Quote:

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the universities need to collectively insist on termination clauses.

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That's called collusion and has serious legal implications for anyone doing it.

Mr President Elect said:

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we are going to have to back the truck up in order to keep Elko. Hopefully, this doesn't cause him to early retire too . This coaching crap is out of hand though, the universities need to collectively insist on termination clauses. For instance a 5-7 year gives the university the option to opt out early or a .600 win record over 3 or more seasons or something.

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Someone is going to money ball it and figure out that a big chunk of the $10M you're paying your coach plus the $7M you're still paying the last coach(s) you fired would be better spent on the right on-the-field talent.

Get a serviceable head coach and spend the money on elite players and competent staff.

Flack said:

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Mr President Elect said:

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we are going to have to back the truck up in order to keep Elko. Hopefully, this doesn't cause him to early retire too . This coaching crap is out of hand though, the universities need to collectively insist on termination clauses. For instance a 5-7 year gives the university the option to opt out early or a .600 win record over 3 or more seasons or something.

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Someone is going to money ball it and figure out that a big chunk of the $10M you're paying your coach plus the $7M you're still paying the last coach(s) you fired would be better spent on the right on-the-field talent.

Get a serviceable head coach and spend the money on elite players and competent staff.

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I think the market is going to dictate that we rebase Elko to $10.5 million and double all of his incentives. Keep all the same extension and buyout language structure and don't extend the length. That would mean he would be the highest paid coach if he wins a NC ($17.5 million). If someone like Florida or Penn St want to guarantee 100% him $15 mil for like 10 years then so be it. You have to be willing to let him leave at some point if you don't want to get tied down to these ridiculous contracts. If he does, just hire Klein under the same terms as Elko has right now and throw the rest of the money at giving him the best roster possible.

He's going to get around $11 million per year at 6 to 7 years with most of it guaranteed

Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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infinity ag said:

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If he wins, then he deserves it.

Pay the man.

9-0 I would not have believed it in Aug. I was bracing for 9-3 by the end.

Once the season is over and he gets deep into the playoffs, he deserves a contract upgrade. But nothing stupid as what they did for Jimbo.

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His contract does not need to be touched. 10.5 for a national championship and a 1 year extension. Perfect. Now go do it again.

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Lol this is pure delusion in the current market

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No it's not. Hi Elko's agent

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Yes it actually is. Cignetti's deal set the floor for a coach making the playoffs. You've got a massive number of jobs open, one of which is already rumored to be interested in your coach (PSU). That's reality. You don't determine what your coach is worth, your competitors do.

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Elko is proving he should be well compensated for sure and I imagine modifications are being discussed. However, nobody is worth a long term 100% guarantee regardless of performance. Not in any industry. Don't let suckers elsewhere define terms for bad business.

On a separate note who negotiated this deal: Bjork, Alberts, other?

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Worth isn't determined by your feelings. It's determined by one market actor willing to pay $1 more than your best offer.

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It's not like there's only one coach in the world. Did we absolutely have to have Fisher when we hired him? When he was extended…the fifth team in a 4 team playoff with the number 1 recruiting class being formed? Repeat that stupidity another time or two and you've got a big problem.

Teslag said:

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Quote:

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the universities need to collectively insist on termination clauses.

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That's called collusion and has serious legal implications for anyone doing it.

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they could achieve it without colluding. Yes, by my literal wording it is; but one university just needs to money whip a coach but insist on that offset language for them to sign it. Then going forward other universities could do the same when offering their coach the top contract. Then if they balk at it, it could be a bad look for them; taking the top pay in cfb but not confident they can at least go better than the lower to mid-tier coaches at less resourceful universities. Not apples to apples, but the NFL prevents rookies from making above a certain amount for a somewhat similar reason. Not sure the exact mechanism or framework for doing so, but something needs to be done.

It sounds good but the problem is it only takes one desperate actor to blow the whole thing up. The simple reality is there are far more buyers than sellers in the coaching market and what you see is the result of that.

Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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infinity ag said:

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If he wins, then he deserves it.

Pay the man.

9-0 I would not have believed it in Aug. I was bracing for 9-3 by the end.

Once the season is over and he gets deep into the playoffs, he deserves a contract upgrade. But nothing stupid as what they did for Jimbo.

---

His contract does not need to be touched. 10.5 for a national championship and a 1 year extension. Perfect. Now go do it again.

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Lol this is pure delusion in the current market

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No it's not. Hi Elko's agent

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Yes it actually is. Cignetti's deal set the floor for a coach making the playoffs. You've got a massive number of jobs open, one of which is already rumored to be interested in your coach (PSU). That's reality. You don't determine what your coach is worth, your competitors do.

