🏈 UF head pushes raise for Meyer despite budget cuts

[252BAMA]

IMO, Bernie knew he was going to lose him to ND when he hired him. Was just a matter of when, not if. This is something they both can use as an excuse for him leaving.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4217967

 

[TerryP]

"On Tuesday, the school's trustees approved $42.2 million in budget cuts for the next year, as the university faces its greatest funding crisis in almost four decades. The cuts are in addition to $69 million that has been stripped from the budget the past two years.

AND...

Machen told the Sentinel that Florida athletics had contributed $6 million to the university's academics.

Budget cuts on the University side, not the Athletic side.

The latter being self-supporting outside of the former with the exception of annual student fees. Which also could feasibly be dropped because those student fees account for @ half of the money given back to the academic side of Florida.

Give him the money. He deserves it.

 

[252BAMA]

"On Tuesday, the school's trustees approved $42.2 million in budget cuts for the next year, as the university faces its greatest funding crisis in almost four decades. The cuts are in addition to $69 million that has been stripped from the budget the past two years.

AND...

Machen told the Sentinel that Florida athletics had contributed $6 million to the university's academics.

Budget cuts on the University side, not the Athletic side.

The latter being self-supporting outside of the former with the exception of annual student fees. Which also could feasibly be dropped because those student fees account for @ half of the money given back to the academic side of Florida.

Give him the money. He deserves it.

I understand that he could give him the raise. Just think they are both looking for an excuse for his leaving, so why not use this one that has been thrown in their lap. Why else would Machen even make this public? Should be a private matter between him and Meyer.

 

[CtrlAltDel]

I understand that he could give him the raise. Just think they are both looking for an excuse for his leaving, so why not use this one that has been thrown in their lap. Why else would Machen even make this public? Should be a private matter between him and Meyer.

Hang on, Urban. Please give 'Bama one more chance. Many 'Bama fans would love to have one more honest chance for their team against a Meyer coached Gator squad.

Boy, if two teams ever dominated a championship series the way 'Bama and Florida did with the SEC Champ game in the '90's, I don't know of it.

 

[TerryP]

I understand that he could give him the raise. Just think they are both looking for an excuse for his leaving, so why not use this one that has been thrown in their lap. Why else would Machen even make this public? Should be a private matter between him and Meyer.

Do you know the setting where Machen made the comments? I know you follow things in Orlando closely and the quote is attributed to the Sentinel there...

Was it in response to a question?

I'm wondering if it is anywhere near or it resembles the press conference we saw Jim Calhoun loss his composure at a few months ago when asked about salary, etc.

 

[252BAMA]

Do you know the setting where Machen made the comments? I know you follow things in Orlando closely and the quote is attributed to the Sentinel there...

Was it in response to a question?

I'm wondering if it is anywhere near or it resembles the press conference we saw Jim Calhoun loss his composure at a few months ago when asked about salary, etc.

No, I don't know the setting for the comments. But that is a very good point and question. He very well could have been asked about the issue, rather than bringing it up himself.

My take on Meyer going to ND, and the reason I used "IMO" to preface my remarks, is just a gut feeling. And I completely agree with you, as you stated in another thread this morning, that a gut feeling should have some basis and the person should not just say he has a gut feeling.

Mine stems from the fact that Meyer did not even interview for a job that he would have walked naked from Salt Lake City to South Bend to take. That fact raised a number of questions in my mind. Questions that could only be answered by educated guesses by me. Questions like:

Why did he not interview? Because he was already committed to Bernie Machen and UF.--- May not be the answer, but that is where he wound up, so what else could be the answer?

What could he have told ND in order to not burn that bridge? "Sorry ND, I am committed to UF and I am a man of my word and you would not want one that was not. You proved that when you got rid of O'Leary. Let me remind you if you have a future need that I can get there faster from Florida than from Utah."---again, may not be the answer, but is probably close.

 

[TerryP]

No, I don't know the setting for the comments. But that is a very good point and question. He very well could have been asked about the issue, rather than bringing it up himself.

