Isaiah Bond’s move from Alabama to Texas put an end to any and all doubts that college football would ever be the same, if there was anyone still unaware of this new reality.
The 2023 Iron Bowl hero was Bond. He became an instant icon in Crimson Tide football history with his game-winning touchdown reception on fourth and 31. In the SEC title game, he set a record in receiving yards for Alabama. Everything was set up for him to continue the long-standing Alabama receivers’ tradition of being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft after spending another year in Tuscaloosa.
Then the unimaginable occurred. Shortly after Nick Saban declared his departure from collegiate football, Bond left Alabama to transfer.
While I won’t label Bond as a turncoat villain, it’s reasonable to assume that the Crimson Tide and the rest of the SEC were unsettled by his decision to deceive Alabama.
The most shocking narrative twist of the offseason is Bond’s choice to leave hero status at Alabama for more nonexistent money at Texas, out of all the movements we’ve witnessed in the college football world since January. It shocked me much more than Saban’s retirement, in my opinion.
At 72 years old, Saban gave many indications throughout the 2023 season that his career was coming to an end. Weeks before the news broke, my column about Saban’s retirement was prepared for publication. Bond pulled off a spectacular flip that totally surprised me.
Did Saban’s decision to end his career stem from Bond’s desire for further NIL money from Alabama? Since leaving, Saban has said that he was persuaded to leave by the evolving incentives of today’s college football players. One of the first locations Bond went to after his transfer was a nearby Lamborghini dealership in Austin, Texas.
Can Alabama compete in Texas with the NIL collectives? State it this way. Atlanta and Nashville have Lambo showrooms that are the closest to Tuscaloosa. Alabama doesn’t have any of them.
Although some college football fans may not agree with the adjustments, the reality cannot be disputed. Even though college football is changing every week, it’s never been more fascinating or well-liked. I’m going to write a series of essays over the following few months that address ten important issues pertaining to college football and the SEC.
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