick Saban is hardly the guy to preach about loyalty.

[Senser81]

Nick Saban is hardly the guy to preach about loyalty.

Did you read the article? Nope. Saban wasn't preaching about loyalty.

[Senser81]

If anyone is a pimp in this whole situation it's the coaches and the university's.

This.

I'm not a big USC fan, but I don't really understand the "outrage" in the Reggie Bush situation. Who cares? Who was hurt? Did USC gain a competitive advantage?

There are two aspects that are bad. First, if a college promises money/gifts to a high school prospect in order to get that high schooler to play for them instead of some other school. A situation like that wouldn't be fair to the other schools that are playing by the rules and not offering money. The school that offers money would gain a competitive advantage.

Second, agents trying to latch on to junior high or early high school age athletes, telling them to put their education on hold and concentrate on athletics because they are going to be big stars someday. That is a bad situation, because the young adults are getting really bad advice. BUT, in a case like Pouncey's where we have a guy who is already finishing his college education, and is CLEARLY going to be a professional athlete...who cares what agents do at that point? Did Florida gain a competitive advantage over the other SEC schools because Pouncey took money from an agent? Was anyone harmed?

Once again, its the NCAA sticking its nose where it doesn't belong and taking a hard-line stance against the people it can't control (agents), while slimebag coaches like Steve Fisher and Rich Rodriguez are still coaching in the NCAA!

[DoubleDeuce]

This is like what Dicky V said about the players accepting that money are like prostitutes, selling their bodies to the agents.

[longhornfan]

I also hate it when people say these kids should be lucky that they are getting a full ride for 200,000 grand. When we all know that 80% of the kids at big time college schools would never be on a campus if it wasn't for their football abilities.

Theres is no way in hell that Vince Young and his 890 SAT score would ever get into The University of Texas. If he wasn't 6'5 215 and ran 4.5 there is no way he ever sniffs a college campus.

[DoubleDeuce]

I also hate it when people say these kids should be lucky that they are getting a full ride for 200,000 grand. When we all know that 80% of the kids at big time college schools would never be on a campus if it wasn't for their football abilities.

Theres is no way in hell that Vince Young and his 890 SAT score would ever get into The University of Texas. If he wasn't 6'5 215 and ran 4.5 there is no way he ever sniffs a college campus.

Shouldn't that make them even more lucky? I don't understand what you're getting at. If there's no way they should be on campus but they are, aren't they even more fortunate?

[Chrispy]

I also hate it when people say these kids should be lucky that they are getting a full ride for 200,000 grand. When we all know that 80% of the kids at big time college schools would never be on a campus if it wasn't for their football abilities.

Theres is no way in hell that Vince Young and his 890 SAT score would ever get into The University of Texas. If he wasn't 6'5 215 and ran 4.5 there is no way he ever sniffs a college campus.

What? Thats pretty obvious

[longhornfan]

Shouldn't that make them even more lucky? I don't understand what you're getting at. If there's no way they should be on campus but they are, aren't they even more fortunate?

No. Most of these kids barely pass their highschool classes, there is no way they would ever survive a college curriculum.

You honestly think guys like Frank Gore are fortunate?? The guy is borderline retarded, there is no way in hell he should ever be on a private college campus. But since he's an awesome football player, he gets a pass. Although the U did help him with his problems.

Does that sorta of make sense though?

I guess it just goes back to the NFL making these guys go to school for 3 years, a lot of the guys going to top schools don't go there to get an education they go there to try to get to the next level. But that's a whole different rant.

[BrntO4Life]

No. Most of these kids barely pass their highschool classes, there is no way they would ever survive a college curriculum.

You honestly think guys like Frank Gore are fortunate?? The guy is borderline retarded, there is no way in hell he should ever be on a private college campus. But since he's an awesome football player, he gets a pass. Although the U did help him with his problems.

Does that sorta of make sense though?

I guess it just goes back to the NFL making these guys go to school for 3 years, a lot of the guys going to top schools don't go there to get an education they go there to try to get to the next level. But that's a whole different rant.

What do you think brings in the money for schools? Very few universities have athletic departments that operate as their own entity (Texas being one), so for most schools football is a cash cow.

Better football team = more money for the university. You shouldn't bite the hand that feeds.

[longhornfan]

What do you think brings in the money for schools? Very few universities have athletic departments that operate as their own entity (Texas being one), so for most schools football is a cash cow.

Better football team = more money for the university. You shouldn't bite the hand that feeds.

I agree with you man.
But some of these athletes do end up biting the hand that feeds them. Usually in indirect ways though.. by taking money from agents, big red dealerships etc.

[Fox1994]

I agree with you man.
But some of these athletes do end up biting the hand that feeds them. Usually in indirect ways though.. by taking money from agents, big red dealerships etc.

I say "fuck em". "em" being the universities. Instead of requesting or requiring these 'student'-athletes to actually apply themselves in high school and college, they give em a free ride.

Then, after handing these kids everything, refuse to give them any real job opportunities, but allow agents nearly completely unrestrained access to them.

They act confused and shit when it gets out of hand when there's nothing to be confused about. You reap what you sow, and they've sowed a corrupt minor league system in place of academic-athletic competition.

[BrntO4Life]

All along I've said that they should just pay these athletes and not bring them in as students.

They are what they are, entertainment that brings actual students to the school.

If the athlete wants to get an education as well, then give them a scholarship with the understanding that it is in lieu of the payment they would be receiving.

[steeljake]

If anyone is a pimp in this whole situation it's the coaches and the university's.

this.