🏈 New contract could be the last

[LBS]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/03/new_contracts_expected_for_ala.html

This article is about the renewing of contracts for virtually every assistant football coach at Alabama, with the exception of Coach Smart and Coach Cochrane who were given new contract in January. They notes some points about Coach Smart's contract that...did not set well with me.

Sure, he is being paid handsomely ($850k), but should he leave Bama to take a Head Coaching job elsewhere his buy out is $0 - Zero - Nothing but the courtesy of turning out the lights on the way out. This doesn't give me major heart burn, but I am a bit nervous knowing that we have no leverage in the situation...at least none that is not already in play.

What has me going all Delta is that 1) they seem to have gone out of their way to define what happens if he looks at another Assistant Position shock: a lateral move needs to be addressed?!? Why?!?); and 2) his buy out in this case is $72k. That's 6 weeks of pay! There too, there is virtually no penelty for cutting out. WHY?!?

Those contract negotiations could not have gone over well. That's like hammering out details of a prenup for the day you say until death do you part. "Give me more money, and remind me where the door is again." Really?!? Seriously?!?

That's enough for now...my inhaler is in the other room and I need to go.

 

[JoshB]

i doubt he'll be a Defensive Coordinator anywhere for very much longer so it doesnt really matter.

 

[rammerjammer]

I think your getting bent out of shape for nothing. Contracts are as useless as the paper they are written on. Very seldom does a contract keep anyone from leaving a job. If it did, would you honestly want someone doing a job at a place where they didn't want to be. All he had to do would half-ass do his job and suck at it and get fired. That would be counter productive for someone wanting to move up in his career, but bottom line, is you don't want someone at your school that doesn't want to be there. (See the 2002 season and Dennis Franchione era)

We will not have Smart much longer. < 4 years would be my estimate. A good SEC job will come open and he will take it. (See Will Muschamp 2011) I think Smart will do like Muschamp and be careful and not jump too quickly. I know for a fact that Muschamp talked to MSU before Mullen was hired and Tutorsee before Dooley was hired. Good things come to those who wait. While the standards are high at UF, the ability or opportunity to reach those standards are well within reach.

 

[JoshB]

Smart is as good as gone the minute Richt is fired in my opinion

 

[LBS]

Smart is as good as gone the minute Richt is fired in my opinion

If Richt goes, I'd be happy for Coach Smart if he got the UGA HC position.

Are you hearing anything about Georgia, other that CMR is on the hot seat yet again?

 

[TerryP]

If Richt goes, I'd be happy for Coach Smart if he got the UGA HC position.

Are you hearing anything about Georgia, other that CMR is on the hot seat yet again?

Unless something catastrophic happens, he's got at least two more years. He's made some significant coaching changes and that's something he hasn't done. Add to that, with a new offensive scheme coming in he'll get time to get a few more players to fit that system.

 

[LBS]

Unless something catastrophic happens, he's got at least two more years. He's made some significant coaching changes and that's something he hasn't done. Add to that, with a new offensive scheme coming in he'll get time to get a few more players to fit that system.

I keep thinking that Coach Smart has to look at Coach Richt as that really really rich uncle on life support who just won't hurry up and go on to a better place. [That's a crude visual, but sadly fitting in a professional context.]

 

[TerryP]

I keep thinking that Coach Smart has to look at Coach Richt as that really really rich uncle on life support who just won't hurry up and go on to a better place. [That's a crude visual, but sadly fitting in a professional context.]

Kirby has his issues with the current Admin at UGA. Of course, Anderson did as well at Arkansas. But, the thought Richt won't get a couple of more years is unrealistic. He's made the move to change his "hot seat" status.

 

[JoshB]

IDK, i didnt think he'd make it past this season but i guess the coaching changes like u said and this years recruiting class may have bought him more time.

 

[Hoos4Tide]

Speaking of new contracts being the last (and I know this is just lightyears away, but it's a very curious subject) I really really wonder what Nick Saban will do after 2017 (?? isn't that when his current contract runs up) assuming he stays till then. I just wonder if he'll leave us like he's done before or, as I could see it, stay till like 2030 and literally be, in our eyes, the incarnation of one Paul Bryant...

 

[JoshB]

I dont think Coach Saban will stay for near that long, but I do think he will remain here until he retires. I just dont see him coaching into his 70's

 

[LBS]

You know Bird, I'm not so sure. I read his book, the one he wrote while at LSU, and one of the impressions that I came away with was that this guy has to be pouring himself into something everyday and he would have no interest in anything else outside of football. I think we may be looking at exactly the kind of guy that stays in coaching until he dies or is run off.

 

[JoshB]

You know Bird, I'm not so sure. I read his book, the one he wrote while at LSU, and one of the impressions that I came away with was that this guy has to be pouring himself into something everyday and he would have no interest in anything else outside of football. I think we may be looking at exactly the kind of guy that stays in coaching until he dies or is run off.

IDK, for some reason ive always got the feeling from hearing him talk and everything that he wouldnt be that way. Maybe he is tho and that would be great, but he doesnt actually have to be coaching to be pouring himself into something. Lets say he coaches here until he retires. Whos to say he couldnt move into another area in the Athletic Department? Athletic Director even, Mal Moore isnt a spring chicken ya know lol