John Brice - Rick Barnes Extended, $5.9 Million

[BigOrangeMojo]

Complaining about someone else’s salary has to be the most useless subject to talk about.

We literally us fans can’t do a damn thing about it.

But man, you did a bunch of (JUSTIFIED) bitching about Pruitt's salary and performance starting in October 2020....

 

[a vol n tears]

I mean, yes in theory that’s all great and what not…but the current coach hasn’t produced top 10-15 results. You know the quickest way to do become a top 10-15 program? Have the results of a top 10-15 program.

UNC :120 -55 record for past 5 seasons. UT : 123 -73 record past 5 years
I consider UNC a top 15 school even though they’ve won fewer games. Tenn averaging more than 20 wins per season in a very tuff conference. I think Tenn basketball is considered a very formidable team against everyone they play.

 

[BowlBrother85]

So excited to now hear/see Twitter idiots say "SIX MILLION DOLLARS" rather than screaming about 5 million dollars now

"It has to make sense from a financial standpoint. And the bottom line is, we just couldn't work it out, the buyout." - Rick Barnes on why he turned down UCLA in April of 2019

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he is still here, but the fans didn't make his financial compensation the primary focus... Barnes did.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

But man, you did a bunch of (JUSTIFIED) bitching about Pruitt's salary and performance starting in October 2020....

Yeah because he actually sucked as a HC.

Barnes has put some of the best teams on the floor under his tenure but somehow, that’s not enough for some of you.

 

[Vol49er]

I guess I’m just confused why the pay raise was warranted. I get extending the years, could understand raising the buyout but an extra $1M/year is just unnecessary.

Barnes already is getting criticism for the last two years making $5M, getting even more will just turn up the heat.

I haven’t read through the rest of this thread yet so sorry if already mentioned, but I feel like the heat is magnified on this board. Talking with friends from UT or people at the games, I hear very little about “5 million” or criticism about Barnes at all the last few years. Though I admit I did start hearing a little bit of huffing in the real world after our NCAA tourney “appearance” this last season

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Yeah because he actually sucked as a HC.

Barnes has put some of the best teams on the floor under his tenure but somehow, that’s not enough for some of you.

Just saying you are talking out of both sides of your mouth when you say its useless for fans to talk about contracts since you've been very vocally on both sides of the issue.

I've said it in a multitude of ways, do not conflict my opinion with the AD's decision and Barnes' performance as head coach. Those are mutually exclusive. I was OK (and then some) with doing what we needed to do with the UCLA interest a couple of years ago since the market called for it. I am of the opinion that the market did not call for an extension to this magnitude this year.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I haven’t read through the rest of this thread yet so sorry if already mentioned, but I feel like the heat is magnified on this board. Talking with friends from UT or people at the games, I hear very little about “5 million” or criticism about Barnes at all the last few years. Though I admit I did start hearing a little bit of huffing in the real world after our NCAA tourney “appearance” this last season

I honestly don't know anyone other than zjcvols that makes a huge fuss about this even on this board. Yeah, there are a few people on Twitter complaining, but it's mostly non-existent. We haven't been setup for success like this in basketball and baseball for quite some time, so the fanbase is mostly in a good mood right now.

 

[Vol49er]

I think the turnaround in culture and the internal expectations of excellence he's added to UT will set the stage for the next hire is well worth the money we're paying him. As long as we don't screw it up when he retires, UT should be a factor moving forward for years post-Barnes. He's rebuild our foundation and brand in the college basketball world and it's hard to put a financial value on that beyond what his salary reflects.

From a pure results standpoint, no his salary is not justified (and I'm a HUGE Barnes supporter/fan) but from the other factors, at least the ones that the AD and program sees, I think it's obvious they see the value. We may not win a NC with Barnes, and I hate to admit that, but he's put us in position that has improved facilities, brought in $ and investments into the program, showed it's possible with our resources and culture to recruit at a high level at UT and created stability that I don't think we've truly had in several decades.

I do hope he wins a NC here, but I'm fine with paying him the $ that shows respect to what he's developed/built here AND also sends a message to the next Head Coach at the University of Tennessee that we're serious about basketball, to come here and win.

Well said

 

[zjcvols]

I honestly don't know anyone other than zjcvols that makes a huge fuss about this even on this board. Yeah, there are a few people on Twitter complaining, but it's mostly non-existent. We haven't been setup for success like this in basketball and baseball for quite some time, so the fanbase is mostly in a good mood right now.

