Episode 33: Coach Barry Switzer on Recruiting Legends, the NIL Era, and the Wishbone Offense

So what do you just make in general of players getting paid in the NIL era?

Well, you know what NIL stands for, don't you? Now it's illegal.

I got the trademark on that.

I think that it's something that the players, I thought would happen long ago, sooner than what it has.

I thought players would form a union, someone would talk them into doing that, organize that.

All of a sudden they'd have a union, just like they do in pro football, and they would come all over the country.

One day on national TV, None of the teams who come out on the field are so organized with the union.

And they say we want to be paid and we want this, this, and this.

I thought that actually might have happened.

And coaches talk about it.

But I think they should have something.

And what they set up is they're not where they need to be, no question about it.

And a bunch of politicians can't figure this thing out.

They need a bunch of coaches to be on a panel that all agree on how this thing should be run.

And I think they could do that and get the bill.

I don't think the legislator or the Congress or anyone that's outside of football understands all involved, totally involved in the scheme of the things with those players every day.

working with them on the practice field, off the practice field.

You spend more time with them than people realize.

But I wouldn't coach you in this day and age.

I don't care to.

I wouldn't want to, just like Nick Saban didn't.

But at the same time, I've always thought players, you know, they got a scholarship.

That's worth, a lot of schools, $100,000.

Or hundreds of thousands of dollars over a four or five-year period.

But they should get that, and I think that's compensation for them playing.

So what do you just make in general of players getting paid in the NIL era?

Well, you know what NIL stands for, don't you? Now it's illegal.

I got the trademark on that.

I think that it's something that the players, I thought would happen long ago, sooner than what it has.

I thought players would form a union, someone would talk them into doing that, organize that.

All of a sudden they'd have a union, just like they do in pro football, and they would come all over the country.

One day on national TV, None of the teams who come out on the field are so organized with the union.

And they say we want to be paid and we want this, this, and this.

I thought that actually might have happened.

And coaches talk about it.

But I think they should have something.

And what they set up is they're not where they need to be, no question about it.

And a bunch of politicians can't figure this thing out.

They need a bunch of coaches to be on a panel that all agree on how this thing should be run.

And I think they could do that and get the bill.

I don't think the legislator or the Congress or anyone that's outside of football understands all involved, totally involved in the scheme of the things with those players every day.

working with them on the practice field, off the practice field.

You spend more time with them than people realize.

But I wouldn't coach you in this day and age.

I don't care to.

I wouldn't want to, just like Nick Saban didn't.

But at the same time, I've always thought players, you know, they got a scholarship.

That's worth, a lot of schools, $100,000.

Or hundreds of thousands of dollars over a four or five-year period.

But they should get that, and I think that's compensation for them playing.