IT'S BUSINESS (IT'S BUSINESS) TIME
This from an alumnus of Notre Dame as well as Northwestern's Kellogg School of Business, who happens to be CEO of his company:
You know, the papers say the buyout is $12 million. How much was ND paying for head-coaching when they were paying Davie, Willingham and Weis at the same time? (Another Irish coach) used to always bitch about that.
The $12 mil would be amortized over the life of the deal, i.e., 2 mil for next 7 years. Therefore, if you found another coach at $2 mil, you're actually paying Saban money, but hopefully to the next Saban.
The bottom line is that from a business perspective, the cost of Weis's contract is a sunk cost. No matter what you do, you're paying that money in some form or another. You have to make the decision based on what incremental costs can you incur to make yourself better? If there are no costs that can do that, then you do nothing. If there is some cost, such as a better coach, the only decision is whether his incremental cost is worth the expected improvement.
Lee Corso does not understand this, but I guarantee you (Notre Dame Executive Vice President and Finance Chair) John Affleck-Graves does...
*****************
James Aldridge ripped off a 15-yard gain on the last play of the 3rd quarter to get Notre Dame its first first down of the evening. Half the stadium gave the Irish a standing ovation. Pity. What a horrible emotion.
Aldridge and the Irish rushing attack should have been doing this all year. He's a big back who should be thriving. I've never understood, short of injury, why he cannot gallop like this every Saturday.
***************
Brandon Walker kicks a 41-yard field goal so that the Irish aren't blanked two consecutive seasons by USC. It was 69 points in a row for the Trojans before that play. The last Domer to score against USC: Jeff Samardizja.
I'm headed down to the field and then the interesting post-game interview sessions. Thanks for reading, everybody.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: IT'S BUSINESS (IT'S BUSINESS) TIME.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogs.nbcsports.com/system/mt-tb.cgi/10623
9 Comments
Leave a comment
About this blog
NBC Sports Blogs is your home for insider information, rumors and hard-hitting opinions on what's hot in the world of sports.
The amount of a buy out will not stand in the way if the University decides that it's time for a coaching change. The question to ask is how much money is the administration willing to spend on a new coach.
Most likely you will not read this but, in spite of being terribly disappointed with the last two ND seasons, we have to give Charlie one more and last chance. No to make any excuses but he did not have too much to work with at the upper class. Next year will be different and, considering the schedule, ND will have to get to November at least 9-1 if not 10-0.
Right now there are 2 absolutely superior programs in college football (USC & FLA). Unfortunatley there are about 45 programs between ND and the top 2.
There is no easy or quick route to prominence as a football program. Not even for Notre Dame, which has lacked continuity in its program since Lou Holtz left. If Weis is fired, or forced out, then the next coach will face the same challenges, and pressures. And in 2012, after the 7th consecutive USC rout (a "rivalry" that resembles UT and Vanderbilt in the 1990's), the Weis storylines will resurface with a new name.
Weis has had many failures. He's been outcoached, and outschemed. His staff has been an undisputed failure at developing players. But he has brought some true playmakers into the program. I'd keep him around at least one more year to build on that talent so the cupboard is fairly stocked if he's canned in 2009. And, in the meantime, he can overhaul his staff, starting with the failed offensive line coach John Latina, and promoting John Tenuta and demoting Corwin Brown. It wouldn't hurt if he opened up the QB competition in the spring.
The Irish have been in "rebuilding denial mode" for over a decade. ND has tried the quick fixes. They mortgaged their future on Weis. The school (and its supporters) now have to live with the consequences for at least another season Otherwise, recent history will repeat itself.
William,
You just hit the point exactly. The worst part of the ND is the dreadful "inoffensive" line. It is hard for me to figure out how come a group of 6'-3", more than 302 pound individuals are unable to perform the basic, fundamental duties of an offensive line: they do not block, they fail assignments, they cannot protect, they cannot open running lanes. They are, simply, dreadful. Is this the fault of Charlie, to some extent but he has a offensive line assistant for that reason and the guy is not doing his job, I guess.
If Charlie stays one more year, he better shake up his assistants staff and carry the team to at least 8-0 record by the end of October to show that he can coach all the talent he has at hand
John, William has touched on some interesting points. Why do you think Weis has failed? What skills does he need as a head coach that he did not need at New Enlgand?
There is now way in CWs fourth year that the team is inexperienced. That means CW botched his first two recruiting classes, and he will be paying for the next year also.
The Big 12 tie breaker rule is flawed. They should use this formula: Total point differential between common opponents. This would still leave Oklahoma ahead of Texas, but it's much fairer. Result: Oklahoma 118, Texas 105 and Texas Tech 65.
Thanks for being honest JDub!