Comments on: Paradox in College Football?

By: asg

asg — Sun, 04 Jan 2004 05:06:02 +0000

Actually, I think most coaching contracts of this sort have a clause along the line of “If Saban (or whoever) achieves goal X, he will be made the highest paid coach in the country.”

By: Keith M Ellis

Keith M Ellis — Sun, 04 Jan 2004 02:21:41 +0000

“As the prevalance of this clause approached 25% of all organizations, it obviously led to a problem.“—r.v. agnos

Why? Or did you mean “exceeded 25%”? Oh, wait, you wrote “led to a problem” which makes sense. Never mind. I must be in a persnickety mood today. I’ll leave now.

By: R.V. Agnos

R.V. Agnos — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 22:39:26 +0000

While obviously intended in jest, a similar real-world problem has emerged in the world of organization board members. Orgs don’t want to be seen to be cheap in compensating board members, and don’t want to be locked into a fixed figure. Therefore, it has become very common to have a clause guaranteeing payment to board members that will be “in the top quarter of all boards nationwide”. As the prevalance of this clause approached 25% of all organizations, it obviously led to a problem.

By: Brian Weatherson

Brian Weatherson — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 19:10:59 +0000

I made up the Fassel to Nebraska rumour, because I wanted an example of a possible salary above $3 million. But it’s not entirely absurd. Fassel seems prepared to take the Cardinals job so I’d figure he’d be interested in the Nebraska job too, which has to be more fun in most ways. Considering Fassel is by any measure a better coach than Pete Carroll, and Pete Carroll just took USC to a national title, Fassel at Nebraska could really be dominant.

By: Walt Pohl

Walt Pohl — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 17:17:56 +0000

I hadn’t heard the Fassel to Nebraska rumor. How likely do you think it is? It seems like Fassel is the belle-of-the-ball for an NFL head coaching slot this time around.

By: Brian Weatherson

Brian Weatherson — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 15:34:37 +0000

This was obviously meant to be a bit of a joke, but the point Keith makes is actually relevant to its real-world interpretation. I’d bet it’s actually clear in the interpretation of the contract that Saban is meant to be paid more than the (other) highest paid coach next year is to be paid. Given how much Nebraska will have to pay to get Jim Fassel (or whoever they hire) to move to Lincoln, this could be a real windfall for Saban.

By: Tom Slee

Tom Slee — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 14:42:25 +0000

I do have a suspicion that implicit clauses of this kind are part of the reason for growing inequality. That is, companies (in North America, at least) now routinely decide salaries by comparison to industry norms. Some jobs—the better paid ones—are deemed “essential” and companies are prepared to offer a bit above the average for such positions. For other jobs they are prepared to pay “competitively”, meaning the average. It doesn’t take many years for CEO packages to go through the roof once this kind of approach to salaries is widely adopted.

By: Keith M Ellis

Keith M Ellis — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 06:58:33 +0000

“Saban will be paid one dollar more than the highest-paid college coach in the nation…”

No paradox, as the first clause is in the future tense while the second is arguably in the past/present.

By: Sam Jackson

Sam Jackson — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 03:55:44 +0000

Not just any other coach having that contract…but Pete Carroll since he is likely to end up with a national championship as well!