I think these agents by and large hate the deals. Maybe because they are not their clients?
(With Tucker), if you want to give him that deal after he beats Ohio State, then I get that. You get it on a Saturday morning and then you get smoked? Not even competitive. I think most athletic directors just have no guts. If you’re Michigan’s guy and (Jim) Harbaugh’s flirting with this Vikings job, go take the job. I don’t need to redo your deal. I’m going to get somebody who wants to be here. I’m not saying that’s what they should have done, but if more guys took that approach, coaches would realize, “Oh s—, Michigan is a really good job.”
Agent 2: Mel’s got a great situation. I can go 8-4 every three years and not worry about getting fired? That’s the greatest f——- job in the world. It’s really becoming irresponsible. I get that people say agents are the reason for this, but the fact administrators would do this shows how foolish they are. They’re spending TV money they don’t even have.
Agent 3: For both Mel and James, they got a great deal. But did the market dictate that those contracts should have been given? I don’t know. Were there enough schools going after Mel Tucker and James Franklin that this was the value over replacement? A lot of people in East Lansing were happy, but a lot of people also said, “Well, did Mel do enough yet to deserve that type of contract?” Same thing in State College. …
The reality is, how many 10-year contracts were signed this offseason and how many coaches will actually make it through those 10 years without getting fired? It almost never works out. As an agent, I can tell you that the market is very quickly overpaying for what it can get in terms of value over replacement for a good coach.
Agent 4: It’s a fool’s errand because things change. Nothing stays the same. A decade is an eternity in the sports business. Yes, buyouts are different, but with a longer team, the guaranteed money is much larger. Why would you ever put that type of liability on your institution? That’s not a very economically sound way of doing business. The demand for a return on that investment is enormous. What are the billionaires going to do when Brian Kelly doesn’t win a national championship in the first three years or when Mel Tucker doesn’t sniff being in a national championship game? Will they be happy with eight wins?
Agent 5: It was shocking to see guys get such huge guaranteed deals, but my prediction now is that we’ll just start to see more and more of them.
Agent 1: Some schools have to realize who they are. I don’t know if they’re trying to curry favor with alumni. Some ADs just like to say they’re the one who hired this guy.
What are your thoughts on long-term deals, like the ones to keep Mel Tucker (Michigan State) and James Franklin (Penn State) in place?
Agent 1: Who other than Penn State would give James Franklin a 10-year deal? So what if he leaves? You’ll get another one. You’re Penn State. You can get another good coach.(With Tucker), if you want to give him that deal after he beats Ohio State, then I get that. You get it on a Saturday morning and then you get smoked? Not even competitive. I think most athletic directors just have no guts. If you’re Michigan’s guy and (Jim) Harbaugh’s flirting with this Vikings job, go take the job. I don’t need to redo your deal. I’m going to get somebody who wants to be here. I’m not saying that’s what they should have done, but if more guys took that approach, coaches would realize, “Oh s—, Michigan is a really good job.”
Agent 2: Mel’s got a great situation. I can go 8-4 every three years and not worry about getting fired? That’s the greatest f——- job in the world. It’s really becoming irresponsible. I get that people say agents are the reason for this, but the fact administrators would do this shows how foolish they are. They’re spending TV money they don’t even have.
Agent 3: For both Mel and James, they got a great deal. But did the market dictate that those contracts should have been given? I don’t know. Were there enough schools going after Mel Tucker and James Franklin that this was the value over replacement? A lot of people in East Lansing were happy, but a lot of people also said, “Well, did Mel do enough yet to deserve that type of contract?” Same thing in State College. …
The reality is, how many 10-year contracts were signed this offseason and how many coaches will actually make it through those 10 years without getting fired? It almost never works out. As an agent, I can tell you that the market is very quickly overpaying for what it can get in terms of value over replacement for a good coach.
Agent 4: It’s a fool’s errand because things change. Nothing stays the same. A decade is an eternity in the sports business. Yes, buyouts are different, but with a longer team, the guaranteed money is much larger. Why would you ever put that type of liability on your institution? That’s not a very economically sound way of doing business. The demand for a return on that investment is enormous. What are the billionaires going to do when Brian Kelly doesn’t win a national championship in the first three years or when Mel Tucker doesn’t sniff being in a national championship game? Will they be happy with eight wins?
Agent 5: It was shocking to see guys get such huge guaranteed deals, but my prediction now is that we’ll just start to see more and more of them.
Agent 1: Some schools have to realize who they are. I don’t know if they’re trying to curry favor with alumni. Some ADs just like to say they’re the one who hired this guy.
