This is an opinion column.
Some people visit national parks on President’s Day to celebrate the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt. Nick Saban strolled around Mar-a-Lago and played a round of golf with current President Donald Trump.
Is it honestly that much different?
Why are people still so upset about this? Seems like fake outrage to me. I just want to know who won and whether or not Saban successfully recruited Trump to be the Crimson Tide’s first billionaire booster.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis played with Saban, too, and then Urban Meyer rounded out the now-notorious Mar-a-Lago foursome. Apparently they all got together to talk about college football, which is probably for the best because any conversations about the NFL would have been pretty awkward.
“How long did you coach in the NFL, Urb?” Trump said.
“Uh, like 13 games, Mr. President,” Meyer said.
“What happened?” DeSantis said.
“He kicked one of his players,” Saban said.
“I once kicked a guy out of Mar-a-Lago,” Trump said. “Your shot, Coach Saban.”
I’d like to see that scorecard, and hopefully one day it will be on permanent display at the College Football Hall of Fame. Saban is a big stickler when it comes to ethics, so you know he was counting every stroke.
It was probably a great match, though. I did some digging. At one point in time, these were the handicaps for each player: Saban (10.6), DeSantis (around 10), Meyer (between 7.9 and 9.1), Trump (approximately 2.5 to 2.8).
As a sportswriter, it’s probably my job to overanalyze this whole thing. Since I took the weekend off to visit a national park, I’ve had plenty of time to think about it.
Trump, according to most accounts, is a “resourceful golfer.” Mar-a-Lago is his own course, too, so that probably helps. Don’t count out Saban, though. His short game has gotten better since he retired. As for Meyer, he played baseball in college and briefly in the Minors, so you know he’s big off the tee.
DeSantis is a big Florida State fan, so I’m sure he was plenty motivated.
No matter who lost, America was the real winner.
But how is Trump going to fix college football? That’s what everyone wants to know. Not me, of course. It’s too far gone, and only a fool would believe that the people in charge of college football would ever want the sport going back to the old days.
So what was that meeting at Mar-a-Lago really about?
Some college football fans were angry about Saban and Meyer playing golf with Trump, because of politics and stuff, but if they figured out how to stop Indiana from taking over college football then wasn’t it all worth it?
And don’t even get me started on Notre Dame playing by different rules than everyone else. No doubt Trump wanted to know all about that.
Here are some of the other major offseason topics Trump probably asked about:
Does Derrick Henry still have eligibility?
Can we bring back ties?
Could Oregon choke any harder?
Should they rename the playoffs to the Trump College Football Invitational?
Does Joey Freshwater pay taxes?
Is America ready for Ball State vs. Sacramento State?
Is it true Puerto Rico wants to join the ACC?
Saban once turned down lunch with a sitting President, but that was only George W. Bush. When Trump calls, you put everything else on hold and tell Mrs. Terry not to wait up.
Is college football better today now that Trump played golf with Saban and Meyer? That’s the big question.
I’m hopeful.
You’re curious.
Tommy Tuberville is jealous.
Since Saban is now best friends with Trump, it’s safe to assume that college football is saved. And if Trump somehow ruins everything, then we’ll know who to blame.
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