What's wrong about having a venue where these kids can see and be seen, without undue travel or financial obligations, that they otherwise might not be able to ever take advantage of?
Or, to put it another way, is a kid from the south better off accepting an athletic scholarship from Nebraska, Michigan, or Wisconsin, for example, and getting a degree... or is he better off staying home and being a short order cook at the Waffle House or going on welfare? The south has more qualified athletes than available scholarships. Is Saban THAT insecure?