re: Did I read this correctly? 7.4 million a year for the Gus Bus?

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You mean a resume including an SEC record of 26-16?

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So we are averaging the following over a 5 year span here

> 5-3 SEC season on average
> Go to Atlanta 2 out of every 5 seasons
> Win 10/11 games 2 out of every 5 seasons
> Win 7/8 games 3 out of every 5 seasons
> Win SEC 1 out of every 5 seasons
> Beat Alabama 2 out of every 5 seasons

Again, what else are you expecting here? And do you trust Mid-Major Coach X or a coach with in all likelihood a similar record in another league (NOT the SEC West, still the toughest division in football top to bottom and being in the same state as the best program in CFB over the past decade) to produce better?

That’s his big flaw right now obviously, but he now has the best resume in the SEC after Nick Saban. For all the coaches that competed with Saban, Gus is the only one to get multiple victories, win the division, and compete for an NC. Most others were fired.

He beat Saban twice and nearly won a third one in 2014. All things considered, injuries and poor performances, the games weren’t blowouts in 2015 and 2016.

As surprised as I am by it, Gus earned the right to demand a salary worthy of the 2nd or 3rd best coach in the SEC.

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(b) But still, who? Taggart? Maybe Fuente? I just fail to see anyone outside of about 10-12 current coaches who I'd be comfortable letting Malzahn walk for, and I don't think there is any amount of money that would get them to Auburn. If you can hire James Franklin, sure. But that isn't happening.

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Some were very hyped about Lane?

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Would you rather spent $7.4M a year on a coach who has proven he can get to Atlanta or $5M a year for Mike Norvell or Chad Morris?

I don't think there's even an argument there.

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THIS. The boogs are paying for the known rather than risk the unknown.

Arguing about how much coaches make is just stupid. Its still just a drop in the bucket of AD Revenue for good schools. What matters for good programs is doing everything they can to win and showing their fanbase/donors they are willing to do so. People will pay a lot for big results but they hate paying much at all for mediocre results.

What the Auburn AD could not afford to have happen is to let their coach that just beat Bama and overperformed leave to go to another SECW school. Replacing Gus would be just as expensive if not worse and it would show that Auburn isn't capable of holding on to a good coach. Who cares if they have to "overpay" by a million or two? BTW, the concept of "overpaying" is BS anyway as the market for Top 10 coaches is $6-8 million a year going forward and going up. It's simple supply and demand, there are more schools willing to pay to win than there are proven winning coaches.

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Some were very hyped about Lane?

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LOL - that place ain't hiring Lane Kiffin.

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Arguing about how much coaches make is just stupid. Its still just a drop in the bucket of AD Revenue for good schools.

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No.

Alabama had 100+ million in revenue across all sports.

I don't know what he's making now--but let's call it 10 million a year. 10% of revenue is most certainly not a drop in the bucket. Then you factor in assistants, other coaches (Avery), other sports, and general overhead?

Thing is, very few programs can afford to pay these salaries. Because most programs lose money in the first place. They did so even before this arms race.

You guys need to recalibrate your minds. $7m isn't going to be a lot for coaches going forward.

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There is definitely the possibility Gus signs a big deal and then goes 9-3/7-5 and Auburn is back to wanting to fire him again except with a HUGE buyout.

But, I just don't think there is a better option for them (or almost anyone else in this type of situation, for that matter). Everybody hates a guy who wins 8, 8, 10 games until they fire him and hire a guy who wins 7, 5, 8 games. If a guy has proven he can take you to an elite level 1 or 2 times every 5 or 6 years, I don't think you can expect much more (unless the off years are total disasters). Gus was treading the "off years total disaster" train as well as the one fluke season train. But this year shows that he can at least repeat having a Top 10 type team and that 2013 wasn't some sort of total fluke.

Again, JMO.

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I follow as well. Ultimately, it's bad timing for Auburn... you'd like this to happen next year so you can see whether this was a product of the home schedule and things bouncing your way... but this year's coaching carousel had put everyone in tight spots... couple that with rapidly rising market rates (if Mullen is making 6+/year... there are some coaches that are about to get broke off). Given what Arkansas was trying to do, SOG is right here... there just aren't an unlimited supply of coaches that you feel are objectively as good as Gus... whether you think he is elite or not, you don't have a ton of proven commodities, particularly with UT getting everyone raises and extensions this cycle.

Very curious to see what our cheap arse AD decides to do with Kirby and our staff's salaries.

Definitely should be included in all this bizarro stuff