Paul Finebaum floats Nick Saban as potential Tommy Tuberville replacement after recent Donald Trump comments

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump is considering an executive order that could increase scrutiny on NIL payments to college athletes. Trump reportedly began considering the notion after he met with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on Thursday.

Trump was in Tuscaloosa to deliver the University of Alabama’s commencement address. Saban introduced Trump at the event.

Senior Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, who was a head coach at Ole Miss and Auburn, also said he spoke to Trump about NIL concerns. Alas, Tuberville might not be in a position much longer to attempt to make changes to the current NIL structure at the federal level.

There have been numerous reports that Tuberville plans on giving up his seat in the Senate and running for governor. If Tuberville does so, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes Nick Saban should replace him.

“If what is about to happen, happens, and that means Tommy Tuberville announces he’s giving up his seat to run for governor, I don’t think there’s a better person to take that spot than Nick Saban,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “By doing so, he would literally represent college athletics in Washington. And I think something would finally happen.

“He’s the most important football coach of all time, and this is the most important moment in the history of college athletics. I think even though he would be one of 100 he could do a lot of great work, and I don’t think it would be that difficult for him to get the nomination, nor get elected.”

Saban doesn’t have any previous political experience but he’s never had trouble succeeding in a new environment before. The 73-year-old was a fan favorite last season during his inaugural run as a host on ESPN’s College GameDay.

Moreover, Saban is already one of the most respected voices on the NIL topic. Finebaum believes the College Football Hall-of-Famer would be the right man for the job.

“He’s always pushed politics aside,” Finebaum said. “He’s acted uninterested, but that’s while he was a head football coach, and it’s also while Tommy Tuberville held his seat. But that’s going to change in two weeks.

“I think if enough people, and I’m starting with the President of the United States say, ‘We need you in Washington.’ I don’t know how he could turn that down… Washington, D.C. is about power, and Nick Saban would have more power than Tommy Tuberville.”