Nick Saban trying to out-smart Smart?

On June 16, Maurice Smith walked into Nick Saban's office and began the story that is making headlines this week. Smith told Saban he had decided to transfer in order to get more field time, and can you blame him? Well, apparently Coach Saban has a huge problem with this. However, legally he can't have a problem with it.

First of all, the basics: the cornerback from Sugar Land, TX happens to be graduating from UA this weekend. Correct, Saturday's ceremony will mark the start of his graduate status. So if Saban is throwing out SEC rules, so will I. I read it, and you can too. Directly from the SEC bylaws:

14.5.5.1 Transferring within the Southeastern Conference. A transfer student from a member institution shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition at another member institution until the student has fulfilled a residence requirement of one full academic year (two full semesters) at the certifying institution. 

Okay, that's fine. I understand that. But guess what, Smith will be a graduate student once he walks across that stage this weekend. So technically he is not a transfer student. He's a new graduate student. Am I right? 

14.5.5.6.1.1 Graduated Student Exception. A student-athlete who has earned a baccalaureate degree shall be exempt from the annual limits in SEC Bylaw 14.3.2.1 (c) (below):

(c) There shall be an annual limit on the number of student-athletes who are non-qualifiers and who may become eligible after their freshman year for athletically-related financial aid, practice, and competition, whether such student-athletes are enrolled as freshmen or as 4-4 transfer students. 

I am no lawyer, but it looks to me like there really aren't any limits here. But then again they are bylaws, and bylaws are always confusing. So forgive me if I am wrong. But come on...I think we all know the only real limits here are coming from Saban's sour attitude. Because did I fail to mention where Maurice Smith is looking to go? 

Courtsey of www.al.com

That's right. Smith is looking to become a Bulldog and rekindle his relationship with former UA assistant coach, Kirby Smart . Again, can you blame him? No athlete is actually close with the head coach. You have much more interaction with the assistant coaches because they are the ones who are overseeing your area of work on the field. They might be labeled as "assistants" but it sure as heck feels like they're your head coaches, trust me. 

The situation we have here is an athlete who wants to actually play during the season and would like to do so with a coach that he admires. I really don't see this as a crime.

So can anyone explain to me why Maurice Smith walked into the locker room, the day after he spoke to Saban back in June, and found all his personal belongings in the trash? That's right, I said trash. And on top of that (or should I say bottom?) he was banned from using the athletic facility. 

This simply makes no sense to me. No actions had been taken yet. The only action was Smith following protocol when he asked Saban for "permission to contact." He could have gone behind Saban's back, trust me, it's been done before. 

I really hope Saban speaks up soon because I really don't want this drama when I should only have excitement for camp to start next week.

Oh, and I'm sorry, but does anyone remember Chris Black from earlier this year? (Yeah me neither, so let me fill you in). He graduated from Alabama and wanted to transfer to an SEC school, Missouri. Sound familiar? And he did. Successfully. With no problems. Hmm...If I was Samyra Smith, this would be my favorite argument, too.

And if this doesn't hit the feels, I don't know what does. Saban, give this a read and just let the kid go: "Please do not punish my success and instead reward the efforts of discipline, and determination that UA requires in all of their student-athletes to succeed,” Smith wrote.