NEWSLETTER: Buddy Martin’s GatorBait/Inside Straight: May 31, 2022

"I didn't say that anybody did anything wrong. OK?" — Nick Saban.

Can Greg Sankey Keep A Lid On It In Destin? The SEC coaches are at meetings in Destin where feathers are still ruffled and pokes may still be taken despite Sankey’s previous warning to Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher to cool it after their tiff over possible NIL irregularities. Here are some of the commissioner’s comments before arriving in Destin: “What we have to do is turn the page. Because we have to think about what we see as the future, rather than the frustration that exists around the pace of change that’s happening. And really that’s at the heart of a lot of issues. “What are the solutions? What is the structure that can be helpful to support young people competing in college sports? That’s the conversation. Not what happens between two people. We have to elevate our dialogue.” Hmmm. You buying that? Who Me? When he arrived in Florida, Saban began claiming innocence and re-iterating that his comments should not have been aimed at Fisher and A&M:

Jimbo Fisher

"I didn't say that anybody did anything wrong. OK?" Saban said. "I've said everything I'm going to say about this." He went on to add: “I have no problem with Jimbo … I have no problem with Jimbo at all.”

Nothing like a family feud …

to keep the pot stewing and the back channels of gossip crackling. Saban outright said Fisher “bought” his 5-Star Studded recruiting class for ‘22. Did he? Yeah, but others pointed out, isn’t that legal under the new rules? Jimbo took umbrage with his old boss’s semantics. Did you hear Saban say anybody was wrong? Will they kiss and make up in the Florida Sun? Stay tuned. Free Lane Kiffin! The ugliest episode may have happened earlier in the week when Sankey issued a semi-gag order, dissuading Lane Kiffin from appearing on The Dan Patrick Show. He didn’t go but Kiffin said this later: "If you are advising Bryce Young, why do you not go into the portal and walk into Nick Saban’s office and say, ‘Hey, I want to be here, but I’ve got to protect myself so I’m going to go into the portal. And I want to come back as long as it’s matched with what I get out there.’ The kid would make 10 times what he would have made. How’s that not going to happen all the time? It should. It will," the Ole Miss coach said.

Scott Stricklin

Scott Stricklin Comments On UF’s Approach To NIL “We’re not going to cut a corner. We’re going to do things the right way. We don’t want the boosters involved in the recruiting process.”

Eat, Pray, Watch Baseball/Softball and Sleep. That’s what I did over the long holiday weekend and it was exquisite! I am invoking the Nickname “Diamond Bud” for all the tag team TV between baseball and softball I watched. All Gators should be ecstatic about Tim Walton’s flyers bouncing back after losing the opener vs Virginia Tech and sweeping the last two vs. the Hokies to earn a trip to the World Series. As for Kevin O’Sullivan’s baseball team making a comeback after a 10-run rule loss to Texas A&M then crushing the Aggies 9-0 in the return match to earn the right to host a region, I simply ask: Can we make a case for this as one of his best coaching jobs ever? He kept telling he had some impressive young arms under the radar. And they surfaced. Now these questions: 1. Does Sully start Brandon Sproat in game one vs. Central Michigan or hold him in anticipation of the 13th seeded Gators meeting Oklahoma in the final? 2. Who was the idiot who kept insisting on posts and shows a few week ago that O’Sullivan be fired? Can we fire fans? And: 3. Clemson is coming after Kevin O’Sullivan. Will he go? Gators In The Big Leagues: Update from John Romano of Tampa Bay Times on Mike Zunino of the Rays • “Mike Zunino’s career has often been an all-or-nothing proposition. Unfortunately, we are in one of those ‘nothing’ cycles. A year after hitting .216 with 33 homers, Zunino is on pace to hit .152 with 14 homers. Plate discipline seems to be an issue. His walk rate is 4.7%, which is about half of last season’s 9.1. According to Fangraphs, he’s swinging at 51.9% of the pitches he sees, which is his highest rate since he was a 23-year-old in Seattle in 2014.”

“Uncertain Times Bring Opportunity”

Calling himself the “Rookie in the Room” at his first SEC meeting in Destin, Billy Napier appeared to be blown away by the commissioner’s acumen. “Sankey is a phenomenal leader,” Napier said upon emerging from meetings. “He’s years ahead of his decision making (and) thought process. Very impressed overall … and we’ve got some very accomplished people in the room.”

As for reaction to the Saban-Fisher Dust-up, Napier responded: “We’ll let those gentlemen handle that … very accomplished coaches. Coach Saban in particular hired me on two different occasions — wouldn’t be here today without him. The wisdom and experience there.”

He may be “the rookie in the room,” but Billy also says he’s wise enough “not to get in the middle of their conversation.”

As for the NIL challenge: “Very uncertain times, but with uncertainty comes opportunity.”

Gator Ben Shelton 4th NCAA Tennis Champion Ben Shelton joined Mark Merklein (1994), Jeff Morrison (1999) and teammate Sam Riffice (2021) as the only players in the program's 90-year history to win the NCAA singles crown. "Happy to go out with a bang” he said.

Tweetsville —From Scott Carter of Floridagators.com: “Former #Gators standout Al Horford turns 36 on Friday. Averaged 10.1p, 9.7r as 21YO rookie in 07-08. Averaged 10.2p, 7.7r in 15th season. Rooting for him to win first ring.” From Matt Baker, Tampa Bay Times: “Mizzou HC Eliah Drinkwitz said he got carried away when he made comments about reaping jackass ability and sowing jackass ability after the Gators fired Dan Mullen.”

Today’s Quote Worth Remembering: “Belief is easy. Knowledge is difficult.”

—J.D. Landis