OT: Alabama and Barry Sanders Jr. + more

Nick Saban was shown on the Coleman Coliseum video board Saturday night taking in Alabama's 69-56 win against Arkansas in men's basketball.

Saban plays by his own rules.  He is a master at skirting and finding loop holes.  Probably why he is such a good recruiter.

with this son?  I saw Sr. at the Woodward Dream Cruise a few years back with his much younger boys.  If he still lives in the area I'd think he'd like to have his son take a look at M.

has too much love for this area after what he went through.  

I kind of doubt that Saban cares at this point about NCAA violations.  He's been skirting them since his days at MSU, and nothing has happened to him.  At this point, I'd figure I'm invincible as well.

Anyone who gets this vibe that the NCAA soft pedals issues surrounding the power programs in the SEC, isn't see things.  The collective economic power of these schools is obvious. Remember, this thing we call a Championship game is a creature of contractural greed and has nothing to do with being an official NCAA event.  It involves two schools that are governed by the NCAA, but with regards to football, that oversight is shakey.

There are current rumblings that these power SEC schools won't abide by severe sanctions ever again.  The loss of prestige, the set back in recruiting, and the massive loss of revenue would be too much for their crazed alumni and fans to endure.  The theory goes that the NCAA fears that a crackdown (like with USC) would lead to a full out secession into an unregulated football super alliance. So the NCAA and SEC engage in this dance where the NCAA is allowed to keep oversight, but they wholly avoid cracking down too harshly on obvious cheating. 

This might be a reason why you see the SEC football powers operate with such intrepidness regarding rule compliance. Look at all that is going on: oversigning, bait and switch grey shirting, medical hardships, too many incidents of contact with agents to count, Saban flaunting his disregard for the bump rule, and the whole Cam Newton thing. Yet none of it results in much of anything in the way of penalties. It sort of just never sticks. It all just becomes old stories you can google search.   But instead, the NCAA hones in on Tennessee which is more or less bottomed out and everyone's favorite target Lane Kiffin.  A lot less possibility of blow back by doing that.  Makes you wonder.

Let's also not forget that Dee Hart was at a number of Alabama Bowl Practices. Which is not allowed either.

Bottom line is Saban doesn't care and until the NCAA smacks him down he will continue to over sign, side step recruiting rules, and do whatever he wants.

It is sad to see what college football has become over the last decade.

Its really flattering to see you guys talking smack about Alabama way up here in the frozen wasteland. I'm pretty sure your in-state brethren are familiar with us...Maybe you all could ask them a few things about us. Or you can just wait until next year and see for yourselves...That is if you can talk while licking your wounds at the same time.

The jumbotron image was from the Fox Sports camera man...It was also seen on live TV. The university did not "Introduce" Sanders at the event...nor did the crowd chant "We Want Barry"...and even if they did, that still isnt a violation of any kind. How many recruits do you think get seen on jumbotrons, or live television around the country? Especially during football seasons when theyre roaming around the sidelines during games. Now if you all want to discuss NCAA violations then by all means, feel free to dicuss OUR in-state rival. Trust me, theres PLENTY to discuss there.