Here's an article talking about the Buffs. I know it is semi-OT, but since they could be looking for a coach at the end of the season, I figured it was relevant.

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/...ped-budget

Hawkins might be safe because of CU's cash-strapped budget

September 14, 2009 11:45 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Despite a disappointing 0-2 start, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins' job might not be immediate jeopardy because of the lack of money in the school's athletic department.

The Boulder Camera reported it would cost nearly $3 million to buyout the remaining three years of Hawkins' contract. And that expense is on top of the cost of hiring a new coach.

Hawkins' contract contains a clause limiting the school's liability to $850,000 per contract year if it should terminate him without cause. Hawkins would have more than three years remaining if he was fired at any point this season. His current contract runs through Jan. 31, 2013.

The school's total liability could approach $3 million under the terms of the deal if any partial year was prorated in a buyout. If the buyout was limited to three years, it would cost CU no more than $2,550,000, the Camera reported.

Hawkins' job status was called into question after embarrassing losses to Colorado State and Toledo to start the season.

The Colorado athletic department remains in deep debt with most of an $8 million loan from the campus and the CU system in 2006 still to be paid off. Part of that debt was caused by the last coaching change when athletic director Mike Bohn fired Gary Barnett at the end of the 2005 season and hired Hawkins.

Colorado was heavily criticized for having to pay Barnett approximately $4 million when it fired him. The terms of Barnett's contract required the settlement.

The department would have to borrow money to buyout Hawkins and it would be hard-pressed to do so in the current economic climate in which state funding to the university system is being significantly trimmed and some Colorado employees and faculty members already have lost their jobs.

Even with pressure mounting on his team as it heads into Saturday's game against Wyoming, Hawkins is confident his team can start winning soon.

"You just have to do what you do better," Hawkins told the Camera. "That's the trick. I've been coaching a long time. I know a lot of coaches. I've had a lot of coaches call me going, 'Hawk, you're fine. You know what you're doing.' And guys that have lost five games in a row. You've just got to keep doing your deal.

"Eventually, you will have a game, and I told our guys this, it will pop at some point."

Coupled with two losses to finish the 2008 season, the Buffaloes currently have a four-game losing streak. That streak is tied for the seventh-longest streak in college football.

(10-06-2009 09:12 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  It would be silly to fire Kragthorpe now. If UofL had really desired a winning season, the time to fire Kragthorpe was BEFORE the season started. But since they wanted to see what life was like in year 3 of this regime, they should experience it in full...

I'm hearing it was Krag's decision to leave. I'm still trying to find out if this will be this week...in a few weeks....or after the season.

(10-06-2009 10:36 AM)CardHouse Wrote:  

(10-06-2009 09:12 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  It would be silly to fire Kragthorpe now. If UofL had really desired a winning season, the time to fire Kragthorpe was BEFORE the season started. But since they wanted to see what life was like in year 3 of this regime, they should experience it in full...

I'm hearing it was Krag's decision to leave. I'm still trying to find out if this will be this week...in a few weeks....or after the season.

Oh really? This is news, and if true it causes me to give Kragthorpe some credit for intelligence. That's a class move, when you can admit you've jumped in over your head and let someone who can get the job done have the opportunity to replace you...

(10-06-2009 09:59 AM)BullsFanatic Wrote:  It seems all but certain that Fisher will get the FSU job (supposedly a 5 year contract), so you can cross FSU off the list.

Same with Maryland, their OC is their coach in waiting and has the contract to prove it.

I think Maryland is making a mistake. Their offense sucks...

(10-06-2009 10:43 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(10-06-2009 10:36 AM)CardHouse Wrote:  

(10-06-2009 09:12 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  It would be silly to fire Kragthorpe now. If UofL had really desired a winning season, the time to fire Kragthorpe was BEFORE the season started. But since they wanted to see what life was like in year 3 of this regime, they should experience it in full...

I'm hearing it was Krag's decision to leave. I'm still trying to find out if this will be this week...in a few weeks....or after the season.

Oh really? This is news, and if true it causes me to give Kragthorpe some credit for intelligence. That's a class move, when you can admit you've jumped in over your head and let someone who can get the job done have the opportunity to replace you...

You should see how he looks and sounds now during pressers and coaches shows vs how he was when he first got here. He is a beaten down man. A part of me feels sorry for him; it's no surprise that he just doesn't want to go through it anymore.

The school is losing it's fanbase, because Krags got rid of everyone loyal to UofL and the team still sucks. I'm not surprised he's beaten down. But he has only himself to blame...

(10-06-2009 10:43 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Oh really? This is news, and if true it causes me to give Kragthorpe some credit for intelligence. That's a class move, when you can admit you've jumped in over your head and let someone who can get the job done have the opportunity to replace you...

Might be classy, but would any of us unilaterally leave for $0 today if we know that if we wait a few weeks that we'll get fired and receive a big fat buyout (assuming that's in Kragthorpe's contract)? If there's one thing that coaches love, it's protecting their own arses.

I get tired of the talk of buy outs on message boards discussing getting rid of their coach. So here is a very abridged Coaching Contract Primer:

1. In general, there are no buy outs for the party recieving the benefit of a personal services contracts (ie: coaching contracts). Damages? Yes.

2. There are liquidated damages if a coach leaves before the term is up (what the coach has to pay for breaking the contract....commonly mislabeled a buy out by the media).

3. When a coach is fired without-cause (99.999% of coaching terminations are without-cause....performance based is not for-cause), the school is still liable on the contract.

