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Hooks Forbes, Alabama and Nick Saban most powerful coach in Sports
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
So who is the most powerful coach in sports today? Nick Saban of Alabama according to Forbes magazine (09/01/2008 issue). Forbes wastes no time in anoiting Saban as the best of the best and ahead of the pack when it comes to be the most powerful sports coach in our time.
While God-fearing, rabid fans in Alabama recognize Saban is not God, no doubt he is a god in the sense that it is a superhuman being who has power over human destiny, namely, the Crimson Tide.
As is unique about Saban's stature, as Forbes points out, is that Saban's eight-year, $ 32 million contract gives him complete and absolute control over all aspects of programrecruiting Alabama football, training, business administration and public relations. No other coach in any other sport enjoys such an advantage, if in fact you do get to be an advantage. Time will tell.
Until success becomes evident, Saban's contract also has some very special advantages, such as 25 hours for private use of a university airplane, two cars and a membership country club, all the accessories that make his annual compensation package of close to $ 5 million per year. You can also leave the school at any time without penalty, a rarity in big-time contracts as a college coach.
His contract is still the highest after his first year on the job, and his contract is larger than all but a handful of NFL coaches.
No coach, according to Forbes, can match Saban's combination of money, control and influence, and that includes all coaches in the professional leagues. Suffice to say that Saban, and his agent, James E. Sexton II, know a thing or two about how to negotiate a professional contract outstanding.
Saban Alabama can afford. The Crimson Tide football program generated $ 52 million in revenue last year (yes, college football is big business), and had an estimated $ 32 million in revenue. Yikes, that is the greatest benefit. How do you like to run a business that generates $ 52 billion in revenues and has a gain of 61%.
Taxpayers in Alabama can also relax and and not a cent of Saban's contract is paid by the student or the taxpayer, all out of the university budget football program, which also funds 77% of the athletic department, including the production of nonrevenue sports.
It is Saban who has been tabbed to lift the fortunes of Alabama back to the glory years of experience with Red Tide Paul "Bear" Bryant, who won six championships and 13 national championships SEC. When Bryant retired in 1982, the success of Alabama football took a dramatic drop in national prestige.
So how much of a impact has Saban had after his first year? Well, the team was 7-6 and beat Colorado in the Independence Bowl. Saban first spring practice game drew 92,000 fans (you read that right). The waiting list for season tickets tripled to 10,000 after Saban's arrival. His recruiting class this year was ranked No. 1 nationally by a consensus of follow-up services.
Saban is a control freak (Alabama football practice are almost closed, and he personally authorizes all interviews with players and coaches), but also very successful at what he does. He rose programs football at Michigan State (from squat to a 9-2 season in 5 years with 4 bowl games) and Louisiana State (a 48-16 record in five years, five games bowl, two SEC titles and a national championship) before arriving at 'Bama.
University of Alabama President Robert Witt, is fine with all what happens in its sports program. There have been 100,000 donors to the recent capital campaign at the University of $ 500 million, many of whom are ardent football supporters.
So how will Alabama do this year? Probably very good. With Saban, they developed in the field or is nursing splinters on your backside ride the bench. Nick Saban expects to win, not occasionally, but each time with blood.
That is very difficult to do in the SEC, but for $ 4 million per year learn to outthink, outwork his opponents and recruiting. Saban has some talent coming, and nothing beats talent when talent show to play.
About the Author
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:
“Nick Saban: A Great College Football Coach Who Might Bring Alabama Back to Greatness”
“Evaluating Three First-Year Coaches: Saban, Erickson and Dantonio – Part 1″
“Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz During Football’s Bowl Season”
Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html
Just Like You Imagined, Auburn Football 2009