re: Can anyone see Sports Media Money is Killing College Football?

Article in USAToday about bowl salaries

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It's a payday market that's gotten especially hot the past 10 years. A bowl boss' average compensation last year was $438,000, more than double since 2002 and 32% more than 2006, according to tax forms for 15 of the oldest nonprofit bowl organizations. Even second-tier games such as the Gator Bowl and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl pay their executives at least $375,000. The bowls say their salaries are set according to the job and the market. But critics and others have continued to raise concerns about such pay being excessive for a number of reasons, including where the bowls get their revenue and how their salaries are determined. Most bowl games are tax-exempt charitable organizations that in most cases stage one game per year. They're also heavily subsidized by participating teams and conferences that combined to pay the bowl games $20.9 million last season for unsold tickets, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

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It's a payday market that's gotten especially hot the past 10 years. A bowl boss' average compensation last year was $438,000, more than double since 2002 and 32% more than 2006, according to tax forms for 15 of the oldest nonprofit bowl organizations. Even second-tier games such as the Gator Bowl and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl pay their executives at least $375,000.

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Exactly. And for what? Its not like these people are running actual corporations that produce and sell things. These people have to throw one football game a year. ONE.

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One of the biggest surprises was why Clemson did not show up just a few hours a way from the game. Anyone know why???

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Because they thought LSU was going to show up. Fooled 'em.

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One of the biggest surprises was why Clemson did not show up just a few hours a way from the game. Anyone know why???

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Huh? Thought the game was a reported sell-out? It looked packed to me, and pretty close to 50-50 if not 55-45 Clemson in my section.

Agree with everything except the part about conference winners. The SEC teams would be the most likely to be screwed by that. Take the top four teams, or eight, whatever the format eventually becomes.

In the end the attendance is just gravy. The money is in the TV contracts and the corporate sponsorships. Just be thankful to be a "have" and not a "have not" in the SEC. Most folks get to fly across the country for a bowl game whereas SEC teams can almost always drive just a few hours.

TV dominates the schedule so it is about ESPN being willing to pay to spread out the games for optimum viewership and ad dollars. Corporate sponsors don't care about the attendance, they just want their name mentioned over and over in regards to the bowl game as a great advertising investment. I had never heard of Beef O'Brady's before they had a bowl for instance but found myself Googling the company and wondering if they would open one in Texas. THAT is what is about.

As for the schools, its a win/win. The team gets more practice time and a reward for the AD/team as well as something to solicit donors about. They also get lots of national pub, esp the smaller schools that don't get on TV as much as SEC schools.

Complain if you wish but in the end those beautiful facilities and big time recruits are coming for stuff like this. It's about the money and the publicity, so be thankful to be in the SEC which has the most of both.

It's pathetic how they've ruined it. There should never be that few people at the Sugar Bowl.

It's a tough economy still too. Traveling to watch your team in the WTF.com Bowl isn't cheap. When the economy is good, it's a good 2-for-1 excuse for a vacation.

There are still plenty people that can afford the price, but can't take a 2 week Holiday + 1 week Bowl game Vacation from work..

What channel please?