Alabama AD tells Tide fans to 'fight back,' help fund NIL - ESPN

After Alabama narrowly missed the College Football Playoff in coach Kalen DeBoer's first season, athletics director Greg Byrne told fans in a letter on X on Wednesday that «now is a time for action» and «time for the Bama Nation to fight back.»

«Although we have been competitive from an NIL standpoint, our competition has us in their sights and are actively trying to surge ahead with NIL,» Byrne said in the letter. «You have heard examples of other teams using promises of million-dollar paydays to lure away our players or convince them not to come to Alabama. It is time for the Bama Nation to fight back.»

The Crimson Tide went 9-3 under DeBoer, a former Washington coach, who replaced Nick Saban when he retired on Jan. 10. Alabama fell 40-35 at Vanderbilt on Oct. 5, its first loss to the Commodores in 40 years, and a 24-3 defeat at Oklahoma on Nov. 23 knocked the Tide out of the SEC championship game.

Alabama was No. 11 in the final College Football Playoff selection committee rankings. The Crimson Tide was left out of the 12-team bracket, however, because No. 12 Arizona State and No. 16 Clemson were conference champions and received automatic berths.

«We have been careful during this transitional period to protect our position at the top of college athletics while being mindful to listen, engage and learn from our generous supporters, proud alumni and unrivaled fans to make sure that we protect our great traditions here at Alabama,» Byrne said. «But there's a time for talk and a time for action. Now is a time for action.»

Alabama signed the No. 4 recruiting class in the FBS, trailing only Oregon and SEC rivals Texas and Georgia, according to ESPN Recruiting. The Tide flipped quarterback Keelon Russell from SMU and safety