SEC Commissioner Weighs In On Saban and Fisher Dispute

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement on the disagreement between Alabama coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher stemming from Wednesday night.

Here's what the SEC commissioner had to say:

"The membership of the Southeastern Conference has established expectations for conduct and sportsmanship that were not met last night nor today," said Sankey. "A hallmark of the SEC is intense competition within an environment of collaboration. Public criticism of any kind does not resolve issues and creates a distraction from seeking solutions for the issues facing college athletics today. There is tremendous frustration concerning the absence of consistent rules from state to state related to name, image and likeness. We need to work together to find solutions and that will be our focus at the upcoming SEC Spring Meetings."

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The now-viral dustup between the seasoned coaches started when Nick Saban called out Texas A&M for paying their players.

He walked the comment back the following day in a segment with SiriusXM, but the damage was already done. 

Because of the public disagreement, both Saban and Fisher were hit with reprimands from the SEC citing conference Bylaw 10.5.2 on the criticism of other programs.

SEC Bylaw 10.5.2 Says, "Coaches and administrators shall refrain from public criticism of other member institutions, their staffs or players. Coaches and administrators shall also refrain from making public statements and accusations with regard to infractions concerning member institutions and their personnel. In response to questions by the media, it is appropriate to state that infractions are reported, investigated and addressed in accordance with established Conference and NCAA procedures."

Coach Saban's reprimand also cites SEC Bylaw 10.2.3 which states, "Coaches and other member personnel shall advocate the positive advantages and attributes of their university and its intercollegiate athletics program and shall avoid making any derogatory statements concerning another member institution's athletics program, facilities or educational opportunities."

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