Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher took aim at Alabama head football coach Nick Saban in a Thursday press conference.
“It’s despicable that a reputable head coach can come out and say this when he doesn’t get his way or things don’t go his way,” Fisher said, one day after the Crimson Tide coach insinuated A&M “bought” all of its recruits.
Fisher also confirmed that his relationship with Saban, for whom he previously served as an assistant, is over— no surprise given the vitriol in his responding presser.
Jimbo Fisher fires at Nick Saban
Fisher started his press conference by saying “it’s a shame” that he had to address Saban’s comments. This comes after a successful recruiting period for the Aggies, during which they amassed the top-ranked 2022 class in the nation, per 247 Sports.
A&M’s new crop of talent includes eight five-star recruits to just three for Alabama, as well as 19 four-stars, the same as the Tide.
Saban is used to dominating the recruiting game but has been a huge critic of the current state of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) legislation, both of which have threatened his grasp of top targets.
Fisher had plenty to say to Saban now that he felt hard done by not getting the best athletes in America.
“Some people think they’re God,” said Fisher. “Go dig into how God did his deal. You may find out about a guy, a lot of things you don’t want to know. You make him the czar of college football. Go dig into his past.”
Fisher continued to state that Texas A&M had not violated any rules or laws during the recruiting process, contrary to what Saban had suggested. He is now the second notable head coach to publicly condemn the comments from “Saint Nick,” as Jackson State coach Deion Sanders also took issue with the seven-time national champion, calling him a “liar.”
“Prime” also joked with the number-one recruit in the class of 2022 and incoming Tiger, Travis Hunter, about a supposed NIL deal bringing in over $1m.
“I don’t even make a million!” Sanders tweeted to his prized recruit.
I don’t even make a million! Lolololol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/wagxbCJoWs
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) May 19, 2022
The fallout from the comments
Fisher told the media that he did not answer Saban’s call after the 70-year-old attempted to reach out to him Wednesday night.
“We’re done,” Fisher said of his relationship with the ‘Bama coach. “He showed you who he is. He’s the greatest ever, huh?”
The idea of cheating further incensed Fisher, who made it clear that he is playing by the rules.
“I don’t cheat,” said the A&M coach. “I don’t lie. If you did, my old man slapped me across the face. Maybe someone should have slapped him [Saban].”
Fisher became the first former Nick Saban assistant to beat him as a head coach, besting Alabama 41-38 at home last season and ending a 24-game winless stretch. The two worked together at LSU from 2000 to 2004, with Fisher serving as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“I have great respect for him,” Saban said after the loss. “I always say that. He is one of the best who ever did it.”
Ever-interested Ole Miss head football coach, Lane Kiffin, took a break from his usual social media wizardry amidst the fray, stating that he was “speechless for the first time in my life.”
Texas A&M will head to Tuscaloosa for a matchup with Alabama on October 8, allowing Fisher and Saban to settle their differences on the field— although, it would be hard to imagine their anger being quelled by one game just a few months from now.
