Canzano: Alabama AD Greg Byrne talks about football, sins, life after Nick Saban, and the state of college sports
A 1-on-1 conversation
On Monday, I asked Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne about Bruce Pearl’s criticism of his men’s basketball coach, Nate Oats.
Pearl called Oats “selfish” and “wrong” for playing Charles Bediako, who was later ruled ineligible after playing five games.
Bediako left Alabama for the 2023 NBA Draft, signed an NBA contract, and played three seasons in the G League. His attempt to return to Alabama caused a storm of debate and involved lawyers. Oats stood by the decision, even after a court ruling that left Bediako ineligible.
Byrne said of Pearl’s criticism, “The Bible says, ‘He who is without sin shall cast the first stone.’ I try to do my best. I’m not perfect, but I try to do my best to live within those parameters.”
Is he saying Pearl has some sins?
“We all do,” Byrne said. “The longer you’re in this world, it doesn’t matter. You’re dealing with 650 young people. You’re dealing with 350 employees. You’re dealing with a lot of fans who are passionate about college sports. You’re going to have challenges. That’s part of it.”
I sat down with Byrne for a 1-on-1 talk on Monday. Byrne, who previously worked at the University of Arizona and Mississippi State as the athletic director and had stints as deputy AD at Oregon, Oregon State, and Kentucky, was passionate about the challenges facing college athletics.
Byrne was especially fired up about revenue sharing, NIL, and how the job of an AD has changed over the years. We talked about his hiring of Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer. Byrne said he began exploring DeBoer as a potential replacement for Nick Saban right around the time he arrived at the University of Washington.
“We researched about two dozen coaches and did research and background without even tipping our hand that we were doing that,” Byrne said.
Byrne’s father, Bill, was athletic director at Oregon, Nebraska, and Texas A&M. There were a few interesting passages involving the influence of his father.
The interview is worth your time.
Watch it on YouTube:
How many independent reporters can get an individual interview with the athletic director at Alabama for 33 minutes. We need to preserve that ability.
As I digress. Greg, you follow with, what I believe is in the footsteps of the very best Oregon AD
I knew, your dad. Though you have hit some bumps. Bill never hesitated to invite me into his office if he saw me on sight. When he knew he was leaving he invited me in I, sadly, wished him well and told him his leaving left us without his wife, a more than competent and special administrator in Eugene School District 4J as I taught in the district. For me personally, athletics at every level goes beyond the department as ADs and university presidents have failed us on many counts.. Since Bill's departure I have never meet an AD at Oregon who even recognized me no matter how many times I have/had been introduced to them. Admittingly, my pockets just aren't deep enough for that. College Athletics just aren't where they should be. Think this deviated from your intent John, but for me the Bill Byrnes of this world, I miss..