Show Meyer the Money: College Football's Biggest Conundrum

Meyer with Trophy

There are plenty of great coaches in college football like Pete Carroll, Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel, Les Miles, and Nick Saban, but the fact that Urban Meyer is the only coach to win two BCS titles and makes less than all the aforementioned coaches is absurd.

Meyer is a relative “bargain” for the University of Florida; the third highest-paid coach in the Southeastern Conference though he’s won two national championships in three years.

The fact that Meyer (between $3.25 million and $3.49 million) earns less than Alabama’s Saban ($3.75 million) and LSU’s Miles ($3,751,000) isn’t appalling as Saban has paid his dues as a head coach in the NFL and NCAA, and LSU had to up the ante after the University of Michigan threatened to steal one of the best coaching picks in recent years in 2007.

But consider this: Last year, Meyer beat LSU by 30 points and beat an undefeated Alabama by 11 in the SEC Championship Game on his way to his second BCS title.

Call it irony or call it preposterous.

Oklahoma’s Stoops is college football’s highest-paid coach, with bonuses helping him earn more than $6 million in 2008. In a match-up to determine who would be the first coach to win two BCS titles, Meyer beat Stoops 24-14 in the national championship game last season.

Tressel of Ohio State earns $3.5 million a year and joins Stoops with two BCS title game losses. Yes, Meyer’s Gators beat Tressel’s Buckeyes 41-14 in the national championship game two years ago.

Yet, Meyer marches on; he doesn’t publicly argue for a raise, he just wins.

In December 2004, Notre Dame took hard looks at Charlie Weis and Urban Meyer.

At Notre Dame, Charlie Weis is one of the country’s highest-paid coaches, reportedly earning a top-five coaching salary in the $4 million range. Weis has a 29-21 record as a head coach. After finishing 9-3 and 10-3 in first two seasons, Weis has struggled to 3-9 and 7-6 finishes in his last two years. He hasn’t won any titles with the Fighting Irish.

Meyer is 83-17 as a head coach and 45-9 with two national titles at Florida. After a 5-2 start in his first season in 2005, Weis managed to get a 10-year extension to 2015.

Meyer received a six-year extension and raise in June 2007 after winning his first title. Even the most learned UF professor would be confounded by this irrationality.

It shouldn’t be long before Meyer gets a better deal and maybe a few Miles-like provisions, too. 


Gabriel Taylor is a scribe for the Bleacher Report. Visit http://bleacherreport.com/articles/199602-show-meyer-the-money-college-footballs-biggest-conundrum to read the orginal article

Comments

nice video, but until those

nice video, but until those things translate into W's, I wouldn't run my mouth too much. Obviously UT fans (and coaches) disagree, but there have been a lot of coaches who can recruit but cant win, just like there are a lot of people who can talk trash, but can't back it up. Count it as a blessing that your coach has two out of those three talents. Unfortunately, the one talent he lacks is winning. (5-15 record as a head coach)

Got Championships? We do!

TailGatorKing - First to show, and last to go!

The only one running their

The only one running their mouth is you.  Before Meyer was a head coach was he an offensive coordinator with a NC?  Thank you.  I do understand why you're a little up tight. 

Tennessee is loose.  Florida and the fans are the ones running their mouth.  Visit some UT sites and you'll see.

One thing for sure.  In 2-3 yrs. the last thing the NC Vols and their fans will be obcessed with is 5-7 Florida and their new coach.  Look at the poll to the right.  The NC team's biggest rival is a 5-7 team?....respect.

Have a good weekend and oh yeah......whatever you guys do.......be sure you don't lose to Tennessee.

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