---

Elko is proving he should be well compensated for sure and I imagine modifications are being discussed. However, nobody is worth a long term 100% guarantee regardless of performance. Not in any industry. Don't let suckers elsewhere define terms for bad business.

On a separate note who negotiated this deal: Bjork, Alberts, other?

---

Worth isn't determined by your feelings. It's determined by one market actor willing to pay $1 more than your best offer.

---

It's not like there's only one coach in the world. Did we absolutely have to have Fisher when we hired him? When he was extended…the fifth team in a 4 team playoff with the number 1 recruiting class being formed? Repeat that stupidity another time or two and you've got a big problem.

---

Right now have at least 7 of 8 coaching jobs open that would absolutely love for A&M to lowball Elko and try to draw a line in the sand with him contract wise.

Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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infinity ag said:

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If he wins, then he deserves it.

Pay the man.

9-0 I would not have believed it in Aug. I was bracing for 9-3 by the end.

Once the season is over and he gets deep into the playoffs, he deserves a contract upgrade. But nothing stupid as what they did for Jimbo.

---

His contract does not need to be touched. 10.5 for a national championship and a 1 year extension. Perfect. Now go do it again.

---

Lol this is pure delusion in the current market

---

No it's not. Hi Elko's agent

---

Yes it actually is. Cignetti's deal set the floor for a coach making the playoffs. You've got a massive number of jobs open, one of which is already rumored to be interested in your coach (PSU). That's reality. You don't determine what your coach is worth, your competitors do.

---

Elko is proving he should be well compensated for sure and I imagine modifications are being discussed. However, nobody is worth a long term 100% guarantee regardless of performance. Not in any industry. Don't let suckers elsewhere define terms for bad business.

On a separate note who negotiated this deal: Bjork, Alberts, other?

---

Worth isn't determined by your feelings. It's determined by one market actor willing to pay $1 more than your best offer.

---

It's not like there's only one coach in the world. Did we absolutely have to have Fisher when we hired him? When he was extended…the fifth team in a 4 team playoff with the number 1 recruiting class being formed? Repeat that stupidity another time or two and you've got a big problem.

---

Right now have at least 7 of 8 coaching jobs open that would absolutely love for A&M to lowball Elko and try to draw a line in the sand with him contract wise.

---

I never said a word about low balling Elko. He will get a good deal financially. He gets a 5 year rollover as it is so the term is adequate. But these 10 year guaranteed deals for 9 figures are lunacy. Unless, of course, there's a performance guarantee…to be equitable, a contract should protect both parties regardless of what the agent says.

In this market a deal less than 6 or 7 years and not close to fully guaranteed is a lowball.

Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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infinity ag said:

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If he wins, then he deserves it.

Pay the man.

9-0 I would not have believed it in Aug. I was bracing for 9-3 by the end.

Once the season is over and he gets deep into the playoffs, he deserves a contract upgrade. But nothing stupid as what they did for Jimbo.

---

His contract does not need to be touched. 10.5 for a national championship and a 1 year extension. Perfect. Now go do it again.

---

Lol this is pure delusion in the current market

---

No it's not. Hi Elko's agent

---

Yes it actually is. Cignetti's deal set the floor for a coach making the playoffs. You've got a massive number of jobs open, one of which is already rumored to be interested in your coach (PSU). That's reality. You don't determine what your coach is worth, your competitors do.

---

Elko is proving he should be well compensated for sure and I imagine modifications are being discussed. However, nobody is worth a long term 100% guarantee regardless of performance. Not in any industry. Don't let suckers elsewhere define terms for bad business.

On a separate note who negotiated this deal: Bjork, Alberts, other?

---

Worth isn't determined by your feelings. It's determined by one market actor willing to pay $1 more than your best offer.

---

It's not like there's only one coach in the world. Did we absolutely have to have Fisher when we hired him? When he was extended…the fifth team in a 4 team playoff with the number 1 recruiting class being formed? Repeat that stupidity another time or two and you've got a big problem.

---

Right now have at least 7 of 8 coaching jobs open that would absolutely love for A&M to lowball Elko and try to draw a line in the sand with him contract wise.

---

I never said a word about low balling Elko. He will get a good deal financially. He gets a 5 year rollover as it is so the term is adequate. But these 10 year guaranteed deals for 9 figures are lunacy. Unless, of course, there's a performance guarantee…to be equitable, a contract should protect both parties regardless of what the agent says.