4. The 'buyout" is that the school is liable for all $$ remaining under the term of the unexpired contract.

5. So, (fill in name of coach you hate because your team sucks)'s "buy out" is whatever is left on the contract.


Brought to you as a public service by PAMCS (People Against Misinformed Contract Speak).

rath v2.0, coaching contracts nowadays specify what compensation the school (and the coach) have to pay for breaking the contract. Often it is the remainder of what's remaining on the contract, often it's not.

(10-06-2009 01:45 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  I get tired of the talk of buy outs on message boards discussing getting rid of their coach. So here is a very abridged Coaching Contract Primer:

1. There are no buy outs in personal services contracts (ie: coaching contracts).

2. There are liquidated damages if a coach leaves before the term is up (what the coach has to pay for breaking the contract....commonly mislabeled a buy out by the media).

3. When a coach is fired without-cause (99.999% of coaching terminations are without-cause....performance based is not for-cause), the school is still liable on the contract.

4. The 'buyout" is that the school is liable for all $$ remaining under the term of the unexpired contract.

5. So, (fill in name of coach you hate because your team sucks)'s "buy out" is whatever is left on the contract.


Brought to you as a public service by PAMCS (People Against Misinformed Contract Speak).

You're absolutely correct on this - apologize for the "buyout" reference as that's rarely accurate (it's usually a financial fulfillment of the remainder of the contract), although I'm not sure if there are some exceptions out there. Very rarely are terminations "for cause" - a coach essentially has to commit a felony in order for this to be invoked (and even then, it still might not be a termination for cause).

(10-05-2009 11:41 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  Cardinal Jim, you seem to be in the know, you hear this tonight as well? It says former UL player and current UL employee as source.

I saw your post this morning. I tried to talk to one of my friends but haven't heard back from him yet.

My gut tells me Jurich hasn't fired him yet. Tom has already said that he will make a decision based on program progress. I'm not sure if Tom would pull the plug without giving Kragthorpe the whole season.
CJ

It is too early to pull the plug on K-thorpe. Louisville actually looked like it would pull the upset at UK and against Pitt, but they just do not have the fire power just yet. Also, pulling the plug on a coach this early in the season would send a bad message to what ever coach that comes in next as that person may be turned off by it. Also recruits would be turned off by it. I think he will finish the season and may be back as coach of Louisville next year. Will Louisville even fork over 4 or 5 million for Tuberville?

(10-06-2009 04:29 PM)MiamiBull2 Wrote:  It is too early to pull the plug on K-thorpe. Louisville actually looked like it would pull the upset at UK and against Pitt, but they just do not have the fire power just yet. Also, pulling the plug on a coach this early in the season would send a bad message to what ever coach that comes in next as that person may be turned off by it. Also recruits would be turned off by it. I think he will finish the season and may be back as coach of Louisville next year. Will Louisville even fork over 4 or 5 million for Tuberville?

I don't know what game you were watching but most believe UofL didn't come out of the locker room after the half. At least one Pitt player accused Louisville players of having no heart.

Rest assured Kragthorpe is gone. The fans are forcing the change to be made. You don't remain the coach in Louisville very long losing three straight to UK.

As for paying Tuberville: he made 2.8 million last season at Auburn. UofL will pay Kragthorpe 2 million to go away. (The money has been raised.) Then they will offer Tuberville 2.5 a year with incentives that will push it over 3 million per year. Carroll makes 4.4, Weiss 4.2 and Meyer 4.0 per year. Just curious what makes you think Tuberville can get 5 million?
CJ

Well, Tuberville is sure as hell better than Wiess

(10-06-2009 04:48 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Well, Tuberville is sure as hell better than Wiess

Don't tell Notre Dame.
CJ

(10-06-2009 04:53 PM)CardinalJim Wrote:  

(10-06-2009 04:48 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Well, Tuberville is sure as hell better than Wiess

Don't tell Notre Dame.
CJ

Thanks CJ, and yes we have the money to pay Tuberville and for that matter get close for Gruden, on top of cash he is still getting from NFL for not coaching for another team. We can get 2.5-3 for each one of them.

I guess the question is, will the announcement happen after this week, will Krags stay, or Guy take over, and then how long until a new coach is announced.

(10-06-2009 09:20 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  UofL (possible)
Florida State (possible)
Maryland (possible)
Memphis (possible)
Colorado (possible)
Washington State (possible)

For Prestige: FSU is tops, Colorado/Maryland/Louisville in the next tier, then Wazzu then Memphis

If Louisville currently wants a guy who is unemployed, the quicker they fire Krags the better. However, if you want someone who is employed right now...look for a mid November firing at the earliest. This doesn't mean to say a proxy for UL isn't already talking to prospects right now while they are still employed in another program.

And out of Colorado/Maryland/Louisville, CU is well behind the Terps and Cards when it comes to the current reality of the programs and what coaches can be offered. To say CU is behind the 8 ball when it comes to facilities, coaches' pay, etc, is being polite. They are near the bottom in many areas coaches would be concerned with if you're ranking BCS programs. I don't see CU as a threat at all unless a prospective coach had ties to the state or maybe the Big 12.

CC is correct. Next season after expansion UofL's stadium will be larger than Marylands and Colorados. Presently UofL pays more to Kragthorpe than Colorado does Hawkins and 300,000 less than Friedgen makes at Maryland. Keep in mind that Petrino walked away from 2.6 million a year in January of '07. So UofL can certainly afford Tuberville or even Gruden.
CJ

One other thing to keep in mind is that the new arena is going to be opening next year and is expect to add a minimum of $2.5 - 3.0 million to UofL's coffers after expenses.