Breaking the Sports Bank

The salaries in college football have gotten totally out of hand. And that doesn’t include the coach’s paychecks. From a former college football coach’s perspective, it’s easy to straddle the fence and see both sides.

It’s human nature to be a little bitter about it all. I coached high school for 10 years with salaries ranging from $9,600 to $24,000 my last year. At the college level, I spent 3 years on the Alabama staff and 8 more at the University of Louisville. The following numbers are shown with total transparency to put everything happening today in perspective.

This is NOT intended for sympathy. No one held a gun at me and made me be a coach. I knew there were 2 levels of college coaches: those who were fired and those who would eventually be fired. Regardless (or as Uncle Luther would say, “Irregardless,) I chose the profession and loved all 21 years.

Ray Perkins hired me to run Bryant Hall at Alabama making $20,000. On top of that, I made an extra $300 to work the Ray Perkins Football Camp. After two years, he promoted me to recruiting coordinator making $28,000.

In those days, there were no multi-year contracts. As a matter of fact, there were NO contracts. “Your handshake was your contract.” When Perkins left for Tampa Bay Bucs after the 1986 season, Bill Curry replaced him and the door hit us in the butt, on the way out that same door. 35 years old, married, wife, 2 kids & no job.  

I chose to go with Howard Schnellenberger at Louisville as a graduate assistant. Making $260 a month. (No that’s not a misprint.) No benefits. Just a chance to prove yourself on the field. After the first season, Schnelly hired me as a full-time assistant coach earning $23,000 annually. I stayed there for 8 years as the running back coach with my final salary being $44,000. When Howard left for Oklahoma after the 1994 season, we got shown the door again when Ron Cooper was hired.

This time, we did have a contract, but it was called a January to January contract. Since Howard left around New Years, the contract was about to expire. In defense of the administration, we had an excellent athletic director, Bill Olsen, who agreed to pay us monthly for an additional 3 months if we helped in the department and showed we were looking for a new job. 43 years old, married, 2 boys and no job again.

Now, let’s go back to the players and their compensation. If they were on scholarship, they received room, board, books, tuition and fees. That’s it. Short of spending money? Tough luck. It was against the rules to have a job or receive benefits from boosters. The saving grace for many players was Pell Grants which were based on family income. Sadly, some parents didn’t file taxes or fill out the necessary forms to get the aid.

Some of the saddest days while running Bryant Hall were seeing players in their dorm rooms on a Saturday night after a big football win since they had no spending money or vehicle to go out and celebrate. Some of these players were All-SEC and even All-American who wanted to just share a pizza with a date.

Back then, if a player wanted to transfer, he had to sit out a year at his new school unless he transferred down to a lower level. This meant the idea of moving to greener pastures was just a pipe dream.

That’s the reason I understand the concept of the players being compensated. Can you imagine if the current rules had been in place, how much Kerry Goode, Cornelius Bennett, Bobby Humphrey and Derrick Thomas would have made? Or Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, John Hannah, Leroy Jordan or Ozzie Newsome?

Fast forward to today’s college football and the money being thrown around. The transfer portal and NIL have transformed the game to the point where it is almost unrecognizable. NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) was set up under a simple concept: if the University of Alabama was selling jerseys with Julio Jones name and number, why shouldn’t he get some of that money?

Unfortunately, the toothpaste is out of the tube. Recruits aren’t asking about graduation rates, playing time or facilities, they simply want to know how much they will get paid. It becomes a bidding war where they go to the highest bidder. Tradition, loyalty and playoffs used to be selling points. Now, rules are nonexistent and coaches must now “buy” a new team each year. Coaches talk openly about needing a $30 million dollar roster to compete.

If I were back in coaching, I would think long and hard before signing a high school recruit. Would you sign a good recruit who needs developing or use that scholarship on a 21 year old from the transfer portal who can help you right now? IF you don’t win right now, that player will be playing for a new coach anyway.

Did you know that some schools didn’t have recent spring games? The reason: backup players would get to show their skills during the scrimmage and the film could enhance their transfer options along with their NIL possibilities.

Finally, a quick note about coach’s salaries and extensions. Those of us who paved the way for higher compensation, we know the pressures and time constraints on your family. The multimillion-dollar contracts are fine and good, but you never get to see your family. There is no such thing as a vacation or off season.

How much money is enough to substitute for missing your daughter’s recitals, your son’s Little League games, your anniversary, family reunions or the simple joy of sitting on the pew with your family on Sunday mornings? Staff meetings, recruiting calls, breaking down film, recruiting travel, practices and meeting with players about NIL and the transfer portal consume your time.

Breaking the sports bank has its benefits.

But, that money can’t buy lost family time.