Nick Saban has already met in-person with fellow presidential commission co-chair Cody Campbell, the billionaire Texas Tech booster, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Nevertheless, the former Alabama head coach and current ESPN College GameDay analyst still isn’t exactly sold on the need for President Donald Trump‘s planned commission on college sports.

“I know there’s been a lot of stuff out there about some commission or whatever. I don’t think we need a commission. I’ve said that before,” Saban said Tuesday ahead of his annual Nick’s Kids golf tournament in Birmingham, according to CBS Sports’ Mike Rodak. “I think we need — we know what the issues are, we just have to have people who are willing to move those and solve those and create some solutions for some of those issues. I’m all for being a consultant to anybody who would think that my experience would be beneficial to helping create some of those solutions.

“I know President Trump is very interested in athletics. He’s very interested in college athletics,” Saban continued, per Rodak. “He’s very interested in maintaining the idea that people go to college to create value for the future in terms of how they develop as people, students, graduation rate as well as having a balanced, competitive playing field. If I can be a consultant to anyone who might be able to help the future of college athletics, I would be more than happy to do that.”

Saban has been tabbed by Trump to headline his presidential commission. Per past reporting, it is expected to “deeply examine the unwieldy landscape of college sports, including the frequency of player movement in the transfer portal, the unregulated booster compensation paid to athletes, the debate of college athlete employment, the application of Title IX to school revenue-share payments and, even, conference membership makeup and conference television contracts,” according to Yahoo! Sports.

While the makeup of the commission is still developing, White House leaders have already begun “pooling recommendations” from those within the Power Four conferences, NCAA and athlete-focused groups for potential committee membership, according to Dellenger. The working group is expected to be limited to 10 or fewer members, with “a goal of political and cultural diversity,” per Dellenger.

Nick Saban ‘not sure we really need’ President Donald Trump’s commission on college sports

Of course, this isn’t the first time Saban has called Trump’s Presidential commission into question. He previously raised doubts during a recent appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show.

“First of all, I don’t know a lot about the commission. Secondly, I’m not sure we really need a commission,” Saban said last week on the SEC Network. “I think that a lot of people know exactly what the issues are in college football and exactly what we need to do to fix them. The key to the drill is getting people together so we can move it forward.

“I’m not opposed to players making money, I don’t want anybody to think that. I just think the system that we (are using), the way it’s going right now is not sustainable, and probably not in the best interest of the student-athletes across the board or the game itself,” Saban continued. “I think we need to protect the brand, and the competitive advantages and disadvantages that are being created right now, and I think we can fix all that. But I think we know how to do it, and not just me but a lot of people, we just have to get everybody together to do it.”

Resilience 

Despite the trials and tribulations Blakely faced in 2024, she was able to learn important lessons along the way.

“It’s definitely taught me resilience and perseverance as well as knowing to push myself and not to give up, and knowing that I know how to navigate around obstacles of any sorts, injuries or things in the gym or out the gym, it’s just taught me so much, and I feel like it’s made me a stronger person,” Blakely said. “Going through two big injuries, one in 2021, and one in 2024, was not easy at all, but I really have learned so much, and has brought me to this moment and who I am today, and has strengthened my faith as well.”

Something that helped Blakely mentally in her recovery was the opportunity to go straight to college following the injury. 

“Going to Florida after such a big injury, and, you know, heartbreaking moment, I think I needed a sort of change of pace,” Blakely said. “It offered such structure that I liked, and being surrounded by new people, a fun environment and something different I hadn’t experienced before. I think that it was very beneficial mentally as well. It helps me a lot, and I had a lot of fun. Even being there with my sister was something that I can enjoy a lot. And even when I stepped foot into Florida, I I told everyone, I told the coaches, I told myself that I was like, I want to compete the first meet, I want to be ready to do bars. I also wanted an opportunity to compete with my sister for that one season that we had together. 

If gymnastics fans have learned one thing about Blakely throughout the years, it’s that she will accomplish the goals she sets for herself. Competing in the NCAA in 2025 despite her injury, was non negotiable for her.

