Miami-Ohio football coach Chuck Martin isn't ready to let Alabama off the hook with one of his kickers now on the Crimson Tide.
In today's college football world, student-athletes are constantly switching programs. The restrictions that were loosened in the transfer portal, paired with the emergence of NIL, have opened the door to what is being dubbed the "free agency" of football. It has allowed bigger-name schools an easier path to nabbing talent away from smaller programs.
There is plenty of shady business that goes on behind the scenes — in fact, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz was just suspended one game for a violation during the recruitment of Michigan transfer Cade McNamara.
Now, Martin is accusing Alabama of tampering with their recruitment of kicker Graham Nicholson.
Here is more to know about what Martin said of Alabama's tampering with its newest kicker.
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Graham Nicholson controversy, explained
During an interview this fall following a practice, Martin was asked about the special teams unit. The Redhawks lost out on Nicholson this offseason, who transferred to Alabama to become their starter.
Martin was quick to correct the interviewer, vehemently stating that the team did not lose Nicholson — he was stolen from them.
“We didn’t lose him. He’s at Alabama," Martin said. "We know exactly where he’s at. Again, 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.
"We act like it’s not – we live in this la la world like, 'hey, let’s not talk reality.' I don’t know why. Everybody knows what’s going on."
Impossible not to love @Martin_Miami_HC. Alabama stole our kicker! Let's call it what it is! pic.twitter.com/kd64PMXPwk
— Jed DeMuesy (@JedDeMuesy) August 22, 2024
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Nicholson spent the last three seasons with Miami-Ohio before electing to play his senior year with Alabama. He kicked for the Redhawks in the spring but switched programs this summer.
This isn't the first time Martin has discussed the struggles of recruiting. In an interview with On3, he was open about how much time he and his staff spent convincing his players to stick with the Miami-Ohio program.
"We spent every single day of December and January trying to keep our guys, trying to fight to convince our guys to stay," Martin said. "Even second semester, they don’t stop recruiting them, even if you make it through that first portal window. So, that’s what becomes of the offseason.
"It’s weird because you don’t really know if the guys you’re coaching in the spring are even going to be here in the fall. Graham kicked all spring. The summer hits and it’s like, ‘OK, we finally have our team.'"
New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer refuted the claim by Martin on Thursday.
"He entered the portal, and we reached out to him," DeBoer said. "That's how that goes, right? So we did everything the way you're supposed to."
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Who is Graham Nicholson?
Nicholson is a senior kicker at Alabama. He spent the last three seasons at Miami-Ohio, where he became the best kicker in school history.
Over his three years in the NCAA, he nailed 60 of his 71 field-goal attempts, converting at 84.5 percent. He also was successful on 93.3 percent of his extra points, converting 97 of 104 attempts.
Last year, Nicholson went 27-for-28 in field goals, including a perfect record from inside 40 yards. For his efforts, he won the Lou Groza Award, which is awarded to the nation's best kicker in college football.
