There was criticism from some three years ago when the university agreed to pay him as much as $32...

There was criticism from some three years ago when the university agreed to pay him as much as $32 million in an eight-year deal. That $4 million-a-year mark set a record at the time.

But the gamble has paid off. Despite a recession that has wrecked businesses large and small and left thousands of Crimson Tide fans unemployed, federal records show Alabama football turned a profit of more than $38 million in the last academic year. That's an almost 40 percent gain from the year before Saban was hired in 2007.

The Associated Press: University of Alabama wins $32 million bet on Saban as profits soar

I saw this yesterday afternoon and wanted to post it to make a point. With big-time college football programs now generating well over 50+ million dollars per year in revenue, this is a huge business -- and the one whose simple existence allows for all of the other non-revenue sports -- and at some point you simply have to look at coaching salaries with respect to their return on investment.

We may have gotten a lot of hell from a bunch of idiots for coughing up so much money back in January 2007 for Saban, but from a pure financial perspective -- all competitive issues notwithstanding -- his hire was an absolute boon. We had to spend an extra 2.5 million dollars per year over the cost of Shula to get him, but to date football profits have increased somewhere in the neighborhood of 16-20 million dollars per year on his watch. We are basically spending a dollar and getting eight to ten dollars back in return. Again, at some point with modern day college football being such a big business, you have to put the raw dollar amounts aside and simply look at your ROI. Criticism be damned, even had Saban not done what he has ultimately done on the field, it would have been an absolutely stupid financial decision to not give him the big bucks.

about 2 years ago outsidethesidelines 34 comments 0 recs |

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Saban should get

a real contract extension- with a big raise to $5.5 mil per year if he will sign it for 8 more years. I don’t know of any coach in America that could have produced such a turn around in 3 years and it really is no fluke as we were 12-0 regular season last year too. In fact, back to back perfect seasons may be more impressive than the SEC title. And we have the #2 class for next year right now.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Dec 9, 2009 11:41 PM CST reply actions

i was wondering when anyone was going to mention that.

since that 2007 season this team has racked up a 25-2 record which is phenomenal.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Dec 10, 2009 7:58 AM CST up reply actions

Hear Hear

Hell I said after last season Mal oughta come to him with a blank check and tell him to fill it in.

by Crimsoncaller on Dec 9, 2009 11:44 PM CST reply actions

Does his contract contain a bonus for winning the SEC and going to/winning the NC? It probably does but I was wondering if its public and how much it is.

by dsz002 on Dec 10, 2009 1:07 AM CST reply actions

Yes, of course

Here is another article on that.

by Kenny483 on Dec 10, 2009 7:15 AM CST up reply actions

He is one rich man after this season...

…as if he wasn’t before!

I bleed crimson and white...I puke Vol puke orange. RTR

by SugarBowl93 on Dec 10, 2009 7:32 AM CST up reply actions

Notre Dame

What’s the word on Notre Dame and Saban? Is there any truth to it and would he really leave? I know he’d probably have a better shot at more titles at Notre Dame due to their scheduling each year… but who knows. I would just think it’d be hard to leave such a good thing he has going right now at Alabama, maybe that’s wishful thinking.

by RunBama04 on Dec 10, 2009 2:11 AM CST reply actions

lol

by JR01 on Dec 10, 2009 8:02 AM CST up reply actions

I heard...

…he turned them down so he could hold out for the Washington State job….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Dec 10, 2009 8:32 AM CST up reply actions

i have a legit source inside the kent st golden eagles program

and i hear he’s itching to make a homecoming. it’s only a matter of time until he bolts for the greener pastures of the MAC.

for the next five days there is nothing in my heart but hate. pure, untempered, ice-cold hate. fond memories are for saturday. - Kleph

by tempebamafan on Dec 10, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

After Saban destroys the sips, I expect him to get a significant raise

by miketag on Dec 10, 2009 2:14 AM CST reply actions

Gotta spend money to make money

by billycthulhu on Dec 10, 2009 4:02 AM CST reply actions

Speaking of Coaches Salaries

Mack Brown got a huge raise. He is now making $5.1 million a year. I believe that makes him the highest paid coach in the country. I really cannot see him leaving that job any time soon, and I do wonder what will happen to Muschamp, especially if the Georgia head coaching job comes open in the next 2-3 years.

by Kenny483 on Dec 10, 2009 7:20 AM CST reply actions

"Gamble"

applies to previous hires…someone with a demonstrable pattern of recruiting well, winning, graduating guys and staying clear of the NCAA is emphatically not a “gamble”…it’s a proven investment.

"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch

by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 10, 2009 7:26 AM CST reply actions

every so often i go back...

and read this article and laugh and laugh and laugh.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Dec 10, 2009 7:48 AM CST reply actions

THIS was gold

Anonymous said…

Saban is a sleazy and arrogant opportunist that will use and misuse his players any way he can to benefit himself.

He will help Bama in the short run but Bama fans will breathe a sigh of relief when he is gone.

"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch

by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 10, 2009 7:58 AM CST up reply actions

if you really want a chuckle

you can go back through all of that site’s saban entries. to say they are biased would be an understatement.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Dec 10, 2009 8:01 AM CST up reply actions

To be fair...

…all of my entries are biased, too…just not to the point of delusional insanity and utter stupidity…then again, I didn’t ‘earn’ a degree from Auburn….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Dec 10, 2009 8:34 AM CST up reply actions

you've never driven through campus?

for the next five days there is nothing in my heart but hate. pure, untempered, ice-cold hate. fond memories are for saturday. - Kleph

by tempebamafan on Dec 10, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions

Auburn...

…has a campus now?

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Dec 10, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

I remember a certain ESPN

analyst saying “Alabama needs to lower it’s expectations on hiring a proven head coach such as Saban” he also went on to say “Alabama is no longer a powerhouse team, and why would any 5 star recruit be interested in Alabama?” Those statements were made right after a clip of Joe Kines’ interview during the bowl game in Shreveport. Funny how things stick in your memory.

I haven't seen a beatin' like that since somebody stuck a banana in my pants and turned a monkey loose!

by CousinEddie on Dec 10, 2009 8:54 AM CST reply actions

you talkin bout bob fuckin davie?

the guy was on local radio in AZ before the LSU game and said “it wont be an upset when LSU beats Bama” now he says “colt mccoy is somthin special and i think he’ll be the difference maker for the longhorns”

bob davie is a fucking JOKE and his anti saban bias has been painfully obvious for years now.

for the next five days there is nothing in my heart but hate. pure, untempered, ice-cold hate. fond memories are for saturday. - Kleph

by tempebamafan on Dec 10, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

But he was such a phenomenal coach....

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Dec 10, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

I also recall

Jim insert expletive of choice Rome stating that Alabama’s best chance at a winning coach would be to dig up Bear Bryant, because no one in their right mind would take this job.

That one in particular makes me smile. A lot.

by Peyton on Dec 10, 2009 1:44 PM CST up reply actions