“I had that moment to compete at the first meet, the home opener for the Florida Gators,” Blakely said. “It meant a lot, and I think it just allowed me to have more confidence and belief in myself, knowing all that I had went through and all that I worked through to get to that moment, to compete at the first meet, and then to compete consistently in that bar lineup, it just allowed me to have this moment, like to be proud of myself, especially again, after the summer that I had, I was just like, you were really able to do that, and you worked really hard. You have perseverance, and you worked for this moment.”

Two Colorado College hockey productions have been named finalists for the 2025 SVG College Sports Media Awards, presented by the Sports Video Group (SVG) in association with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
 
The production of the game at Ed Robson Arena against Western Michigan on Feb. 1 is one of 12 finalists in the Outstanding Live Game Production/Collegiate Athletics – Championship category. The other finalists are Boise State Women’s Basketball, Georgia State Men’s Basketball; Kennesaw State Football and Men’s Basketball, Liberty Women’s Basketball, Minnesota Duluth Hockey, Sam Houston State Football: Sam Houston State vs. Texas State, San José State Men’s Basketball, Temple Men’s Basketball and Tulane Men’s Basketball.

In addition, the show open 75 Years of Rivalry prior to the Colorado College – Denver game on Dec. 13, is one of nine finalists in the Outstanding Live Non-Game Production/Collegiate Athletics category, along with Auburn, Baylor, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Princeton, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

 

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and announced at the 16th-annual SVG College Sports Media Awards in association with NACDA, at the SVG College Summit in the Omni Atlanta Hotel on Wednesday, May 28, at 5 p.m. (ET).

 

“I’m thrilled by the record number of submissions for the SVG College Sports Media Awards and congratulations to all the Finalists,”  says Tom Buffolano, chairman of the SVG College Sports Media Awards in association with NACDA. “It is astounding to me how much quality (and volume) comes out of the college video departments. I’m looking forward to a very competitive final round of judging and excited to see the winners announced in Atlanta.”

 

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft will take place on June 27 and 28 in Los Angeles, CA. Our first set of Blackhawks Draft Profiles will focus on the possible targets for the third overall pick. Today, we’re looking at the well-rounded center, James Hagens.

Tale of the Tape

Date of Birth: November 3, 2006
Place of Birth: Hauppauge, NY
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 176 pounds
2024-25 Team: Boston College (NCAA)

Player Profile

When the IIHF World Junior Championship concluded, I thought Hages was the guy for the Chicago Blackhawks. He led the United States to its second straight gold medal with five goals and nine points in seven games. He showed that he can perform on the biggest stages. He scored nine goals and 22 points in seven games at the U18 IIHF World Junior Championship the previous year.

Hagens is coming off a successful freshman season at Boston College, scoring 11 goals and 37 points in 37 games. It wasn’t the dominant freshman season we saw Macklin Celebrini have the previous year, but a point-per-game average at one of the nation’s top programs is impressive.

The biggest criticism of Hages among Blackhawks fans is his size. If he were an inch taller, to put a 6 in the foot column, there would be far less angst about adding him to the mix. The NHL is not a big man’s game anymore. Yes, you don’t want to have a team full of small forwards, but you win with speed and skill in today’s NHL. That’s what Hagens brings to the table. He has enough talent to make up for being 5-foot-11. Size can be found easily via trades and free agency.

Hagens is a cerebral player. His ability to see and process the game can’t be coached. He utilizes his hockey sense to push the pace of play, then his elite-level skill set finishes off opponents. Hagens fits right into the type of team Kyle Davidson is trying to build. He’s smart, fast, and deadly off the rush. It’s hard to get pushed around by larger players if they can’t catch you. His skating allows him to elude defenders and create open space. Once in the clear, he is equally dangerous shooting the puck or setting up his teammates.

