Everything Jimbo Fisher said about 'narcissist' Nick Saban's Texas A&M NIL comments: 'Go dig into wherever he's been'

Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher responded to Nick Saban's comments about the Aggies' use of NIL in a fiery impromptu press conference on Thursday in College Station.

It was a quick-fire and emotionally-charged 9-minute long diatribe by Fisher, following Saban's comments the previous day about the Aggies' 2022 recruiting class.

"We were second in recruiting last year," Saban said Wednesday in Birmingham. "A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team. Made a deal for name, image and likeness. We didn’t buy one player. But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it."

Here is Fisher's full response:

Opening statement

Jimbo Fisher:  First of all, I'd like to say it's a shame that we have to do this. It's really despicable. It's despicable that somebody can say things about somebody and more importantly 17-year-old kids. You're taking shots at 17-year-old kids and their families. That they broke state laws, that we bought every player on this group? We never bought anybody. No rules were broken. Nothing was done wrong. The way we do things, the ethics in which we do things, and these families, 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. The narcissist in him doesn't allow those things to happen. And it's ridiculous, when he's not on top.

The parity in college football that he's been talking about? Go talk to coaches who coached for him. You'll find out all the parity. Go dig into wherever he's been. You'll find out anything. And it's a shame that you have to sit here and defend 17-year-old kids and families and Texas A&M because we do things right? We're always going to do things right. We're always going to be here.

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We're doing a heckuva job. These coaches have done a great job. Our players have done a great job. The whole organization of recruiting people. It's despicable that we have to sit here at this level of ball and say these things to defend the people of this organization, the kids, 17-year-old kids and their families. It's amazing.

Some people think they're God. 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. We built him up to be the Czar of football? Go dig into his past or anybody that's ever coached with him. You can find out anything you want to find out, what he does and how he does it. And it's despicable. It really is. And it's a shame we have to sit up here and have this conversation about things we do.

Personal to us? Yes it is. It's personal to A&M, it's personal to our players, it's personal to our coaches and everybody involved. And I know the guy. Know him really well. It's amazing we're allowed to do those things. It's really despicable. And I hate it for our players who are coming here who did things the right way, have done things the right way and will continue to do things the right way. I apologize to you that people insult you publicly the way they're doing it. And our fans, I apologize to you guys for people saying those things about Texas A&M. I promise you this: There are no violations, there are no things wrong.

This is the second time we've had to do this with grown men who don't get their way and want to pout and throw a fit and act up. Just go ask all the people who've worked for him. You'll know exactly what he's about. I always said this, my dad has always told me this: When people show you who they are, believe them. He's showing you who he is.

QUESTION: Couple things, Jimbo. First of all, have you had any contact with Nick?

JF: No. Oh, he's called.

Q: You just didn't take the call?

JF: Not going to. We're done. He's showed you who he is. He's the greatest ever, huh? When you've got all the advantages? It's easy.

Q: I just wanted to put it point blank. You're saying that no players---

JF: There's no bylaws of anything we've ever promised, done, anything, that goes against the laws of the state of Texas, and it's insulting to say that a 17-year-old and his family broke laws. No.

Q: I know y'all have both spoken so highly of each other in the past in terms of what y'all have done in your previous relationship. So how disappointing was it to hear that from him in terms of a mentor-type to you as well?

JF: Nah, no. Listen, you coach with people like Bobby Bowden and learn how to do things. You coach with other people and learn how not to do things. There's a reason I ain't been back to work for him, with opportunities. Don't want to be associated with it.

Q: Coach, is this an area where you would want to see the league office of the SEC, the Commissioner's Office get involved if coaches are putting out specific accusations of violations?

JF: If that's their job, that's fine. I'm sure they will. They'll reprimand or say something and move on, I guess. But this is about our players and Texas A&M and the people who work for it and the coaches here. That is what this is about. Make no mistake: We're not going anywhere. We still have a lot of work to do. We're not where we want to be. This is going to be a great program and we're building it into a great program.

