Meyer and Saban agree: something must be done about agents

HOOVER, AL --- Urban Meyer and Nick Saban might be as different as night and day when it comes to football philosophy, but the two most powerful football coaches in the Southeastern Conference stand in total agreement when it comes to unscrupulous agents using cash, cars, gifts and promises to lure college football players into signing representation agreements before their eligibility has expired. Speaking at SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel Wednesday afternoon, both Meyer and Saban agreed that something has to be done to halt this gathering storm that threatens to shake college football by its collective lapels.


Meyer calls the problem "an epidemic" after a week in which allegations have been flying, first from Chapel Hill where North Carolina coach Butch Davis is dealing with a firestorm that involves the mainstays of his outstanding defense, to South Carolina, where Steve Spurrier has to deal with allegations that his all-star tight end might have gotten some illegal benefits and then to Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Then there is the aftermath of the Southern Cal NCAA probation brought on by 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush receiving illegal benefits from an agent while he was still playing football at USC. Just Tuesday, USC fired athletic director Mike Garrett and returned its copy of Bush's Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Foundation is contemplating the possibility of stripping Bush of his 2004 award. 


There is little question that these are not just isolated incidents but instead a foretaste of problems to come unless the NCAA and the NFL work hand-in-hand to bring about significant changes. Both Meyer and Saban believe there has to be some form of punishment for agents that cross the line although they disagreed on who should handle it.


Meyer, whose All-American center Maurkice Pouncey, was accused of accepting $100,000 in cash from an agent-runner back in December before the Sugar Bowl, believes uniform laws that are enforced in all 50 states would be a good place to begin.


"I understand there's 36 to 38 states in the country that have a significant penalty out there for a predator that's out there waiting to get involved," Meyer said. "Obviously, that has to happen. There's no plea bargaining or anything. If someone violates that law, they need to be punished to the extent of the law. Or the NFL --- like Coach Saban mentioned --- has to get involved and not allow them to be agents."


Saban, who has coached in the NFL, believes that the way to deal with the problem is to hit the agents who break the rules where it hurts the most --- in the wallet. 


"If you make these guys do what they're supposed to do or they can't get paid in that profession, it's going to change what he does," Saban said. "I'd change. I can't speak for what you'd do, but I certainly would."


Saban believes the NFL Players Association, which empowers agents and determines which ones can work, is the agency that has to take action immediately.


"They could fix it," Saban said. "It could get fixed. You have a standard of behavior and conduct that we have as coaches --- that you have as professionals in what you do --- and they should have as professionals in what they do. If they don't meet that conduct they can't make a living doing that. It would straighten it out now. The NFL can do that."


Whatever is done, Meyer says there has to be punishment for the rules breakers and that includes both agents and those who willingly break NCAA rules.


"If you're allowed to go do things that you're not supposed to do without punishment,  you're going to continue doing it," Meyer said. "As a matter of fact, you're rewarded for it. That's not just talking about agents. It's talking about violations of NCAA rules. If there's a law or rule in place, you punish it to the full extent if you can. That has to happen with the agents."


Not all agents are bad. Most, in fact, follow the rules and maintain a standard of ethics. As Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan has stated several times in the past, a good agent is worth his weight in gold because that agent is about educating his client and going about his business the right way. 


Saban praised the good agents Wednesday, saying that it's not fair to the ones that follow the rules when unethical types break the rules. And what drives agents to unethical behavior?


"I don't think it's anything but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents," he said. "Agents that do this --- I hate to say this --- but how are they anything better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people ... NONE. I really mean, none. How would you feel if they did that to your child?"


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Meyer said that redshirt sophomore wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. is no longer on scholarship. Hammond, who was arrested for DUI, will have a chance to come back to the Florida football team, but he will have to pay his way and earn a spot on the team as a walk-on.


"There will be playing time taken away from him," Meyer said. "He'll be on probation like other players that have made mistakes. If he does something again, it will be probable dismissal."


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Meyer said that his chief lieutenants --- Steve Addazio and Chuck Heater --- will continue to assume a greater role in the day-to-day football operations. Addazio, in particular, will have a greater role as the associate head coach. 


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Meyer, who said he is "recharged and ready to go," said it was a little bit strange to take time away during the spring, something he's never done before. However, the time away from football was productive.


"You know, you get very humbled when you realize your oldest kid is in college --- she's not home any longer --- and you have another one getting ready to go [to college]," Meyer said. "You want to spend as much time with them as you can. I'm at that age when you want to spend as much time as you can with them and we did that. It was a great offseason."


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Asked if he celebrated when Lane Kiffin and USC were hit with probation by the NCAA, Meyer just grinned and said, "I'll let the commissioner (Mike Slive) handle that one."