This is typical of D1 coaches more now than ever. As a former D1 hockey player at an IVY league school 30-35 years ago, and having my son take the same path in the last few years, let me shed a little perspective on it.
When I played, we had practice at 5:00 and it ended at 6:30-6:45. You headed over to the rink about 4:15- a short walk. Shower and dinner after practice back home no later than 7:45. Total time per day 3.5 hours. Occasional community service commitments on weekend.
My son's experience was like a job and is viewed like that by the players and coach. Between meetings with coaches, lifting , special instruction ,watching film, practice, time with the trainer and doing many community type events, he had way more time invested. Hell after the games they were required to ride exercise bikes while family members waited for them. He easily averaged 6 hours a day on his sport. During this 6 hours, people who are not playing sports have a huge time advantage.
Summers are different too. My sons coach does NOT permit players to do summer internships! He wants them to be in town and working out. On more than couple occasions the coach screamed at the team ," I thought I was getting hockey players and instead I got students!" This is no kidding and at an IVY league institution. People have no idea how different it is.
People who think it is no different now, have forgotten how big a business college sports have become. Careers, big contracts, egos, getting a better job, high stakes all play into it more than ever. And, Nick Saban is one of the worst I'm sure. Josh Rosen 1000% correct. Hell when i played we had some engineers on the team (I was one), Now-none..nadda..it doesn't work period end of it.