Nick Saban didn’t appreciate Shane Gillis accusing him of ‘cheating’ on College GameDay

Thanks to the advent of name, image and likeness, college athletes are now allowed to earn money under NCAA rules. But even when that wasn’t the case, players getting paid was a fact.

While quite a few programs got caught up in exactly that, many more did so discreetly based on extensive reporting on the “bagman” phenomenon. But none of that happened in Alabama. At least not according to coach Nick Saban.

During College GameDay ahead of the first-round College Football Playoff game between Indiana and Notre Dame in South Bend, Saban didn’t seem to appreciate that comedian and guest selector Shane Gillis jokingly accused him of “cheating.”

“I’m kidding,” Gillis said when Pat McAfee referenced his cheating comments. “Isn’t this a funny show? Is this a serious show? Alabama Jones is very serious. Get the whip, Indy.”

Saban clarified that he believes in integrity and that Alabama cheated by developing players.

“I believe in integrity,” Saban said. “I always tried to run the program in such a way that the players had a better chance to be successful in life. We made more money in the NFL than any other school, 61 players in the league. That’s how we cheated, we developed players.”

Gillis responded with a laughing apology, but the seven-time national champion might not be the comedian’s biggest fan right now.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nick Saban didn’t appreciate Shane Gillis accusing him of ‘cheating’ on College GameDay