---

Penn State, Auburn, Florida, and maybe LSU would all do the 10 year/100m guarantee deal for Mike Elko. Which is why we have to. He may like A&M but I promise you he is not going to take less than he is offered elsewhere to stay here.

Pumpkinhead said:

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Elko has some huge 2025 performance bonuses built into his current contract, such as:

- Appear in SEC Champ Game: $100,000
- Win SEC Champ Game: $1,500,000
- Make the playoffs: $1,000,000 bonus
- Make the playoff quarter finals: $1,500,000
- Make the playoff semi-finals: $2,000,000
- Make the National Championship Game: $2,500,000
- Win the National Championship Game: $3,500,000

- I think the guy has already locked up $1,000,000 extra cause will make playoffs but damn! Look at all that extra cash still on the table.

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I have no idea of the incentive packages of other coaches, but those numbers seem pretty anemic given we have accomplished none them, nor even sniffed any of them, since the BCS and CFP came into being.

Caleb12 said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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infinity ag said:

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If he wins, then he deserves it.

Pay the man.

9-0 I would not have believed it in Aug. I was bracing for 9-3 by the end.

Once the season is over and he gets deep into the playoffs, he deserves a contract upgrade. But nothing stupid as what they did for Jimbo.

---

His contract does not need to be touched. 10.5 for a national championship and a 1 year extension. Perfect. Now go do it again.

---

Lol this is pure delusion in the current market

---

No it's not. Hi Elko's agent

---

Yes it actually is. Cignetti's deal set the floor for a coach making the playoffs. You've got a massive number of jobs open, one of which is already rumored to be interested in your coach (PSU). That's reality. You don't determine what your coach is worth, your competitors do.

---

Elko is proving he should be well compensated for sure and I imagine modifications are being discussed. However, nobody is worth a long term 100% guarantee regardless of performance. Not in any industry. Don't let suckers elsewhere define terms for bad business.

On a separate note who negotiated this deal: Bjork, Alberts, other?

---

Worth isn't determined by your feelings. It's determined by one market actor willing to pay $1 more than your best offer.

---

It's not like there's only one coach in the world. Did we absolutely have to have Fisher when we hired him? When he was extended…the fifth team in a 4 team playoff with the number 1 recruiting class being formed? Repeat that stupidity another time or two and you've got a big problem.

---

Right now have at least 7 of 8 coaching jobs open that would absolutely love for A&M to lowball Elko and try to draw a line in the sand with him contract wise.

---

I never said a word about low balling Elko. He will get a good deal financially. He gets a 5 year rollover as it is so the term is adequate. But these 10 year guaranteed deals for 9 figures are lunacy. Unless, of course, there's a performance guarantee…to be equitable, a contract should protect both parties regardless of what the agent says.

---

Penn State, Auburn, Florida, and maybe LSU would all do the 10 year/100m guarantee deal for Mike Elko. Which is why we have to. He may like A&M but I promise you he is not going to take less than he is offered elsewhere to stay here.

---

Pure speculation. All of those schools just got burned…Hell, even Napier is walking away with $30 mil without delivering a single good season and his tenure. You think Auburn thinks they can't miss after what happened with Freeze?

Good! I really hope we pay him an extra 3.5 million in a few months!!!

jokershady said:

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Good! I really hope we pay him an extra 3.5 million in a few months!!!

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If he earns a fraction of that total, his renegotiated contract will dwarf these incentives.

ElephantRider said:

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And it would be worth every penny

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... of someone else's money.

Sark making big money for a team that will go 8-4 and go to the Birmingham Bowl.

Explain to me how a coach wins the SEC but doesnt make a playoff bid

Flack said:

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Mr President Elect said:

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we are going to have to back the truck up in order to keep Elko. Hopefully, this doesn't cause him to early retire too . This coaching crap is out of hand though, the universities need to collectively insist on termination clauses. For instance a 5-7 year gives the university the option to opt out early or a .600 win record over 3 or more seasons or something.

---

Someone is going to money ball it and figure out that a big chunk of the $10M you're paying your coach plus the $7M you're still paying the last coach(s) you fired would be better spent on the right on-the-field talent.

Get a serviceable head coach and spend the money on elite players and competent staff.

---

Have you not learned anything at all yet about what it means to have an elite HC?

Stone44 said:

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Sark making big money for a team that will go 8-4 and go to the Birmingham Bowl.

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Indeed, all glory is fleeting.

Sterling82 said:

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Stone44 said:

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Sark making big money for a team that will go 8-4 and go to the Birmingham Bowl.

