Saban’s Record Contract With Alabama Could Up Future Deals
 |
Saban Agrees To Eight-Year, $32M
Deal With Univ. Of Alabama |
With former Dolphins coach Nick Saban agreeing to an eight-year, $32M guaranteed
contract with the Univ. of Alabama (UA), some college athletics administrators
fear the deal “will trigger others, and that continuing increases in coaches’
salaries may result in congressional scrutiny,” according to Jodi Upton
of USA TODAY. The House Ways & Means Committee has asked the NCAA “to
explain -– among other things –- why coaches are paid so much and
whether athletic departments with up to $105[M] in revenue deserve tax-exempt
status.” LSU AD Skip Bertman: “Congress is already talking about ‘What
can we do?’ And presidents are saying ‘What can we do?’ This
will not just fuel the fire. This will set off all the alarms.” Upton notes
several Division I-A schools are renegotiating contracts with their football coaches,
and the Saban deal “may have an impact on those deals and others.”
John Geletka, the agent for Ohio State Univ. (OSU) coach Jim Tressel, said, “This
is definitely going to drive up the numbers on contracts.” OSU President
Karen Holbrook said that the school is “willing to pay market value to keep
top coaches,” but hopes the NCAA will “take up the issue as part of
recent reforms.” Holbrook: “Not including it is a glaring omission
in my opinion” (USA TODAY, 1/4). Univ. of Florida President Bernie
Machen said of Saban’s contract, “It’s going to accelerate the
arms race in college athletics. Some have been saying it’s out of control
now; I have not felt that. But this move makes me wonder if we’re not headed
to an out-of-control situation” (PALM BEACH POST, 1/4).
THE PRICE OF WINNING: UA Trustee John McMahon said that the contract
“is the price Alabama has to pay to once again reach the top echelon of
college football.” McMahon: “Our fan base expects the university to
compete at the highest levels. We have not done that, and if you ever lose your
fan base, it is very difficult to get it back.” However, UA Trustee Emeritus
Garry Neil Drummond wondered, “What are we about as a university? ... This
is CEO pay. I think it is one of the worst things we have ever done” (BIRMINGHAM
NEWS, 1/4). Northeastern Univ. Center for the Study of Sport in Society Dir
Peter Roby added, “It’s getting increasingly difficult for institutions
of higher education to try to suggest to their constituents that their No. 1 priority
is education while the coaching salaries continue to escalate.” However,
he said, “In a market economy, people should be free to make what the market
will pay” (HUNTSVILLE TIMES, 1/4). USA TODAY’s Jon Saraceno
writes, “Over time, the marketplace will shake itself out and worries of
escalating coaches’ salaries are, we think, overblown” (USA TODAY,
1/4). Tressel said, “The market has been extraordinary for a long time.
I don’t think it will have a ripple effect” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH,
1/4).
DOLPHINS: Dolphins President & COO Bryan Wiedmeier would
not say if Saban walked out on the remaining three years of his contract or whether
the team “gave him a release, which could affect financial considerations”
(USA TODAY, 1/4). The Miami Herald’s Dan Le Batard noted Dolphins
Owner Wayne Huizenga asked the crowd of reporters at the press conference announcing
Saban’s decision for their input on how the team should move forward. Le
Batard: “Always a good sign when the owner looks to reporters for suggestions.”
ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser added, “When you ask the people in the room
for suggestions, that’s a slap at your organization. ... This franchise
right now has become a laughingstock” (“PTI,” ESPN, 1/3).
FEELING BETRAYED: There are some strong opinions in South Florida
and elsewhere concerning Saban leaving the Dolphins despite denying for weeks
he was considering the Alabama job. In West Palm Beach, Greg Stoda writes, “How
horribly he handled the Alabama situation while interacting with the media is
of little consequence, actually, but it did offer the best study of Saban's stubborn
and defiant personality. Now, after so many silly denials that grew more meaningless
every time he issued one, Saban looks absurd” (PALM BEACH POST, 1/4).
HBO’s Peter King, on Saban saying his family enjoyed the college life better:
“I think it’s an absolute crock that Nick Saban says it’s about
the family. I think it’s about winning and it’s about the fact that
ten months ago he chose the wrong quarterback (Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees)”
(“Inside The NFL,” HBO, 1/3). The Miami Herald’s Le
Batard today writes under the header, “The Anti-Shula Bails Out As A Greasy,
Dishonorable Coward.” The header above Sun-Sentinel’s David Hyde’s
column today: “Loyalty? Honor? Saban Should Be Crimson-Faced." And
the home page of ESPN.com yesterday read, “The Lying Game” (THE
DAILY). Meanwhile, the Tuscaloosa News ran a special edition with the headline
“Saban Time” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/4).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Dolphins Seeing Drop In Season-Ticket Sales
October 22, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NFL Approves Dolphins-Ross Deal
October 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Dolphins Trying To Rebuild Fan Base
September 8, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Peterson's Future With Chiefs Up In The Air
August 26, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Dolphins Ink Jake Long to Five-Year Pact
April 23, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
NCAA Names Future Final Four Hosts
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
RU Athletic Dept. Went Unmonitored
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
OSU Puts Media, Marketing Rights To Bid
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MWC Defends Keeping Game On The Mtn.
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
UO Set To Build New Basketball Arena
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