Did you ignore social media and this board after the Oregon State game because there was a ton of complaining about his salary

 

[Vol49er]

I honestly don't know anyone other than zjcvols that makes a huge fuss about this even on this board. Yeah, there are a few people on Twitter complaining, but it's mostly non-existent. We haven't been setup for success like this in basketball and baseball for quite some time, so the fanbase is mostly in a good mood right now.

Well there’s a fair amount of posters who do but zjc is really the only one to consistently post in the offseason
And yeah I agree about UT fans generally being a happy bunch right now, which is interesting considering football and WBB are both struggling (the former considerably more than the later but still). We get those two right and things will be really peachy

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Just saying you are talking out of both sides of your mouth when you say its useless for fans to talk about contracts since you've been very vocally on both sides of the issue.

I've said it in a multitude of ways, do not conflict my opinion with the AD's decision and Barnes' performance as head coach. Those are mutually exclusive. I was OK (and then some) with doing what we needed to do with the UCLA interest a couple of years ago since the market called for it. I am of the opinion that the market did not call for an extension to this magnitude this year.

Danny White sees the value in Barnes which is why the raise was given.

You can argue it was bad timing but there’s a reason why Barnes has gotten offers from big time schools.

The football program is already in shambles. I don’t want to see the same thing happen to the basketball program where terrible leadership ruins the chance of success.

 

[zjcvols]

Danny White sees the value in Barnes which is why the raise was given.

You can argue it was bad timing but there’s a reason why Barnes has gotten offers from big time schools.

The football program is already in shambles. I don’t want to see the same thing happen to the basketball program where terrible leadership ruins the chance of success.

Other than UCLA which went to Barnes (and rumors that Rick reached out to UCLA first) on like their 5th choice has anybody actually even given Barnes a serious look?

 

[zjcvols]

Well there’s a fair amount of posters who do but zjc is really the only one to consistently post in the offseason
And yeah I agree about UT fans generally being a happy bunch right now, which is interesting considering football and WBB are both struggling (the former considerably more than the later but still). We get those two right and things will be really peachy

In my defense, I hadn’t brought up the contract this off-season until he got another extension.

 

[Vol49er]

In my defense, I hadn’t brought up the contract this off-season until he got another extension.

I meant you’re the only person who at any point complains about the salary who also posts consistently in the offseason. Not that you consistently post complaining about his salary in the offseason. Like 1985 vol will complain about the salary when he posts, but he doesn’t post in the offseason at all

 

[Vol49er]

Barnes is doing things that have never been done before at TN. Back-to-back SECT finals and bringing in highly ranked recruits at an unprecedented level. He’s also getting TN into the NCAAT at a historically high rate.

Love Barnes and don’t mind the salary... but the “making two SEC tourney finals in a row” thing is a definite reach. I think the run as #1 is important and noteworthy, it was awesome and brought great attention to the program. Don’t think the same way about losing in the SEC finals

 

[golfballs]

I would have paid him $10M tbh. Maybe even $15M

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Personally, I don't see why fans should be so concerned with his salary. He's likely here until here retires in 4-5 years, he's not going to get fired. So, the buyout is inconsequential and raising his salary doesn't really hurt any other program. It's not like White took $1,000,000 out of the football budget and just gave it to Barnes' because they are friends.

In this specific scenario, I don't see anything negative that can come from an extension and the raise.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Here @zjcvols, I helped you out…

It’s possible I missed a few but I think I got them all, went through all the major conferences and listed every program over the last 4 seasons that have won 90+ games. Listed overall record, winning percentage, NCAAT Appearances, and NCAAT record.

Gonzaga: 127-12, 3NCAAT, 92.7%, 10-3
Virginia: 107-20, 3NCAAT, 84.2%, 6-2
Houston: 111-24, 82.2%, 3NCAAT, 7-3
Villanova: 104-28, 78.7%, 3NCAAT, 9-2
Kansas: 106-30, 3NCAAT, 77.9%, 6-3
Michigan: 105-32, 3NCAAT, 76.6%, 10-3
Duke: 99-31, 2NCAAT, 76.1%, 6-2
Florida State: 96-32, 3NCAAT, 75%, 7-3
Michigan State: 99-34, 3NCAAT, 74.4%, 5-3
Baylor: 93-35, 2NCAAT, 72.6%, 7-1
Tennessee: 92-38, 3NCAAT, 70.7%, 3-3
Oregon: 93-40, 2NCAAT, 69.9%, 4-2
Texas Tech: 94-41, 3NCAAT, 69.6%, 9-3
Kentucky: 90-40, 2NCAAT, 69.2%, 5-2
Purdue: 90-42, 3NCAAT, 68.1%, 5-3


Through my research these are a couple of the more notable programs to not make the list, so I could see them being slotted in somewhere on the list: North Carolina, Syracuse, UCLA, Ohio State.