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Indeed, all glory is fleeting.

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But the money is nice

Flack said:

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Mr President Elect said:

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we are going to have to back the truck up in order to keep Elko. Hopefully, this doesn't cause him to early retire too . This coaching crap is out of hand though, the universities need to collectively insist on termination clauses. For instance a 5-7 year gives the university the option to opt out early or a .600 win record over 3 or more seasons or something.

---

Someone is going to money ball it and figure out that a big chunk of the $10M you're paying your coach plus the $7M you're still paying the last coach(s) you fired would be better spent on the right on-the-field talent.

Get a serviceable head coach and spend the money on elite players and competent staff.

---

You could argue the guarantees aren't high enough because basically nothing at this point is stopping teams from firing coaches buyout be damned.

FWIW, you're 100% right. I'm guessing we do 5 at 12 or 13 guaranteed in December if we make the playoffs. Plus a similar bonus structure but with bigger numbers.

The contract everyone loves is a "former coordinator, unproven HC" version. NOT a playoff producing SEC Head Ball Coach version.

If we stay on the current path, 5 at 12 or 13 makes sense even if it's guaranteed. Elko would absolutely coach 3 of those 5 leaving a "manageable" amount guaranteed remaining. 10 at 12 or 13 guaranteed which could leave a payoff of $70 - $90 million does not.

At this point everyone wants Elko here for the rest of his career and I hope he wants the same. If that happens and he builds a juggernaut the term of this contract is irrelevant other than the agents compensation because we're not going to run out and fire him unless he pulls a Fisher and becomes more interested in enjoying the high life than coaching…or even like Sumlin. I don't think that happens but things like this are why contracts exist in the first place.

Teslag said:

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Farmer_J said:

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That contract looks fair and reasonable. I would actually be fine if it wasn't cumulative.

Why would anybody want to renegotiate?

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Because the market and our competitors will dictate we do

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Terrible reason. Its almost like Jimbo never happened. Plus, it's not working for anyone.

If Elko wants a jimbo contract, let some other fool give him one. We'll stick with hungry coaches.

Caleb12 said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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Sterling82 said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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Teslag said:

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A is A said:

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infinity ag said:

---

If he wins, then he deserves it.

Pay the man.

9-0 I would not have believed it in Aug. I was bracing for 9-3 by the end.

Once the season is over and he gets deep into the playoffs, he deserves a contract upgrade. But nothing stupid as what they did for Jimbo.

---

His contract does not need to be touched. 10.5 for a national championship and a 1 year extension. Perfect. Now go do it again.

---

Lol this is pure delusion in the current market

---

No it's not. Hi Elko's agent

---

Yes it actually is. Cignetti's deal set the floor for a coach making the playoffs. You've got a massive number of jobs open, one of which is already rumored to be interested in your coach (PSU). That's reality. You don't determine what your coach is worth, your competitors do.

---

Elko is proving he should be well compensated for sure and I imagine modifications are being discussed. However, nobody is worth a long term 100% guarantee regardless of performance. Not in any industry. Don't let suckers elsewhere define terms for bad business.

---

Worth isn't determined by your feelings. It's determined by one market actor willing to pay $1 more than your best offer.

---

It's not like there's only one coach in the world. Did we absolutely have to have Fisher when we hired him? When he was extended…the fifth team in a 4 team playoff with the number 1 recruiting class being formed? Repeat that stupidity another time or two and you've got a big problem.

---

Right now have at least 7 of 8 coaching jobs open that would absolutely love for A&M to lowball Elko and try to draw a line in the sand with him contract wise.

---

I never said a word about low balling Elko. He will get a good deal financially. He gets a 5 year rollover as it is so the term is adequate. But these 10 year guaranteed deals for 9 figures are lunacy. Unless, of course, there's a performance guarantee…to be equitable, a contract should protect both parties regardless of what the agent says.

---

Penn State, Auburn, Florida, and maybe LSU would all do the 10 year/100m guarantee deal for Mike Elko. Which is why we have to. He may like A&M but I promise you he is not going to take less than he is offered elsewhere to stay here.

---

Sumlin and Jimbo were great, until we gave them guaranteed FU money regardless of performance.

If a coach won't sign an incentive based contract, he is saying he wants the money with no expectations.

No thanks

Farmer_J said:

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Teslag said:

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Farmer_J said:

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That contract looks fair and reasonable. I would actually be fine if it wasn't cumulative.

Why would anybody want to renegotiate?

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Because the market and our competitors will dictate we do

---

Terrible reason. Its almost like Jimbo never happened. Plus, it's not working for anyone.

