Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin is accusing Alabama of “illegally” recruiting his former All-America placekicker Graham Nicholson, a claim that Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer denies.
Martin made the accusation after being asked in a video for the school website about “losing” his star kicker through the transfer portal. Nicholson, who won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top placekicker last season, is set to replace Will Reichard at preseason No. 5 Alabama, which starts the season on Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky.
“We didn’t lose him,” Martin said. “He’s at Alabama. We know exactly where he’s at. You media people, it’s all pretend. Like, no, Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us.
“That’s a fact. But we act like it’s not … We live in this la-la type world, like hey let’s not talk (reality).
I don’t know why, everyone knows what’s going on. Alabama stole our kicker. A couple of other schools tried to steal him.”
DeBoer said after practice Thursday that Alabama followed the correct procedures.
“I mean, he entered the portal and we reached out to him,” the Tide coach said. “That’s how that goes, right? So we did everything the way you’re supposed to.”
In a separate matter, Iowa suspended head coach Kirk Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr on Thursday for the No. 25 Hawkeyes’ opener against Illinois State on Aug. 31 due to a violation during the recruitment of a player.
Ferentz and the school did not specify which player was involved. According to The Athletic, citing an unnamed source, it was starting quarterback Cade McNamara, who transferred from Michigan before the 2023 season.
