Foley understands the fans..... ESPN

[deuce]

I don't like the tone of this article:

http://espn.go.com/college-football...nderstands-angst-caused-former-coach-muschamp

 

[deuce]

Foley just needs to admit he screwed up!

 

[ppinesgator]

Welcome to the real world, folks, where you attract coaches with contracts fat with incentives and have those work against you when the relationship doesn't work out well. CFB is a big-money business and if you can't pony up and be generous, you're not going to stay up with the Bidding Wars currently being waged by D1 football programs.

Our Athletic Association is going to be $90 million in debt once the cash is spent on the indoor facility. Let that sink in. Foley's not the problem - while he's partially responsible for our troubles in football of late, he's still one of the top 5 AD's in the country. The problem is the power and leverage celebrity-level coaches now wield. Even after you fire them, the cost you. The cost to keep up with indoor training facilities, plush locker rooms, dorms and such - CFB is becoming a bloated and commercialized empire for the elite programs and coaches to rule.

 

[oxrageous]

The whole thing is a major embarrassment.

 

[divits]

Welcome to the real world, folks, where you attract coaches with contracts fat with incentives and have those work against you when the relationship doesn't work out well. CFB is a big-money business and if you can't pony up and be generous, you're not going to stay up with the Bidding Wars currently being waged by D1 football programs.

Our Athletic Association is going to be $90 million in debt once the cash is spent on the indoor facility. Let that sink in. Foley's not the problem - while he's partially responsible for our troubles in football of late, he's still one of the top 5 AD's in the country. The problem is the power and leverage celebrity-level coaches now wield. Even after you fire them, the cost you. The cost to keep up with indoor training facilities, plush locker rooms, dorms and such - CFB is becoming a bloated and commercialized empire for the elite programs and coaches to rule.

I think soon you will see the pendulum begin to swing back. It HAS to. There is nothing different about college football from an economic standpoint then any other industry. They all have to operate based on fiscal responsibility. As we are seeing with these massive debts being raised by schools like Tennessee, Texas A&M and Florida, this model just can't continue.

This from the article....

"Foley is still working on details of new coach Jim McElwain's six-year contract, but he declined to say whether mitigation would be part of the deal".

Why the f**k not?

 

[FireFoley]

Being an AD at an SEC school is NOT all about football, however football PAYS the freight at every SEC school (sans UK). With that said and regarding football ONLY ( I repeat, football ONLY), my screen name sums up how I feel about the thread!

 

[ppinesgator]

I think soon you will see the pendulum begin to swing back. It HAS to. There is nothing different about college football from an economic standpoint then any other industry. They all have to operate based on fiscal responsibility. As we are seeing with these massive debts being raised by schools like Tennessee, Texas A&M and Florida, this model just can't continue.

This from the article....

"Foley is still working on details of new coach Jim McElwain's six-year contract, but he declined to say whether mitigation would be part of the deal".

Why the f**k not?

Because Mac and his lawyer have leverage that comes with being a highly-sought coach, and that's my point. As in all negotiations, you win some and lose some.

The AD and staff of one of the most powerful schools in the country dropped everything to fly to this guy's home for a couple days to win this guy over. And that's typical behavior these days.

 

[deuce]

I'm not one of the posters calling for Foley to be booted but he screwed up and doesn't seem to be able to just "own" it.

There is an "arms race" going on in Power 5 football and you either join in or end up being Vandi....

 

[TheDouglas78]

I think soon you will see the pendulum begin to swing back. It HAS to. There is nothing different about college football from an economic standpoint then any other industry. They all have to operate based on fiscal responsibility. As we are seeing with these massive debts being raised by schools like Tennessee, Texas A&M and Florida, this model just can't continue.

This from the article....

"Foley is still working on details of new coach Jim McElwain's six-year contract, but he declined to say whether mitigation would be part of the deal".

Why the f**k not?

It is just a matter of time before a number of small D1 schools fold their more expensive sports teams (like football) due to finances similar to UAB.

 

[GMDGator]

I think soon you will see the pendulum begin to swing back. It HAS to. There is nothing different about college football from an economic standpoint then any other industry. They all have to operate based on fiscal responsibility. As we are seeing with these massive debts being raised by schools like Tennessee, Texas A&M and Florida, this model just can't continue.

This from the article....

"Foley is still working on details of new coach Jim McElwain's six-year contract, but he declined to say whether mitigation would be part of the deal".

Why the f**k not?

I agree on the pendulum swinging back in the other direction... I would surmise in 10 years college football will have a problem on its hands with attendance and fan support... When they start paying players (which is coming) and the ever increasing $$ of tickets, people will become TV only fans. After that, they whole dynamic will change long term....