If Elko wants a jimbo contract, let some other fool give him one. We'll stick with hungry coaches.

---

Except that's the market for winning coaches. It's not even your money so I'm unsure why you care.

Lots of smoke Penn State is getting Drink as their new coach.

So all the BAS Ags that kept worrying Elko might go there you can switch to another item now.

As it should be... Keep them here with valid contracts, but pay bonuses based on performance. Don't fire them when things go bad in the NIL era if they are a good coach. Adjust and see what can be done.

Half the coaches that were fired this year are good at what they do. The NIL has changed it all.

If he pulls this off he deserves every penny of the bonuses. That's where the school should focus the pay. I'd rather see us double or triple the incentive compensation than wildly increase base compensation.

WIN 10 GAMES = 25 YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

Farmer_J said:

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Teslag said:

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Farmer_J said:

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That contract looks fair and reasonable. I would actually be fine if it wasn't cumulative.

Why would anybody want to renegotiate?

---

Because the market and our competitors will dictate we do

---

Terrible reason. Its almost like Jimbo never happened. Plus, it's not working for anyone.

If Elko wants a jimbo contract, let some other fool give him one. We'll stick with hungry coaches.

---

It's not working for Georgia? I mean, so far this year looks good for Alabama and DeBoer too.

Should Indiana let Cignetti walk?

'03ag said:

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A. G. Pennypacker said:

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'03ag said:

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FDT 1999 said:

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My understanding is the bonuses aren't cumulative. If he wins it all, he gets an extra $3.5….not every bonus.

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I think this is correct. And in that case, my opinion is they aren't large enough.

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I have also heard it's cumulative. If his base is $7 mill and he wins it all, he makes $10.5 mil. That would make him the 6th highest paid college coach according to the list I found (see below).

I'm OK with a lower base, but in my opinion, if he wins it all, as difficult as that is and as rare as it has been at A&M, the incentives should make him significantly more than any other college coach - like $15 mil +.

• Kirby Smart (Georgia): ~$13,282,580
• Ryan Day (Ohio State): ~$12,575,000
• Lincoln Riley (USC): ~$11,537,560
• Dabo Swinney (Clemson): ~$11,447,025
• Steve Sarkisian (Texas): ~$10,800,000
• Dan Lanning (Oregon): ~$10,400,000
• Kalen DeBoer (Alabama): ~$10,250,000
• Brian Kelly (LSU): ~$10,175,000
• Bill Belichick (North Carolina): ~$10,100,000

Note - James Franklin was making $8.5 mil at PSU. Since everyone seems to think that Elko is their number 1 target.

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That's right where I was at. When you're talking about single year incentives a title should be massive. Hell why not even make that the wording of the contract. You win the title, you make whatever the highest paid coach in CFB makes, plus a million.

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They were setup, in 2023, to make pay him on par with the top-paid coach, at the time. We are nearly 2 years removed from that initial contract, which is why even the incentives would pay him shy of the top.

This will all be renegotiated, this season.

If the market for the top coach in the country is $13MM, then there's no reason to pay Elko more than that, unless it is another contract built on incentives. I do agree that an incentive-based contract SHOULD pay out more, if you meet those incentives, than others with more guaranteed. Kind of similar to how I believe Sales-people with lower base salaries should make a higher percentage on commissions. You take the smaller base because you want to hit those multipliers and such, to really make good money.

The decade-long guarantee is a pretty awful idea if nothing more than from a phycology perspective. It's impossible for someone to not take their foot off the gas if they have so much money coming in not matter how hard they try or what the results are.

Jimbo clearly decided that it was too much work considering he was getting paid regardless.
Brian Kelly did the same thing.

If you were the best salesperson, lawyer, engineer, or whatever and your boss came to you and told you that you were going to make 50% more than you've ever made in your career and furthermore pay you that for 10 years regardless of how you did even if they fired you, how would you react? Would you get up and spend those extra weekend days and nights at the office or would you go hunting?

In year one, two or three... sure your pride would have you try but as soon as something negative happened... customers calling you all night griping, the good name of your business starts to decline, or people begin to blame you for underperformance it wouldn't be long until anyone would check out knowing that they we set for life regardless of if they put up with the nonsense or not.

PeekingDuck said:

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I have a feeling that if he wins the national championship, we're gonna take care of him.

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"Take care of him". Give him more money, but not "guaranteed money". We learned our lesson.

But go 7-3 next year? We'll "take care of him". Drag him to a dumpster in the back alley..