Nick Saban declared Vanderbilt the easiest place to play in the SEC.
The former Alabama coach – now an analyst on ESPN’s “College GameDay” – didn’t exactly tell us anything we didn’t know, but it is rare for a coach, or a former one, to throw such shade at a school, even if he said that was not the intent.
“The only place you play in the SEC that’s not hard to play in Vanderbilt,” Saban said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “You have more fans than they have. That’s no disrespect to them. It’s the truth.”
Media personality Skip Bayless, a Vandy alum, took exception to the comments.
“OK, Nick Saban just stated the obvious,” Bayless said while wearing a Vanderbilt hat. He said Vanderbilt may be the easiest place to play in football, but that is not the case in other sports.
But in football, he can’t argue.
“These football factory juggernauts, with these huge traveling fan bases, yeah, they’ll probably have more fans buy out tickets.”
That’s when Bayless pulled the academics card.
“When it comes to quality of education, the rest of the SEC isn’t even in our league,” Bayless said. “When it comes to admission requirements, my school Vanderbilt, the best school in America, is slumming to be in the SEC with the Alabama’s of the world.”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