My take on Meyer going to ND, and the reason I used "IMO" to preface my remarks, is just a gut feeling. And I completely agree with you, as you stated in another thread this morning, that a gut feeling should have some basis and the person should not just say he has a gut feeling.

Mine stems from the fact that Meyer did not even interview for a job that he would have walked naked from Salt Lake City to South Bend to take. That fact raised a number of questions in my mind. Questions that could only be answered by educated guesses by me. Questions like:

Why did he not interview? Because he was already committed to Bernie Machen and UF.--- May not be the answer, but that is where he wound up, so what else could be the answer?

What could he have told ND in order to not burn that bridge? "Sorry ND, I am committed to UF and I am a man of my word and you would not want one that was not. You proved that when you got rid of O'Leary. Let me remind you if you have a future need that I can get there faster from Florida than from Utah."---again, may not be the answer, but is probably close.

If I were to guess, I'd say it was a statement along the lines of...

"When my kids get a little older and as a parent I feel more comfortable spending a lot of time on the road (like the recruiting base ND has to pull from) I'd like to talk to you.

But, for now, with the kids at the house and with the short trips recruiting I'd rather take my family to Florida."

That's just my "gut feeling," but considering statements I've heard him make about his kids, his family, and the time he gets to spend on the road I think it's a logical assumption.

Alagator can probably comment more on Machen and his mind-set more than anyone here.

That said, it certainly doesn't appear to me the kind of comment he would be making "out of the blue."

Like you, I think there is something behind it.

What? I don't know...

 

[alagator]

No, I don't know the setting for the comments. But that is a very good point and question. He very well could have been asked about the issue, rather than bringing it up himself.

My take on Meyer going to ND, and the reason I used "IMO" to preface my remarks, is just a gut feeling. And I completely agree with you, as you stated in another thread this morning, that a gut feeling should have some basis and the person should not just say he has a gut feeling.

Mine stems from the fact that Meyer did not even interview for a job that he would have walked naked from Salt Lake City to South Bend to take. That fact raised a number of questions in my mind. Questions that could only be answered by educated guesses by me. Questions like:

Why did he not interview? Because he was already committed to Bernie Machen and UF.--- May not be the answer, but that is where he wound up, so what else could be the answer?

What could he have told ND in order to not burn that bridge? "Sorry ND, I am committed to UF and I am a man of my word and you would not want one that was not. You proved that when you got rid of O'Leary. Let me remind you if you have a future need that I can get there faster from Florida than from Utah."---again, may not be the answer, but is probably close.

Meyer did have a number of discussions with the leadership at Notre Dame before accepting the Florida job. Notre Dame even went to the point of making a very public demonstration of flying one of their planes to Utah (and them announcing the flight plans to the media beforehand to make sure the media was there for the landing).

The Notre Dame people thought by making a few changes to their admission policy (something Meyer's people had told them would be necessary) and a few other minor points Meyer would accept their job and return to South Bend on that very plane.

The Notre Dame people had much egg on their face when they reboarded the plane empty handed in front of most of the same media.

But, you are somewhat correct in the fact Machen and Meyer have a comfort level and share a deep mutual personal and professional friendship that gave UF the upper hand.

Not sure what exactly Terry wants me to contribute about Machen and his thinking.

As far as Meyer leaving. Personally, my gut thinking (that seems to be the topic of the day) is Meyer could very well leave this year along with Tebow and Spikes - especially if they win a consecutive MNC. But, the idea of winning an unprecedented third consecutive MNC (assuming a second of course this year) with a QB not named Tebow might be the hook to keep him in Gainesville. And, as Terry pointed out, Meyer has been very clear that he would prefer to stay in Gainesville until his youngest finishes high school (another four years or so). Meyer and Billy Donovan are also very close personally (live on the same street) and professionally and Meyer's advice to Donovan played a role in Donovan spurnning the Orlando Magic two years ago with his return to UF (seems The Magic have weathered that little storm fairly well).

In the end though, looking at the Notre Dame schedule this year, I cannot see Weis failing to win 9-or-10 regular season games; thus almost guaranteeing he will see 2010 as the Notre Dame HC. So, Meyer most likely will not have a Notre Dame job to go to.