Right. I'm sure Gene Smith wouldn't object to a booster handing him a contract and say "This is what we're giving the coach."I don't buy that he was surprised at how involved the boosters expected to be at aTm. How could he spend so many years as an AD and not expect that at aTm, a school with some of the wealthiest grads in the country? What, he thought that they would leave him alone to do his job as he saw fit? Very few ADs get that kind of autonomy.
We all knew that he left in a tizzy, and that he was not really accepted in the political circles there, but if he was surprised at what he faced there, he probably didn't belong in the job anyway. What is happening at aTm is happening everywhere, and it has been for as long as he has been in this vocation.
If you believe that it happened that way. I don't.Right. I'm sure Gene Smith wouldn't object to a booster handing him a contract and say "This is what we're giving the coach."
Why shouldn't we believe it? Do you not remember the arrogance and involvement Texas fans showed after Mack Brown and then after Charlie Strong? Why wouldn't their rivals be the same way?If you believe that it happened that way. I don't.
Oh, I believe that their boosters were totally disruptive. I just don't buy that he was handed a contract and told that he had no say in it at all. I suspect that their boosters were no worse than Alabama's or Ohio State's, which are bad enough, but nothing like that.Why shouldn't we believe it? Do you not remember the arrogance and involvement Texas fans showed after Mack Brown and then after Charlie Strong? Why wouldn't their rivals be the same way?
No -- and not different from at least 50 other wannabe programs.Is it any different than the state of Alabama athletics pre Saban?
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Alabama's boosters are not bad at all. Can you imagine one of them telling CNS what he is going to do?Oh, I believe that their boosters were totally disruptive. I just don't buy that he was handed a contract and told that he had no say in it at all. I suspect that their boosters were no worse than Alabama's or Ohio State's, which are bad enough, but nothing like that.
Booster involvement? Probably not by much. Financial irresponsibility....YES!!!Is it any different than the state of Alabama athletics pre Saban?
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But Sumlin beat Saban in Tuscaloosa. In his first season. Surely he was worth all that money, right??!!I realize this is ancient history, but when the Aggies snaked Fran from us, the Aggie fans were over the top explaining how much more money could be raised by them as opposed to us...
I hope Sumlin taps them for all he can.
Either Urban Meyer is under paid or Harbaugh is overpayed.Booster involvement? Probably not by much. Financial irresponsibility....YES!!!
In 2006 the Highest paid coach was I believe Pete Carroll making about 3 Mil a year. At that point he had won 2 NC's and 5 Pac-12 Titles.
In the meantime Mike Shula was making around $900K but we doubled it to $1.8 Mil following the 10-Win 2005 season, based on no accolades really. Now that was probably not the best decision but was still outside of the Top-10 paid coaches at the time and less that our Rival Auburn was paying Turberville at the time who making close to Top 5 money.
Now flash forward to 2017 and look at the Top 10 Highest paid coaches and their respective career accolades:
1) Nick Saban - $8.125 Mil PYA (5 NC's and 7 SEC Titles)
2) Jim Harbaugh - $7.00 Mil PYA (ZERO Power 5 Titles)
3) Urban Meyer - $6.00 Mil PYA (3 NC's and 3 Conf Titles SEC/Big-10)
4) James Franklin - $5.78 Mil PYA (1 Big-10 Title)
5) Jimbo Fisher - $ 5.30 Mil PYA (1 NC and 3 ACC Titles)
6) Dabo Swinney -$5.125 Mil PYA (1 NC and 3 ACC Titles)
7) Tom Herman - $5.00 Mil PYA (ZERO Power 5 Titles, 1 AAC Title)
8) Kevin Sumlin - $5.00 Mil PYA (ZERO Power 5 Titles)
9) Gus Malzahn - $4.75 Mil PYA (1 SEC Title, 1 SBC Title)
10) Kirk Ferentz - $4.50 Mil PYA (2 Big-10 Titles)
There are TWO schools in Texas paying their HC's 63% of the amount of the highest paid coach. Both have literally won nothing. One thing that's not 'Bigger in Texas' is their fiscal sense.
*I can't even begin to describe what's going on in Ann Arbor, MI. Maybe B1G can fill us in on that mindset...Lol.*
Circling back to 2006 Texas A&M was paying Franchione 2 Mil+ which was 8th highest....
....while Texas in comparison was paying Mack Brown $2.7 Mil which was 4th highest (although he HAD actually won 1 NC and 4 Big-12 Titles then).
So all in all it's over 10 years later and Texas A&M still seems to enjoy paying Top-10 Money for virtually NO results to speak of really. I mean that's just unfathomable. It's almost like they have to prove to the University of Texas they can match them dollar for dollar regardless of on the field results/success.
I don't think we've ever really been close to THAT level of incompetence.
Harbaugh is grossly overpaid.Either Urban Meyer is under paid or Harbaugh is overpayed.
Saban, no. They would be afraid that he might leave. :biggrin:Alabama's boosters are not bad at all. Can you imagine one of them telling CNS what he is going to do?
Oh they did for sure. I think most people would agree it's a big reason why CGS decided to leave after the 1996 season. Many thought if it weren't for everyone having their grubby hands in everything he might have even considered returning in 2003 in a transitional role to help stop the bleeding.Saban, no. They would be afraid that he might leave. :biggrin:
The meddling has all but stopped at OSU now with Meyer, too. But how about the guys between Bryant and Saban? Like at OSU, I am betting that they tried to put their hands in everything.