So 15 teams make the list, Tennessee being one of them, and then a couple other teams I listed who probably you find a place for.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Other than UCLA which went to Barnes (and rumors that Rick reached out to UCLA first) on like their 5th choice has anybody actually even given Barnes a serious look?

It doesn't mind which choice Barnes was, UCLA established the market value for Barnes. I just dont the past 2 years (especially 2 years older) has justified this new market value.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Other than UCLA which went to Barnes (and rumors that Rick reached out to UCLA first) on like their 5th choice has anybody actually even given Barnes a serious look?

Not sure 5th choice is accurate? VQ reported that Arkansas reached out and Barnes said he wasn’t interested.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Personally, I don't see why fans should be so concerned with his salary. He's likely here until here retires in 4-5 years, he's not going to get fired. So, the buyout is inconsequential and raising his salary doesn't really hurt any other program. It's not like White took $1,000,000 out of the football budget and just gave it to Barnes' because they are friends.

In this specific scenario, I don't see anything negative that can come from an extension and the raise.

Because this is the same athletic department that was allegedly so "broke" that they nuked its football program to attempt to get out of a buyout to Pruitt...

 

[tennrich1]

Could you imagine us 10 years ago having the type of discussion? I hope we keep Rick as long as he wants to coach.

 

[Vols8086]

Here @zjcvols, I helped you out…

It’s possible I missed a few but I think I got them all, went through all the major conferences and listed every program over the last 4 seasons that have won 90+ games. Listed overall record, winning percentage, NCAAT Appearances, and NCAAT record.

Gonzaga: 127-12, 3NCAAT, 92.7%, 10-3
Virginia: 107-20, 3NCAAT, 84.2%, 6-2
Houston: 111-24, 82.2%, 3NCAAT, 7-3
Villanova: 104-28, 78.7%, 3NCAAT, 9-2
Kansas: 106-30, 3NCAAT, 77.9%, 6-3
Michigan: 105-32, 3NCAAT, 76.6%, 10-3
Duke: 99-31, 2NCAAT, 76.1%, 6-2
Florida State: 96-32, 3NCAAT, 75%, 7-3
Michigan State: 99-34, 3NCAAT, 74.4%, 5-3
Baylor: 93-35, 2NCAAT, 72.6%, 7-1
Tennessee: 92-38, 3NCAAT, 70.7%, 3-3
Oregon: 93-40, 2NCAAT, 69.9%, 4-2
Texas Tech: 94-41, 3NCAAT, 69.6%, 9-3
Kentucky: 90-40, 2NCAAT, 69.2%, 5-2
Purdue: 90-42, 3NCAAT, 68.1%, 5-3


Through my research these are a couple of the more notable programs to not make the list, so I could see them being slotted in somewhere on the list: North Carolina, Syracuse, UCLA, Ohio State.

So 15 teams make the list, Tennessee being one of them, and then a couple other teams I listed who probably you find a place for.

And of that list, we are the only program that doesn't have a winning record in the NCAA tourney. We are also the only program listed that doesn't have 4 or more tourney wins, and everyone but Oregon has at least 5.

Which is the only gripe anybody really has about Barnes, yet a lot on here want to completely minimize that fact.

 

[PYSCHO]

No one would say Texas A&M is a better football job than Florida State but Jimbo is in College Station. Why tempt fate? Memphis is jealous of us and I wouldn’t underestimate a desperate program.

Yes but Jimbo has not screwed every coed on campus like he did at FSU

 

[bleedingTNorange]

And of that list, we are the only program that doesn't have a winning record in the NCAA tourney. We are also the only program listed that doesn't have 4 or more tourney wins, and everyone but Oregon has at least 5.

Which is the only gripe anybody really has about Barnes, yet a lot on here want to completely minimize that fact.

I think as many people that you think want to minimize the tourney record there’s just as many wanting to ignore the regular season success…I’m not campaigning we are Top 5, but you can’t ignore the overall success and just want to act like the season starts in March.