Mac and Company on the Trail

[Mr2Bits]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=university+of+florida+UAA+spending

Actual details are here http://tinyurl.com/2g9mqh

 

[LighthouseGator]

There's maybe an interesting side angle to Alabama and the importance placed on its program and the success it has had. There is no pro team in the State of Alabama. Also, college players do not get paid for their services outside of scholarship and small stipend (at least officially). All the $$ that would normally be allocated to players under a more free market system instead gets allocated to the coaches and facilities (and to non-revenue producing sports). This idea of "facilities" then is really a roundabout way of paying the players at these schools (again, bagmen notwithstanding). I suspect the players understand this and on some level interpret nicer facilities as higher pay for their services in the absence of actual $$ (not that they are happy about this).

This concept I think gets magnified and fully exploited at Alabama, which is the de facto pro franchise in that state, and which gives it a competitive advantage over other programs. From all the reports on the quantity of the support staff and resources spent on the program there, It appears to be operated more like a pro organization than any other program. This is where Saban's true greatness lies in my opinion: running a professional organization in a college football environment better than anyone else in the biz. The schools that most closely emulate what Saban has done will likely have the most success.

As a side note, this could only happen with the huge $$ TV contracts the conferences started signing about the time Saban left the NFL to go to Bammer (he left in 2007; the SEC signed a huge contract with ESPN in early 2008).

Point is: if you want to compete with Bama, you better run your organization like Saban has run Bama - from support staff, to facilities, to ruthless recruiting, to bending but not breaking the rules - just like a pro team operates. The good thing is that I think both Mac and Stricklin understand this, whereas Foley, who started as an AD in a different era, clearly did not.

 

[LighthouseGator]

There's maybe an interesting side angle to Alabama and the importance placed on its program and the success it has had. There is no pro team in the State of Alabama. Also, college players do not get paid for their services outside of scholarship and small stipend (at least officially). All the $$ that would normally be allocated to players under a more free market system instead gets allocated to the coaches and facilities (and to non-revenue producing sports). This idea of "facilities" then is really a roundabout way of paying the players at these schools (again, bagmen notwithstanding). I suspect the players understand this and on some level interpret nicer facilities as higher pay for their services in the absence of actual $$ (not that they are happy about this).

This concept I think gets magnified and fully exploited at Alabama, which is the de facto pro franchise in that state, and which gives it a competitive advantage over other programs. From all the reports on the quantity of the support staff and resources spent on the program there, It appears to be operated more like a pro organization than any other program. This is where Saban's true greatness lies in my opinion: running a professional organization in a college football environment better than anyone else in the biz. The schools that most closely emulate what Saban has done will likely have the most success.

As a side note, this could only happen with the huge $$ TV contracts the conferences started signing about the time Saban left the NFL to go to Bammer (he left in 2007; the SEC signed a huge contract with ESPN in early 2008).

Point is: if you want to compete with Bama, you better run your organization like Saban has run Bama - from support staff, to facilities, to ruthless recruiting, to bending but not breaking the rules - just like a pro team operates. The good thing is that I think both Mac and Stricklin understand this, whereas Foley, who started as an AD in a different era, clearly did not.

EDIT: Also, as the de facto pro team in the State, Bammer also has greater incentive to actually win championships, as opposed to just operate the program to achieve the highest net profit. Their resources are clearly expended with this singular goal in mind, whereas Foley was obviously more concerned with the bottom line, which he excelled at maximizing. Winning just took a back seat.

 

[alcoholica]

There just really isn't a level playing field. Everyone knows about Bama's pymt plan, but nothing is ever done. If they would even get the Ole Miss treatment they'd get knocked down a peg.

 

[jdh5484]

There's maybe an interesting side angle to Alabama and the importance placed on its program and the success it has had. There is no pro team in the State of Alabama. Also, college players do not get paid for their services outside of scholarship and small stipend (at least officially). All the $$ that would normally be allocated to players under a more free market system instead gets allocated to the coaches and facilities (and to non-revenue producing sports). This idea of "facilities" then is really a roundabout way of paying the players at these schools (again, bagmen notwithstanding). I suspect the players understand this and on some level interpret nicer facilities as higher pay for their services in the absence of actual $$ (not that they are happy about this).

This concept I think gets magnified and fully exploited at Alabama, which is the de facto pro franchise in that state, and which gives it a competitive advantage over other programs. From all the reports on the quantity of the support staff and resources spent on the program there, It appears to be operated more like a pro organization than any other program. This is where Saban's true greatness lies in my opinion: running a professional organization in a college football environment better than anyone else in the biz. The schools that most closely emulate what Saban has done will likely have the most success.

As a side note, this could only happen with the huge $$ TV contracts the conferences started signing about the time Saban left the NFL to go to Bammer (he left in 2007; the SEC signed a huge contract with ESPN in early 2008).

Point is: if you want to compete with Bama, you better run your organization like Saban has run Bama - from support staff, to facilities, to ruthless recruiting, to bending but not breaking the rules - just like a pro team operates. The good thing is that I think both Mac and Stricklin understand this, whereas Foley, who started as an AD in a different era, clearly did not.

Your analysis is spot on. I guess for the players, cutting edge equipment/facilities equates to a corner office with view for us working stiffs (or a cube with storage space lol).

 

[-THE DUDE-]

Bama has 5 stars as backups. I wish they could just allow a kid to follow his heart if he was honestly considering flipping.

