Sound Off: What do you say?

Sound Off: What do you say? May 4, 2017

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Suddenly those fat contract extensions Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Chris Collins signed look, well, adorable.

Collins got Brad Underwood money, about $3 million a year, to tick past the new Illinois basketball coach.

A source said Fitzgerald was boosted into the $3.5 million-to-$4 million range. That’s serious cabbage until you consider it’s roughly what Nick Saban will be paid to coach spring football at Alabama.

USA Today reported Saban will be paid $11.125 million this season under a three-year extension the university board of trustees’ compensation committee approved Tuesday. That figure includes a $4 million signing bonus.

How much would the board have authorized had the Crimson Tide actually stopped Deshaun Watson on Clemson’s winning touchdown pass in the national title game?

Saban had been making a reported $6.9 million per season, a figure most of America already found obscene. Alabama deemed it obscenely low.

Economists will no doubt defend Saban’s salary, noting that Alabama’s football team brings in revenue surpassing $100 million a year, according to Forbes, and posted a $46 million profit in 2015.

Given those figures, you can’t call Saban a bad investment.

The issue here is college football officials (coaches, athletic directors, playoff executives) want the sport’s salary structure — no salary for the players, crazy cash for the coaches — to remain intact. Players do receive a scholarship, room and board, clothing, food and a stipend, plus mentorship and career training.

Many believe that’s still not a fair deal. And if you’re someone who defends the current system by saying there’s not enough money to go around, those on the other side can hold up a sign that says, “$11,125,000.”


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