For Mizzou’s Eli Drinkwitz, NIL discussions needed. Just not in the Saban-Fisher form
To Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz, the problem with the recent Nick Saban-Jimbo Fisher spat wasn’t the topic but the forum.
Name, image and likeness needs to be discussed, even argued if needed. But conference rooms make a better setting than meetings and press conferences, where the coaches’ tiff occurred.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida, Drinkwitz addressed the episode that made headlines two weeks ago when Alabama’s Saban said Texas A&M “bought every player” in its top-ranked recruiting class. Fisher fired back, calling Saban a “narcissist” and “despicable” multiple times.
“When tensions are high, and uncertainties are high, people’s emotions are strong, I think that’s what happened,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re all competitive. I look forward to the opportunity for all of us to discuss it.
“It probably shouldn’t have occurred publicly, and it’s probably unfortunate that it did, but it is a real issue and we’ve got to find real solutions. And to have those behind closed doors so it’s not so public ... and we can share our honest opinions.”
It might be difficult to find an opinion more honest, or raw, than what Saban and Fisher expressed. Several coaches, including Saban, were asked about it Thursday.
“I didn’t say anyone did anything wrong,” Saban said. “I’ve said all I’m going to say on this. I should have never named anyone specifically.”
The Saban-Fisher spat brought to a boil what has been simmering in college sports over the past year when NIL became a reality. There’s been little direction from the NCAA. State laws guide the benefit and those vary. Some states, like Missouri, have or are in the process of amending original state laws.
This puts some schools in a better position than others to take advantage of NIL, giving them a recruiting edge.
“The biggest issue with NIL is the uncertainty it’s causing the game in relation to the equity of it,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m not sure there’s a great answer for that right now.”