Q: I know everyone saw the initial post from Sliced Bread, or whatever. Where do you feel like this is coming from?

JF: You got me. Sliced Bread. But I mean, when coaches say that? C'mon man. Especially... nevermind.  The operation and tactics of certain people who say them? And anybody who's coached with him know him? And anybody out there in this business knows it?  Amazing. Just go where he's been.

Q: And I know that you can't have the conversation with people who do NILs or have that contact, would you like to see a collective---

JF: I would like to find unified rules across this country to put things in place. That's what I want. And I don't know what those are.  I'm not smart enough to figure it out. I don't know what the anti-trust laws, all those bylaws ... the government needs to step in because these things here?

And what's funny, in that talk right before (Saban) said that about us, wasn't he soliciting funds from the crowd? It's amazing, wasn't it? But when you walk on water, I guess it don't matter.

Q. Howdy, Coach. Um, so you've told us how you don't look at social media. Right here, Coach. Tell us how you find out about--

JF: (Texas A&M associate AD) Mark Robinson called me.

Q. OK. How important was it for you to have this press conference so that you could defend your players and your program?

JF: I'm not defending anybody. I'm just giving you the truth. Because I have nothing to hide. I have nothing to hide and our program has nothing to hide. Be interesting if everybody could say that.

Q. I guess, some thought on collectives. Schools, programs, collectives. Universities, collectives. Are you aware of what they do, how they go about it and so forth?

JF: No, I'm not. I'm not involved in those.

Q. So you have no knowledge of any--

JF: They have collectives. I know there's a collective here. I don't know who's got what, when's got what. Had no idea last year. That's not what we do or what we're about.

Q. That's by design? You saying, 'Hey, I'm staying out of this?'

JF: Yeah, I have no sponsorships in those things. And that's the truth. And I'm going to tell you one thing: You can call me anything you want to call me. You ain't calling me a cheat. I don't cheat and I don't lie. Because I learned that when I was a kid, if you did, the the old man slapped me up side the head. Maybe someone should have slapped (Saban).

But that's one thing you don't; now you're fooling with our name. Fooling with Texas A&M's name, you're saying with those kids names and our name. I'll put it with any of them. I ain't into that. I wasn't raised that way.

Q. Yeah, Jimbo, SEC spring meetings are coming up. The media days are in a couple months. And then Oct. 8 (game against Alabama) ... what do you think that's — is it going to be awkward?

JF: Be fun, won't it? Awkward about what?

Q. When you have to face (Saban)?

JF: I don't mind confrontation. Lived with it my whole life. Kinda like it, myself. Backing away from it wasn't the way I was raised.

Q. Coach, what do you say to your players about something like this?

JF: Keep doing the right things and believing in yourself and I'm sorry that people say those things about you. But I will defend you. Because I know nothing was wrong. That's what it's about. You talk about setting examples for players and creating value and all those good talks we have, he has? You know what I mean? Live it. It's amazing. Setting a helluva example.

Q. When you talk about uniform legislation, would you like to see that the schools be able to have a little more ability to---

JF: Listen, I don't know that. I don't know what's right. It just needs to be uniform across the board. And it's hard because the government is going to have to get involved with it. I'm not into that. I just know that what we did was nothing wrong, not done the wrong way, nothing was promised, nothing was dealt, and we didn't buy every, we didn't buy any players.

Q. You've been in this business a long time...

JF: A long time. And it's disgusting to what we're into right now, especially by the people who are throwing the darts who have no glass in their house.

Q. So my question was, is this the most upset, disappointed, angered you've been about something in your coaching career?

JF: It's despicable about what it does for the sport. And the operations, the way things things were done the other way, when the parity was there? Like we said, never has been parity. Certain people never followed the rules anyway.

Q. Do you suspect that Nick has bent the rules?

JF: No, didn't say that. Just made a statement.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Everything Jimbo Fisher said about Nick Saban Texas A&M NIL comments