4down20
Quit checking me out.
My problem on this topic has nothing to do with Saban. I don't understand (well, I do - but I think it is a BS reason) why people who have finished a degree are not completely unrestricted free agents. The rules are set up to protect the coaches - which is how you know it is bullshit. Players who actually finish a degree have earned the right to have leeway, and granting them the unrestricted opportunity to find a new school (so long as they enroll in a graduate program) is the right thing to do.
Alabama has spent the past 3 years training and coaching this guy. Tons of resources have been spent on the kid, and he gets playing time. It's not a case where the guy was going to sit on the bench all year long and we are just not allowing him to play. He's doing it right before the season begins and is screwing the team over. All spring he took reps away from guys who could have been practicing with the 1st team, took coaching time away from others, etc.
And btw, he asked for a transfer before he even graduated. I think he only graduated last weekend.
He's wanting to follow 2 coaches to Georgia. Kirby and Mel Tucker - who Kirby stole from us. If kids are allowed to transfer like this every time a coach leaves, it's setting up bad habits. Are we going to lose part of our offense if Kiffin leaves? Is Saban supposed to allow all these kids who have had resources put into them leave because a coach changes jobs?
And he's being allowed to go to any school other than SEC schools. But this isn't about education or anything else for him, it's strictly about trying to follow Kirby Smart and Mel Tucker. It's the same reason Kirby didn't allow that kid to transfer to Miami.
The majority of time they are allowed to transfer however they want and the majority of time the kids transfer because they will get playing time elsewhere. This is a completely different case.
If a kid isn't going to play and wants to go somewhere he will get to play, or if they even have a legitimate academic reason to change schools I'd 100% support letting them go most anywhere.
But there have to be some protections for the schools who devote the time and resources for them. This whole thing has been nothing but a kid and people who think they are entitled to things they are not.