The White House isn’t coming to save college sports just yet.
Plans for the presidential commission on college sports have been put on hold, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, just two weeks after President Trump’s trip to Alabama for the school’s commencement ceremony had led to the idea of a working group being floated publicly.
To recap: Trump met with former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban while in Tuscaloosa. The president was also reportedly encouraged by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach, to get involved in college sports amid an era that has seen unprecedented roster upheaval, among other changes.
Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell had been set to co-chair the commission with Trump, but Saban’s involvement became something of a gray area, with the legendary coach saying in multiple recent media appearances that he did not think a commission was necessary.
“I know there’s been a lot of stuff out there about some commission or whatever. I don’t think we need a commission. I’ve said that before,” Saban said Tuesday, according to AL.com. “I think we need — we know what the issues are, we just have to have people who are willing to move those and solve those and create some solutions for some of those issues. I’m all for being a consultant to anybody who would think that my experience would be beneficial to helping create some of those solutions.
“I know President Trump is very interested in athletics. He’s very interested in college athletics. He’s very interested in maintaining the idea that people go to college to create value for the future in terms of how they develop as people, students, graduation rate as well as having a balanced, competitive playing field. If I can be a consultant to anyone who might be able to help the future of college athletics, I would be more than happy to do that.”
Dellenger reported that the decision to pause the commission could be tied to Senate negotiations over college athletics legislation.