re: Alabama to offer Greg Marshall $3 large per year...

quote:

---

You're going to have to force someone's decision with a paycheck. Sure, the money is there but that doesn't make it a profitable decision for Bama to spend it in an area they likely aren't going to see an optimum return from. Will Bama athletics be bigger because of better basketball? How much bigger? Very small chance that it's enough to justify pouring that much more money into.

It isn't just about money, it's about allocating that money as best you can to get the biggest return possible. Being rich doesn't mean you make irresponsible monetary decisions.

---

This same kind of thinking was promulgated by many when Alabama offered Saban that first record breaking contract.

"It's crazy to pay that much to a college coach," "Poor financial decision," "Nobody is worth that," etc.

8 years later people have seen that Alabama's return on investment makes the Saban contract look like a bargain for the school. There really isn't a good reason that a similar financial gain couldn't be had from raising the profile of the basketball program. You fill 15,000 seats (which has been done before at Bama by the way when there is success) and consistently make NCAA tournaments, the profits will be there even if the coach makes $4 million. There is enough profit even right now (without any increased revenues) to remain profitable spending a lot more on a coach.

I think your view is short-sighted.