Univ. of Texas regents on Thursday are "expected to approve a contract settlement" for former men's AD Steve Patterson totaling $2.8M, according to sources cited by Chip Brown of HORNS DIGEST. Sources said that the settlement is "roughly half of what Patterson was owed on the remainder of a six-year guaranteed contract." The deal paid Patterson roughly $1.4M per year (with 2.5% raises built in), meaning Patterson "was owed" at least $5.6M on the remainder of the contract. But in "severing ties to Patterson," UT officials offered their former AD a settlement of $1.4M or face "possibly being fired for cause." Patterson hired attorney Rusty Hardin, and sources said that the two sides "ultimately agreed upon a contract settlement that ensures Patterson will receive" $2.8M over the next two years (HORNSDIGEST.com, 9/21). UT President Gregory Fenves yesterday once again said there was "no precipitating event" that led to Patterson's departure, but instead a "process of me learning about athletics and Steve learning about me and our mutual expectations." Fenves said Patterson "made some very good decisions" during his tenure, including hiring football coach Charlie Strong and men's basketball coach Shaka Smart. However, he noted the "rate of change" under Patterson, including raising ticket and parking prices may have been a "little too fast." Fenves noted UT is "assessing what are we going to be doing going forward" regarding those issues (TEXASTRIBUNE.com, 9/21). Meanwhile, Strong yesterday "debunked multiple reports stating he had a ruptured working relationship" with Patterson. Strong: “He supported me 100 percent. Steve did a job here and he was called on to do a job here. He’s gonna support this athletic program and he did a great job of supporting it” (STATESMAN.com, 9/21).
MAN OF THE PEOPLE: SPORTS ON EARTH's David Ubben notes interim men's AD Mike Perrin spent the hours prior to UT's football game against Cal "trekking across every square inch of the 40 Acres on a golf cart, stopping at tailgates and pressing flesh with the people who helped Texas build its gigantic $161 million budget." Among the many places Perrin visited, he "stopped by the Texas players' parents' tailgate" and he spent time with the alumni association's tailgate. He also "made stops at the tailgates for former letterwinners and the Texas law school." Perrin: "I wanted to do that. It was fun to do that. I just wanted them to know I'm supporting them." Ubben writes Perrin "might not have Patterson's business expertise, but if Saturday is any indication of how his tenure will play out, his charm and willingness to be a 'real guy' will help repair some of the roads Patterson eroded during his 22-month tenure" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 9/22).