What Experts are Saying

“Hagens is always in motion. He’s exceptionally difficult to check and contain. On the power play, he floats around the offensive zone in an attempt to find open ice and get pucks to the net. In all situations, he displays dogged pursuit of the puck along the boards and works to win back possession for his group.”  – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

“Hagens’ game is about skating and playmaking. He’s extremely breezy as a skater, making his patterns look easy out there. To use a hockey cliché, he’s on top of the ice, he’s agile, and his stride and edges are dynamic, light, mobile, and adjustable, with legitimate speed and quick acceleration through his crossovers and cuts. He’s got high-end touch and handling and real finesse as a passer or in playing pucks into space for himself. He’s very aware of spacing and timing on the ice and does a good job hitting his spots off the puck to present an option in motion to teammates, as well as finding teammates when they’re open with his vision through layers. He’s got an impressive small-area game and an even more impressive game in open ice, with an ability to take his first touch and put opposing defenders on their heels when he gets the puck.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

“He sees openings before they reveal themselves and weaves in and out of traffic gracefully, impacting plays at all times. Hagens is a real maestro with the disc, manipulating defenses with his high-end mobility and puckhandling. He’s a cerebral distributor who serves crisp and firm outlets with pinpoint accuracy, routinely finding crafty ways to feed his teammates, whether it’s with between-the-legs passes while facing the boards, tip passes, area passes, etc. He generates and exploits switches and movement so well in the offensive zone, doing so until there’s an opening, on which he instantly creates high-grade chances for his teammates.” – Joey Fortin Boulay, FC Hockey

Blackhawks Fit

While I think Michael Misa is the best forward in this draft, Hagens is far from a consolation prize. He is potentially an elite play-making No. 1 center, and who doesn’t want one of those? He does bring some redundancy to the lineup with another smaller forward up front, but if he reaches his potential down the middle, that allows you to play Connor Bedard or Frank Nazar on the wing. The New York Islanders, once they get a general manager, might take Hagens first overall because he’s a local kid. If that’s the case, then the Blackhawks likely get Misa. If the Isles pass and Davidson drafts Hagens, the Blackhawks are a better team.

Video Room

Additional Draft Profiles

Matthew Schaefer
Michael Misa

STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has announced that Christopher Willer BS ’04 MS ’15 will serve as its next Director of Athletics and Recreation. Willer has served as an assistant professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the Standish college since 2017 and has been responsible for teaching seventeen academic courses and supervising internships and student teachers. He also established a coaching minor for interested SJC students. In 2025 Saint Joseph’s College presented Willer with the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award.

A native of Bingham, Maine, Willer graduated cum laude from Saint Joseph’s College in 2004 with a bachelor of science in physical education. He competed for the Monks’ men’s basketball program under SJC Hall of Fame coach Rick Simonds from 2000-2002 and made appearances in forty-four games for the Royal Blue. In 2002, he played on the 2002 Maine Athletic Conference championship team. Later that fall, he participated on the Saint Joseph’s College men’s soccer team and was third on the team in scoring with three goals and three assists. In 2015, he earned a master of science in educational leadership from SJC.

Prior to his arrival at Saint Joseph’s College, Willer served for thirteen years as an educator for Regional School Unit #16. In that time, he was an instructor of physical education, health, and adaptive PE for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, he also worked in a variety of administrative roles, including a five-year period as athletic director at Minot Consolidated School and a stint as an interim principal in the same building.

Willer has been both a head and assistant coach at both the high school and collegiate levels since 2004. He was the varsity boys basketball coach at Poland Regional High School from four seasons and led the Knights to three postseason appearances during that time. For two seasons, he was an assistant girls soccer coach at Hebron Academy, where his work focused on skill development, physical conditioning, and game planning. From 2008-2011, he served as an assistant coach for the Saint Joseph’s College men’s basketball program under former coach Rob Sanicola and was heavily active in the team’s recruiting efforts. In 2009 the Monks won the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship and made an appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament. “Saint Joseph’s” College is fortunate to have Chris Willer step up and accept the responsibility of being our next Athletic Director,” observed Saint Joseph’s College of Maine President Joseph Cassidy. “Chris has a tremendous amount of experience with Monks Athletics as an athlete, coach and supporter.  He is a natural teacher and leader and the department will thrive under his guidance and support.”

Willer is excited about assuming the mantle of leadership for his alma mater’s athletic program and eagerly embraces the future. “As a former Monk, I am humbled by the opportunity to lead an athletics department that has such valued history and tradition,” he said “Saint Joseph’s College is a very special place to me and I look forward to working alongside a phenomenal leadership team and outstanding coaching staff.”

Willer assumed the reins of the Monks program on May 14.