Non Profit Foundation Buys Saban's House

I want to get to the heart of the matter here but I have to make a few points clear. First, I am not anti-SEC or anti-Alabama nor am I a Saban hater. I agree with the foundation that Saban may be the best coach in football today. Secondly I don't care how much Universities pay their coaches.

Having stated these points I have some things to say about this ESPN article, written by Alex Scarborough.

First, Nick Saban is paid 7 million dollars a year to coach the University of Alabama's football team. He has done a very good job of this and should be compensated well.

Secondly, the Crimson Tide Foundation bought Saban's 3.1 million dollar home in January of 2013 and continues to pay the yearly property taxes on the home. This is $200,000 more than Saban paid for it. If I remember, this was about the time the rumors of the University of Texas looking to Saban for their next head coach surfaced.

Thirdly, the NCAA says that a coach's compensation is allowed to come from a University foundation.

Finally, the foundation likes to point out that the University of Alabama owned Bear Bryants home so everything is okay. Scott Phelps, assistant secretary of the foundation had this to say, "We want to keep him happy. We think he is the best coach in America."

My point in saying all of this is that Todd Gurley, running back at the University of Georgia, has been suspended for allegedly accepting $400 dollars for his autograph on items a collector will make back at least a hundred fold and Jameis Winston is being investigated for the same NCAA "crime".

The head coach and his staff, in all sports, should be held to some higher standard when it comes to receiving compensation from non profit entities.

When the NCAA has to change rules to allow universities to feed their athletes more because they go hungry (re: statements by UConn's Shabazz Napier...I sometimes go to bed starving because I can't afford food), they should change rules that say University foundations can compensate coaches.

The time has come for the NCAA to step up to the plate and admit that student-athletes should be compensated for their efforts that bring millions of dollars to universities and their coaches.