Nick Saban is against the SEC’s new rule barring transfers for “serious misconduct,” but it sounds like Alabama’s coach needs a briefing on exactly what the rule entails.
Last week the SEC passed a proposal, proposed by Georgia, that would ban accepting transfers who have been “subject to” charges related to domestic and sexual violence. The impetus for Georgia’s proposal seemed to be its dismissal of football player John Taylor after a domestic violence arrest, and Alabama’s signing of Taylor about eight months later.
Taylor was later charged with domestic violence in Tuscaloosa, and dismissed by Alabama. While the accuser in the Tuscaloosa case soon recanted, the charge remains outstanding.
Speaking before his annual Nick Kids golf tournament on Thursday, Saban said he wasn’t in favor of the rule, and cited two examples: Quarterbacks Nick Marshall and Cam Newton, each dismissed by other SEC schools (Georgia and FLorida, respectively) who went on to lead Auburn to SEC championships.
“Cam Newton being in the SEC and Nick Marshall being in the SEC benefited the SEC,” Saban said, according to the Anniston Star. “And it benefited those players. If those players were not allowed to play in the SEC, they’d be playing somewhere else.”
The only problem with that is Newton and Marshall would have been fine under the SEC’s new rule. Neither was charged with a sexual crime, or even a felony. Marshall wasn’t even charged with anything, he was just implicated along with two teammates for stealing from another teammate’s dorm room.
Saban also, according to the Anniston Star, said he wanted the rule to “clearly define exactly why or what” the offenses were at the previous school, and that the words “convicted and felony should be involved in the rule.”
The bylaw the SEC passed last week states that a transfer “who has been subject to official university or athletics department disciplinary action at any time during enrollment at any previous collegiate institution (excluding limited discipline applied by a sports team or temporary disciplinary action during an investigation) due to serious misconduct (as defined herein) shall not be eligible for athletically-related financial aid, practice or competition at an SEC member institution.
“For purposes of this provision, ‘serious misconduct’ is defined as sexual assault, domestic violence or other forms ofsexual violence.”
There is also a waiver process to protect a player who is later absolved of any charges.
SEC coaches did not vote on the proposal last week, acccording to Georgia head coach Mark Richt, because the bylaw was in the process of being tweaked. Richt, speaking on Tuesday in Macon, said he agreed with the rule.
Saban did say he “understands what (the SEC) is trying to do.”
