“It’s Endless”: As College Athletes Finally Start to Get Paid, Legendary Coach Nick Saban Underlines How Much Programmes Were Already “Invested”

The college football scene is a continuous work in progress. And with the passage of time, the program is gradually working towards providing a more holistic overall development of players who become a part of the football program in college. The gradual improvement comes in as a clutch for the universities too, as good football programs with excellent coaches can help in the rise of admissions as well. The most notable effect could be seen when Deion Sanders recently joined the Colorado Buffaloes football program. His signing saw a massive surge in admissions, as well as a 700 percent rise in merchandise sales and also a buff in their social media presence. 

Veteran HC in the college football scene Nick Saban has been one of the witnesses to the gradually changing scenario according to modern needs. Being an HC since 1989, he’s seen the value that these players bring to college football. And he recently also talked about how the program has always been in favor of helping scholarship college players in every way they can.

Nick Saban talks about endless investments on college players

The 71-year-old has been the HC of the Alabama Crimson Tide. After a successful tenure with the Crimson Tide, Alabama saw two losses in an 11-2 campaign last season. These losses led them to be eliminated from the SEC championship game and finish 5th in the CFP rankings. Despite being irked by the issue, Nick Saban recently opened up about how football programs have always been working towards providing college athletes with a better future.

During a recent episode of the College Football Podcast, Saban talked about how they are now not only focusing on making things better on the field but also on taking care of the holistic development of scholarship players off the field. He said that people don’t “realize how much we do invest.” Saban further talked about investments in taking care of players’ mental health, medical attention, and nutrition. He said, “I mean, it’s endless in terms of how we invest in players.”

Read more: Deion Sanders Reveals College Recruits Offering His Top Player Aged 20 YO $1.5 Million to Leave Colorado

Recently, the Supreme Court also passed an order that now allows NCAA players to earn money during their football program.

College players can now make money

According to the new rule, college athletes can make money by using their names, image, and likenesses to make deals with companies. Not only this, but they can also engage in endorsements that will help in bringing in a steady cash flow apart from the scholarships they earn. Recently, a five-start football recruit of the 2023 class made headlines after signing an $8 million NIL deal with a school’s collective. This is considered the largest NIL deal by a non-professional athlete, as he is set to earn $350,00 immediately and monthly payments that will be up to $2 million in a year. But on the other hand, the average NCAA player earns just around $3,000 in NIL money, creating a huge disparity between top college athletes and others. 

Do you think the college football program still has a long way to go to provide a better platform for its players? Let us know in the comments below.

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