About the Saban/Bama recruiting mystique....

For years and years, Bama seemed to have our number - they pulled nearly every player LSU coveted. Reasons given were many, but they usually centered on three things:

- Bama blatantly bought the best players when it was "against the rules" (and any other teams doing it were VERY circumspect).

- The "Bama Player Development" myth, which says that players going to Lil Nicky's crimson whorehouse were better prepared (and better positioned) for the NFL.

- The "I want to play for a consistent national champion" thought process which was usually true.

However, with the advent of NIL I wonder whether or not there's any meat left on those bones? Now that anyone can buy the best players (assuming they can be bought) then the Red Horde has lost their ace in the hole.

When they were getting (buying) the best players, of course that gave them a roster that positioned them for consistent success. When your program consistently wins championships then OF COURSE the NFL is going to pay attention on draft day. Does that mean the players are/were truly "better prepared" for the NFL, or did they just have better exposure and advertising?

Now, though, those days are over. And so is Bama (in my opinion). No, they won't pull an Auburn and dry up overnight, but their (c)overt barbershop-bag buyouts and free Chargers aren't the draw that they once were. The rules they flaunted and used to their advantage (and our disadvantage) are now gone.

While Saban is a GREAT coach, I'll gladly say that other great coaches in his position at Bama (at that time) would have had equal success. Heck, even Les could have won a whole bushel of NC's with the roster Bama had (and that nobody else at the time could match).

So, welcome NIL. You suck, but at least everyone gets a turn at the buffet now. Yes, we'll still lose the occasional blue chipper to Lil Nicky (and Georgia, and aTm, and others), but now they'll lose some to us as well. So I, for one, won't cry if Ricks decides to go ride the pine in Gumpland. The field is now level, and we have a coach (with staff) that will be every bit as good as Saban was when he ruled the underworld of recruiting.

Welcome to the new world.