Alabama grants Maurice Smith release

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (TNS) — The ongoing saga of former Alabama senior defensive back Maurice Smith took another turn as coach Nick Saban effectively washed his hands of the matter.

“We have done everything that we can do institutionally to allow the conference to make the decision about whatever they decide is in the best interest of the conference and the SEC rules relative to Maurice Smith,” Saban said during his opening statement at Wednesday’s post-practice press conference.

“So that is past us now. It is beyond us. We don’t really need to talk about that anymore and I don’t have any other comments to make about it. We’re trying to focus on the guys we have here and what we need to do to help those guys have a chance to be successful.”

The Tuscaloosa News reported late Wednesday evening that Alabama had granted Smith a “full release” to transfer where he wishes, including within the SEC.

But the saga doesn’t end there.

The SEC must now approve a series of waiver requests from Georgia — or wherever else within the conference that Smith seeks to transfer — that would allow him to not only move to another SEC program, but also play immediately as a graduate transfer. That has not happened yet.

The SEC released a statement Wednesday indicating that it won’t comment on any waiver requests while also indicating the process to approve such waivers is complex and taken on a case-by-case basis.

“The SEC does not comment on requests to waive SEC rules,” the statement read. “As part of the SEC waiver process, a due diligence procedure ensures that pertinent information from the involved parties is gathered. This information is gathered for the purpose of a thoughtful and appropriate consideration of the particular facts associated with each case. The intent is for the waiver process to be handled in an efficient but deliberate manner, so the timeline for resolution of a waiver request varies with each unique situation.

“The SEC does not provide waivers of SEC rules absent circumstances that demonstrate a clear reason for granting an exception to those rules. Each waiver request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”

According to the SEC bylaw No. 14.5.5.1 on student-athletes transferring between conference institutions, a student-athlete must sit out one season of residency if he or she transfers directly from one SEC program to another. They would also be required to meet certain criteria to be allowed to even participate, including being released by his or her previous institution, meaning his financial aid was not renewed. That step has been completed, according to the Tuscaloosa News.

There is a waiver process for the transferring student-athlete to play immediately, but that can only be started by the program to where the student-athlete is transferring. That means the ball is in Georgia’s court now.

Smith graduated from Alabama on Saturday and he and his mother have been vocal about his desire to transfer to Georgia, where his former position coach and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is in his first season as head coach.