If the Gruden deal goes down......

[LebanonVolunteer]

If Petersen ever leaves Boise, it be for a hell of a lot more than 4 million a year.

Maybe so. He only makes 1.8 million a year. He turned down UCLA's offer of 2.8. I was just skipping the 3's and going right to 4 million. I would venture to guess the COL is less in Knoxville than in Boise. The man may just love Boise. I would make him(and several others) tell me NO before I threw 6.5 million + at Gruden.

 

[yrock777]

Am I the only one that feels a little bit like we will be selling our souls?

aren't you the pot calling the kettle black..with the Alabama logo under your AVI!:good!:

 

[pcolavol]

Yup!!

I just can't see paying the man 1.5 million dollars a year more than Nick Saban. If the staff money is accurate our staff could be over a million dollars more than Bamas. I wonder if anyone has told Hart that paying more does not always equate to winning more. If this thing goes bad, UT could be in a world of hurt. I can picture it now. 8 years where the coach could go 0-12 and walk away with 60 million bucks. I guess sometimes risk is worth the possible reward. I just think the money is just way over what the man is worth. JMO

Completely agree....preach it!

 

[oregonvol]

I am not looking for the perfect coach. As I have said on here before I would rather us hire Chris Petersen or Gary Patterson for 4 million a year. They are proven and just win. There are other coaches who I think make alot of sense when you factor in the money. Gruden could be hired and come in here and win 3 titles in 5 years. He could also win 3 games in 5 years. You make a guy the highest paid in his profession when you know without a doubt your getting the best man for the job. He has proven his worth. JG has not done that in college. People who think he is not a huge risk are just kidding themselves.

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Patterson and Petersen are going to cost a hell of alot more than 4 million a year to come here. Loads of people (arkansas and Auburn spring to mind) would love to hire them for that amount. You see, everyone thought Alabama was crazy when they spent 5 million a year on Saban, because no one was spending that much then. But now, they're making it all back and then some and coach's salaries are even higher all over. If you want to compete with Alabama, you have to be willing to set the new standard, like they were willing to do back then. Otherwise, you'll always be playing catch-up.

 

[Aesius]

Selling our souls would be offering Saban $10 million a year and getting him.

 

[bbeacham]

Actually, you have to hand it to Dave Hart and other UT officials. Either nothing has been decided yet or a Coach has been hired and everybody has been threatened with being fired if they spill the beans. If you tell a group of people a secret and tell all of them to keep it under their hats, somebody will crack! So, unless Dave Hart says it, I don't believe any of it!

 

[deckerkd]

Yes. At what point do you say it's just not worth it. With all of these supposed demands, he is beginning to lose his luster in my opinion. If he hires the staff everyone says he will, how long will it stay intact? IMO, not long. If the only reason JG signs to coach at UT is his wife, that is a huge road sign. Give me a coach who wants to be here bc he loves Tennessee and sees himself here for the long haul.

Yeah right. Any coach will love Tennessee for enough cash! That's what it all boils down to with every coach.

 

[82_VOL_83]

I think most of the ones with concerns are money concerns or what we are getting for our money. Paying a unproven HC 1.5 million dollars a year MORE than Nick Saban is a reach at best. Paying your coach almost 3 million dollars more than Les Miles speaks of the same. We would be paying him OVER 3X what Kevin Sumlin makes. The man has never coached a college game. He has admitted to not knowing if he can keep within the NCAA guidelines with time/recruiting. It is a HUGE roll of the dice. Gruden could go 5-19 the next 2 years and then where do we stand with that 8 year deal looking us in the face? I understand why people like the idea and want the "rockstar". I myself would just feel better if he were actually a proven college coach.

I forgot to mention the staff that would be paid over a million bucks more than any other staff in college football. Where do you draw the line?

Thanks LV....well put. We would be entering into something from which there would be no return at least in my lifetime.

1) Suppose he comes in and just doesn't do well in 3 years, do we scream for his head? What will the buyout be for he and his staff 3 years from now? 20mill?
2) He has a HUGE EGO. Is he above the law? Is he Kiffin on steroids? We are already under increased scrutiny, do we really want 3 or 4 major violations on top of the probation we have?
3) What does paying 10mill a year for a coaching staff do to the rest of the program? Do concessions go up 25%? Do ticket prices go up $10 each? Do the students tickets become regular price? Do we have to get rid of some of the "minor" sports to pay his ransom (salary)?

I just think this is brand new territory and although it isn't going to be a whole lot of my money, a failure with this guy sets UT back possibly decades, not just years. That is why I feel like we are selling our souls. There is NO guarantee that he would win, none. There is a better than 50% chance that he will commit some sort of violation in the next couple of years because he doesn't know the rules and may think he is above them. There is a big possibility we are paying his buyout in 3 to 4 years. There is a big possibility that he pulls a Carroll and leaves a program for the Pros that is looking at sanctions. I JUST DON'T KNOW.