re: Hide your AD's, Texas just canned thiers and come bearing $$$$

quote:

---

He's not a likable guy but their AD job isn't that great right now. Patterson innocuously dropped the bomb that fiscal 2014, despite enormous revenue numbers, the Texas AD lost about $5m. He explained it away that they had $50m in reserve and it was related to the buyout of Mack Brown so no big deal. But, since then...

- they lost about 10k season ticket holders. The official tickets sold vs Rice was 86,458 (their lowest paid attendance in 2014 was 92,017 vs ISU)
- they fired Barnes and hired Shaka including a buyout for both. Not sure the numbers but they also increased their ongoing coaching salaries
- they have now fired Patterson to the tune of $6m

So let's say they average 6k below last year's attendance (which is probably generous as UNT was their opener last year and it outdrew ISU plus this season may get ugly) with price of ticket $500 and an average donation of $500 that's $6m. Add in the $6m for Patterson and let's say $5m for the Shaka/Barnes buyouts. That's about $17m. Plus whatever ongoing increase for Shaka and his staff. Suddenly that $50m reserve is $25m with an ongoing operating loss around $5-10m annually.

Strong's contract is guaranteed. If they have a subpar season like it appears they will, it will still be very difficult to fire him. But season tickets aren't exactly going to fly off the shelves if Strong returns. All the while, fan expectations remain that they can money whip anyone they want. That's what the next AD is walking into.

---