Kayvon Thibodeaux claims the ‘stigmatization’ of an Alabama upbringing made him choose Oregon over the Crimson Tide
Kayvon Thibodeaux is an up-and-coming millionaire, one of the top-rated prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft, and is widely predicted to be no lower than second pick (if he’s not first picked).
When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell names Thibodeaux in late April, he will follow it up with, “defensive end, Oregon.” Thibodeaux ultimately chose Ducks despite no shortage of options or offers. That includes Alabama and Nick Saban.
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Thibodeaux – speaking to Fox College Football’s Joel Klatt during Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game – revealed the decisive factor that made him go to Oregon: the “stigmatization” of Alabama’s upbringing.
“Do you know the stigma of an Alabama education?” he asked Klatt. “It’s not the West Coast.”
Of course, Thibodeaux means “discrimination” instead of “discrimination”. The latter is an incorrect compound word for “stigmatism” and “astigmatism” (a common defect in the curvature of the eye).
His comments – used incorrectly – prompted Klatt to remind him what it was like to be employed by Saban. Thibodeaux said he doesn’t like Saban’s signing that players want to play when they think they’re ready, as opposed to when Saban thinks they’re ready. That moment, Thibodeaux said, made him think that Alabama wasn’t for him.
Klatt then asked Thibodeaux if he knew of any of Saban’s squads that had won national championships during their time in Tuscaloosa. Thibodeaux replied: “And that’s important. Hopefully they all still have jobs and stuff after this.”
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Thibodeaux went on to explain his decision to come to Oregon, saying he wants to make sure he can have a career outside of football when his playing days are over. So aligning himself with a brand such as Nike is also important to his future non-football endeavors:
“If I gave you a fishing rod, would you know how to use it? If I never learned (how to fish) or if school was never important to me, or a job, or a career was never important until I finished playing football, how would I Know how to get a career or a job? I will not.
You know what I sat back and thought about? I sit back and say what world do I want to be a part of? I said if I went to Alabama, I would literally win the national championship. But do I want to be a guy known as a national champion or do I want to be a guy known as part of the greatest organization in the world?
What people don’t realize is that football is an American sport. So no matter how great Alabama is, you only play football in the US, Canada and a few other places. But a brand like Nike, I mean, to me, it’s like brand associations that I want to be associated with? As for me, I hated the stigma of football players being stupid games. Do you know the stigma of an Alabama education? It’s not the West Coast. That’s not Harvard. “
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Thibodeaux is credited with 123 tackles, 35.5 tackles conceded, 19 saves, 7 blocked passes and 3 forced fumbles in his 3 years at Oregon.
Here is his comment, in full:
