(02-15-2013 01:14 PM)camelfan Wrote:  You cannot compare Rick Byrd at Belmont to any coach we have had. He is a master. He proved it all too well when he came back from a large deficit in the Creek one Saturday afternoon that I will never forget.

You can take all our coaches together and you will not get a Rick Byrd.

I could not AGREE with you more! Just so you are aware, I am not comparing Rick Byrd to anyone in terms of level of coach. I am comparing strictly budget and what I perceive to be support (finiancial or otherwise) for programs across the board.

I am not saying Rick Byrd is not worth that money and anyone on CU's campus is. What I am saying is that Rick Byrd is not at a peer institution because of his salary and the budget his department has to operate with. I'll pose this question. Do you think Campbell would pay any coach regardless of success $700,000? Keep in mind that I would estimate that amount is about 5 times the current coaching salary and is probably about 3 times what the University president makes (Belmont's President makes roughly $900,000). Also, Belmont averaged less than 70 more people per game last year than CU AND is about 900 more per game this year. So the salary difference is not made up in ticket sales.

All my statement before was saying, is that Belmont is not a peer institution. Mercer is quickly not a peer institution either. I am not talking about sports. I am just looking at enrollment numbers and overall size of the schools.

I would think CU is more on par with Charleston Southern, who was terrible with a capital T in athletics until recently, Presbyterian, Jacksonville, Stetson, and High Point. I wouldn't even make Liberty a peer institution at this point because of the amount of cash they have always pushed into those athletic programs.

Also, I was at that game as well against Belmont. It was heartbreaking.