The Rest of College Football

[Tony G]

Nick Saban Walks Out Of Press Conference Over D.J. Fluker Questions



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This Saban presser, on the heels of the Yahoo report that former offensive standout D.J. Fluker was funneling cash into the Alabama program, is a thing of beauty. It's very Belichickian in it's format: boring we-had-a-good-week-of-practice-blah-blah beginning followed by a preemptive statement of nothingness signaling the final comment on the matter. But the execution is all Saban.
The fun begins around the 3:30 mark; it's a steady, though quick burn for Saban. He tells reporters three times he won't answer their questions and then, growing more agitated and full-throated, asks if they all want to get in a line and ask the same question that he won't answer. His final offer: "If you want to talk about the Texas A&M game, I'll be glad to talk about it."
When no one bit, Saban muttered "Appreciate your interest in the game" and walked off.

http://deadspin.com/nick-saban-walks-out-of-press-conference-over-d-j-fluk-1296753370?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[Mike]

I'm thinking Bama goes down to 84 scholarship players for a few years over this.

[Rob F]

I just watched that above Saban video a few minutes ago. All I can say is, compared to Saban, Dantonio almost seems like a nice guy. Key word being almost...

[Da Geezer]

Hey, Dantonio is doing a better job at MSU than Saban did.

[The Oracle]

Ehhhhhhhhhhhh....

[hack]

If you don't think it's been happening throughout the Big10 for many many years you are willfully blind.

If you want to make the case then make it. But do you really think that unsupported blanket assertions are going to convince anyone here?

[whodean]

do you really think that unsupported blanket assertions are going to convince anyone here?

LOL, they are thrown out here daily!

[WingsFan]

Rob did you ever see this?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvVzNdOiVOM"]Mark Dantonio Next Question - YouTube[/ame]

[lineygoblue]

Yep ... that's the guy I'd want to be the face of Michigan football.

... not ...

[iam416]

I have little doubt that at least some players at all B10 programs receive improper benefits from boosters while they are playing.

I do not think academic fraud is common in the B10.

I do not think B10 schools engage in buying recruits.

The magnitude of rule-breaking in the South, amongst certain schools, is exponentially greater than anything you'll see in the B10. IMO.

[Hannibal]

I don't think that B10 schools allow the improper benefits to be given in plain sight either. Nor do they have the cheating cultures that allow it to take place on a large scale without any sort of formal structure. In other words, it's actually, like, frowned upon.

[Hannibal]

College football, in its current form, cannot continue. I don't know what is finally going to break it, but this situation is not viable long term. Either one of two things has to happen:

1. The NCAA grows a set and starts legitimately enforcing the rules in a way that makes the punishment for cheating outweight the benefits.

or

2. The NCAA officially says "fuck it" and loosens (or does away with) the constraints on amateurism.

As with all other recent changes, I wonder if it might be TV that drives it. ESPN is probably going to get sick of shitty ratings for "SEC vs SEC" post season games and the continued concentration of national championships in five or six schools that cheat their asses off.

[hack]

LOL, they are thrown out here daily!

If that's all the ammo you've got in this fight, then be content with it.

[hack]

My goodness, D'Antonio! I hope he sticks around a long time in EL. That'll be fun.

[iam416]

I don't think that B10 schools allow the improper benefits to be given in plain sight either. Nor do they have the cheating cultures that allow it to take place on a large scale without any sort of formal structure. In other words, it's actually, like, frowned upon.

Agreed.