We’re not sure whether to laugh at Alabama coach Nick Saban, or agree with him: Recruiting websites are messing with actual recruiting, and Saban wants help from the NCAA. The ‘reporters’ at these websites are lying to the players, and since recruiting rules prevent coaches from speaking with the players regularly, the lies cannot always be refuted.

“And every (prospect) that I had any kind of issue with over this, I’d say, `Well, where did you get that information?’” Saban said. “(The player would respond), `Well, these media guys that call me tell me.’ I’d say, `Which ones?’”

It would always come from a reporter who covers a team’s recruiting on a fan site, he said.

Part of the issue is that when the players are out of school, coaches cannot always reach them on the phone. When making phone calls to recruits is banned or limited, the conversations are few.

“We’re not allowed to talk to these guys now, so we have a (heck) of a time getting a hold of them when they’re out of school and it’s not call time,” Saban said. “But these (reporters) can call them all the time.”

Saban’s take-it-to-the-streets ploy is going to fall on deaf ears with the NCAA – why would it try to meddle with websites? What we’d love to know is which websites he’s specifically talking about. Rivals and Scout are mentioned, but he doesn’t get specific about which team sites are spreading lies. If anyone in the Yellowhammer State has been closely following this story and knows what sites Saban is targeting, please drop us a line thebiglead@gmail.com.

Alabama coach Nick Saban asks recruiting sites for integrity in reporting (The Rap Sheet)