There was a common theme among the most prominent speakers at last week’s Alabama Football Coaches Association convention.

The Crimson Tide’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and other head coaches rotated through an Embassy Suites ballroom in Montgomery and talked about the “change in the landscape” at the collegiate level brought by name, image and likeness.

Speaking for the 17th straight year, Saban gave a traditional speech for such an event, detailing bits of the Tide’s culture, while congratulating the reigning state champions. A member of the audience — 705 coaches were preregistered, per the association — questioned Saban on NIL’s impact on the trail and transfer portal.

Saban’s response, reported first by Outkick and confirmed to AL.com, included two examples of players requesting more than $1 million combined in the latest cycle. Both of which the 71-year-old declined to name. One 2023 defensive back, per Saban, asked for $800,000 in return for his commitment.

“‘This ain’t the school for you then because it’s not fair for those that are already here for someone to come in and ask, who hadn’t played a snap yet, and proved yourself on that level, already demanding money,’” Clarence Williams, offensive and recruiting coordinator at Ramsay High, recalled Saban saying during a Q&A session on Jan. 26.

Sources in attendance said Saban explained a request involving a player the Tide lost in the transfer portal requesting half-a-million dollars and his girlfriend’s acceptance into the University of Alabama’s School of Law to stay with the team. Saban also speculated on NIL opportunities becoming legal for high schoolers within Alabama.

Saban talked briefly about the “crazy (NIL) situation” during the December early signing period, addressing how its altered the sport. He infamously decried Texas A&M’s 2022 class last summer. The Tide lost 11 players via the portal this offseason and signed five defensive backs in the class of 2023.

As part of Alabama’s top-ranked recruiting class with seven five-stars, Saban admitted NIL played a role in the recruitment of some players. The Tide secured multiple flips late in the cycle like offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and pass rusher Keon Keeley.

offensive tackle and late flip Kadyn Proctor admitted he was receiving a slightly more valuable deal than he would’ve had he stayed home in Iowa.

Large-scale NCAA violations are reportedly coming as “circumstantial (pay-for-play) evidence” may factor into an investigation, per Sports Illustrated. Yet, sources in Montgomery last week said they heard warnings from their collegiate counterparts of an impending NIL change among high schoolers.

“What (Saban) was basically saying is we need to get more of a handle on this,” Loachapoka offensive coordinator Travis Carswell said. “The NCAA has just allowed (NIL) to play out. There haven’t been any regulatory issues on it. You got high schools that are now looking at these deals. Nobody’s really thought this out. … We’ve gotten away from what really matters. That’s his whole mantra. What message are we sending to high school kids when we’re giving them the option for NIL deals?”

The Alabama High School Athletic Association operates under an amateur policy, which prohibits students from profiting off their “athletic skill for gain.” Georgia became the most recent state, joining two dozen others, to announce its plans to reverse course and allow high schoolers to sign deals while retaining their eligibility.

The yearly event featured other Southeastern Conference representatives like Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, Arkansas’ Sam Pittman and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel. Freeze made his debut and brought members of his staff, including offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].