Chuck Martin accuses Alabama of illegally stealing player

The list of Group of Five coaches not afraid to air their grievances with the shady way the transfer portal seems to be operating continues to grow.

The latest coach on that list, Miami (OH) head coach Chuck Martin.

After an 11-3 season where their defense ranked among one of the top units in the country in a number of key categories, their special teams also played a critical in their success.

One of those players was Junior kicker Graham Nicholson, who went an impressive 27 of 28 on field goal attempts (96%) as one of the most improved kickers in the country after going 18/23 during a solid sophomore campaign.

Nicholson also ranked among the top 25 kickers in the country in touchback percentage with just over 71% of his kicks having no shot of being returned (24th nationally).

The Ohio native was set to return for his senior year with the RedHawks, if not for teams looking for an impact special teams performer in the transfer portal, where Alabama eventually landed the veteran.

While talking with a member of the media after practice today, Martin didn't mince words when it came to his now former kicker they "lost."

Martin wasn't having it with the phrasing of the lead-in.

"We didn't lose him. He's at Alabama. We know exactly where he's at."

"Again, with you media people, it's all pretend. Like, no, Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us, and that's a fact."

"But that's college football. But we act like it's not...we live in this la-la world, like let's not talk reality. I don't know why, I mean everyone knows what's going on."

"Yeah. Alabama stole our kicker. A couple other schools tried to steal him, but they...okay, what was the question."

Hear Martin's full comments in the clip.

Update >> Kalen DeBoer has offered a brief response to Martin's allegation via The Tuscaloosa News.

"I don't know anything about that comment. He entered into the portal, and we reached out to him. So, that's how it goes, right?"