Alabama doesn't show mercy...they don't care they just want to win and that's why they ate better than us. Everyone wants to cry foul but facts are saban and bama closed the deal when they had to. Mac needs to learn this

 

[CU-UF]

There's maybe an interesting side angle to Alabama and the importance placed on its program and the success it has had. There is no pro team in the State of Alabama. Also, college players do not get paid for their services outside of scholarship and small stipend (at least officially). All the $$ that would normally be allocated to players under a more free market system instead gets allocated to the coaches and facilities (and to non-revenue producing sports). This idea of "facilities" then is really a roundabout way of paying the players at these schools (again, bagmen notwithstanding). I suspect the players understand this and on some level interpret nicer facilities as higher pay for their services in the absence of actual $$ (not that they are happy about this).

This concept I think gets magnified and fully exploited at Alabama, which is the de facto pro franchise in that state, and which gives it a competitive advantage over other programs. From all the reports on the quantity of the support staff and resources spent on the program there, It appears to be operated more like a pro organization than any other program. This is where Saban's true greatness lies in my opinion: running a professional organization in a college football environment better than anyone else in the biz. The schools that most closely emulate what Saban has done will likely have the most success.

As a side note, this could only happen with the huge $$ TV contracts the conferences started signing about the time Saban left the NFL to go to Bammer (he left in 2007; the SEC signed a huge contract with ESPN in early 2008).

Point is: if you want to compete with Bama, you better run your organization like Saban has run Bama - from support staff, to facilities, to ruthless recruiting, to bending but not breaking the rules - just like a pro team operates. The good thing is that I think both Mac and Stricklin understand this, whereas Foley, who started as an AD in a different era, clearly did not.

Completely agree with this and this part of the reason some folks on this board are all over Mac, because many of these changes are non-sexy (ala 5*s) and behind the scenes. But from what I am hearing these are the types of changes/mindset that are occurring in the UAA. Just takes time to build that infrastructure and yield results. It is for this reason that I am still in the Mac camp and called a pumper.

 

[LighthouseGator]

Completely agree with this and this part of the reason some folks on this board are all over Mac, because many of these changes are non-sexy (ala 5*s) and behind the scenes. But from what I am hearing these are the types of changes/mindset that are occurring in the UAA. Just takes time to build that infrastructure and yield results. It is for this reason that I am still in the Mac camp and called a pumper.

Agreed. It's not all there is to it, but it's a huge part of it. Obviously still need to be good on the x's and o's, game day coach and recruiter. I think with a competent QB his offense should start producing and the rest can fall into place. Time will tell of course.

 

[GatorJ]

We have to pull out all stops to bring aboard this kid on this visit:

 

[GatorJ]

We definitely need one:

 

[I Have No Friends :(]

We definitely need one:

I imagine any punter who watches how bad we are on offense is excited about the prospect of coming here. Gonna be busy.

 

[ATXGator]

He just looks at Johnny Townsend and says... that could be me.

 

[alcoholica]

I guess lil Townsend isn't as good as big Townsend

 

[MertzJay26]

Told y'all we are going to steal a punter from Bama...

 

[alcoholica]

Told y'all we are going to steal a punter from Bama...

 

[Alagator]

Alabama doesn't show mercy............Everyone wants to cry foul but facts are saban and bama closed the deal when they had to. Mac needs to learn this

I remember reading an article shortly after Meyer "retired" the second time and he was basically complaining about not being on a level playing field with bama, recruiting wise... And this was after years of UM owning recruiting. It's not like the guy couldn't recruit....Reading between the lines he seemed to suggest bama was cheating and nothing was being done about it.

There has been far too much smoke surrounding bama: players with brand new cars, mommas with new houses and new high paying jobs their education and experience nowhere near qualify them for. Hell! When I talk to my bammer friends they don't even try to deny it. They're PROUD that Saban is seemingly above the law and they feel invincible as long as he's there. And why shouldn't they? He seems to be...

 

[alcoholica]

If you have any sense at all, you know Bama is cheating in a major way. Even with Leatherwood, I'm sure there was multiple infractions after the Outback Bowl. Are GA's allowed access to recruits off campus? Are Universities allowed to provide boarding when not on OV's? For that matter, are they allowed to pay for meals outside of OV's? What are the limitations on transportation? That is just one day with one recruit. We don't even know what kind of Dodge Leatherwood was given.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I remember reading an article shortly after Meyer "retired" the second time and he was basically complaining about not being on a level playing field with bama, recruiting wise... And this was after years of UM owning recruiting. It's not like the guy couldn't recruit....Reading between the lines he seemed to suggest bama was cheating and nothing was being done about it.

He talked specifically about those ridiculous 4 year scholarship guarantees, facilities and staff. He mentioned losing too many assistants and the difficulty in replacing them.

No doubt paying players is also a problem, no doubt. However, once CUM went to another school that allowed him what he wanted in those areas, he is obviously doing fine again.

(OSU also has a long tradition of players driving sports cars, too, though.)

 

[alcoholica]

He talked specifically about those ridiculous 4 year scholarship guarantees, facilities and staff. He mentioned losing too many assistants and the difficulty in replacing them.

No doubt paying players is also a problem, no doubt. However, once CUM went to another school that allowed him what he wanted in those areas, he is obviously doing fine again.

(OSU also has a long tradition of players driving sports cars, too, though.)

And tattoos, don't forget the tattoos. How in the hell can these kids that come from such poor upbringings have $5K in tattoos, $200 shoes, iPhones, etc before they even step on campus.

 

[rogdochar]

Better keep hoping Bama doesn't start loving basketball, or they'll offer Calipari a deal he can't refuse.
Sabin & Calipari at the same financial finaglers' sanctuary city.