 

[HogtownGator]

Welcome to the real world, folks, where you attract coaches with contracts fat with incentives and have those work against you when the relationship doesn't work out well. CFB is a big-money business and if you can't pony up and be generous, you're not going to stay up with the Bidding Wars currently being waged by D1 football programs.

Our Athletic Association is going to be $90 million in debt once the cash is spent on the indoor facility. Let that sink in. Foley's not the problem - while he's partially responsible for our troubles in football of late, he's still one of the top 5 AD's in the country. The problem is the power and leverage celebrity-level coaches now wield. Even after you fire them, the cost you. The cost to keep up with indoor training facilities, plush locker rooms, dorms and such - CFB is becoming a bloated and commercialized empire for the elite programs and coaches to rule.

The UAA will have $90M of debt on an annual operating budget of $122M. A fiscally solvent organization that is holding debt is not the same thing as spending your way in to a $90M hole, although I do agree with your larger point about CFB becoming a bloated commercialized empire.

 

[TheDouglas78]

An interesting point on finances of college sports, how much money are teams and the NCAA losing to the fact that there are no more annual EA Sports games, they had games for football, basketball, baseball, etc... that was money coming in annually to all the schools, conferences, and NCAA as a whole.

 

[divits]

Because Mac and his lawyer have leverage that comes with being a highly-sought coach, and that's my point. As in all negotiations, you win some and lose some.

The AD and staff of one of the most powerful schools in the country dropped everything to fly to this guy's home for a couple days to win this guy over. And that's typical behavior these days.

My point was that eventually that leverage will be equaled out because of stark economic realities. After taking a $6.3 million dollar bath topped off with the recruit stealing cherry that is Muschamp, I think it's about time to start swinging that pendulum. There is no other industry that operates this way and this model can't continue.

 

[PatDooleySucks]

I agree on the pendulum swinging back in the other direction... I would surmise in 10 years college football will have a problem on its hands with attendance and fan support... When they start paying players (which is coming) and the ever increasing $$ of tickets, people will become TV only fans. After that, they whole dynamic will change long term....

That's not how the system is set up anymore. UF is getting the bulk of its revenue through the TV contracts. That's the golden goose. Butts in the seats are nice because it gets primetime exposure. Primetime exposure enlarges the fan base.

 

[PatDooleySucks]

Because Mac and his lawyer have leverage that comes with being a highly-sought coach, and that's my point. As in all negotiations, you win some and lose some.

The AD and staff of one of the most powerful schools in the country dropped everything to fly to this guy's home for a couple days to win this guy over. And that's typical behavior these days.

People have no concept that SEC schools aren't attempting to hire coaches that they can kick around. It's the oddity of a message board. They want our AD to have this magical leverage over highly sought after coaches. Our AD could have leverage if they hired somebody like a Derek Dooley. If such a quality of hire was made, everybody on this board would be pissing and moaning about the strength of said hire.

Jeremy Foley is probably regarded at the best AD in the country. He made a major mistake with renewing Muschamp's contract. There is no question about it. Since then, it appears he has done everything and more to right the ship, and you have people bitching and moaning.

 

[stephenPE]

I'm not one of the posters calling for Foley to be booted but he screwed up and doesn't seem to be able to just "own" it.

There is an "arms race" going on in Power 5 football and you either join in or end up being Vandi....

So you want him to tell you he is sorry that after almost total domination of the BIG two sports we crashed and burned awhile. Grow up. The sun dont shine on one dog's behind all the time. You know how many schools would give their gonads to win basically back to back in the big two with the caveat they play at a lower level a few years........im guessing allmost all of them 99%

 

[divits]

That's not how the system is set up anymore. UF is getting the bulk of its revenue through the TV contracts. That's the golden goose. Butts in the seats are nice because it gets primetime exposure. Primetime exposure enlarges the fan base.

It was my understanding that we got round $57 million from ticket sales, contributions, concessions etc. and around $17 million form distributions from the SEC for TV and bowls. Even with the SEC network coming online the bulk will remain in ticket sales and contributions....at least for now.

 

[GMDGator]

That's not how the system is set up anymore. UF is getting the bulk of its revenue through the TV contracts. That's the golden goose. Butts in the seats are nice because it gets primetime exposure. Primetime exposure enlarges the fan base.

I agree, but that is not a long term model for success... when the fans are not involved on a personal level, they long term sustainability will change... it will take time, but it will happen. hence the pendulum swinging comment, otherwise they will be killing the golden goose....

 

[PatDooleySucks]

It was my understanding that we got round $57 million from ticket sales, contributions, concessions etc. and around $17 million form distributions from the SEC for TV and bowls. Even with the SEC network coming online the bulk will remain in ticket sales and contributions....at least for now.

In terms of the $57, I'd say the key element is "contributions."