Rich Rod, Casteel, and the Myth about Money

Submitted by Baloo on October 30th, 2014 at 7:45 PM

I realize that this board will never agree on what caused Rodriguez to fail here. However, in an effort to focus our pointless bickering on the right questions, it's time to put to bed a very persistent myth. May the following remove one source of contention from our angry but increasingly-united fanbase.

The myth:

"In 2008, Bill Martin gave Rich Rodriguez only 265,000 to hire a defensive coordinator. This amount was too low to bring Casteel or any other top defensive coordinator to Michigan, which is why the defense was so terrible. Rich Rod was set up to fail."

Ignoring the silly notion that Martin would agree to furnish a new million-dollar weightroom and pay 2.5 million of RR's buyout but simultaneously put a $265,000 cap on the DC salary, let's take a look at what other power conference teams around the country were paying their DCs in 2008.

Ohio State (Jim Heacock): 260,510

Oklahoma (Brent Venables): 210,000

USC (Nick Holt): 300,000

Oregon (Nick Aliotti): 225,000

Alabama (Kirby Smart): 360,000

LSU (Bradley Dale Peveto): 200,000

Florida (Charlie Strong): 300,000

Nebraska (Carl Pelini): 190,000

Auburn (Ted Roof): 370,000

Georgia (Willie Martinez): 220,000

Florida State (Mickey Andrews): 295,483

Washington (Ed Donatell): 334,000

Cal (Bob Gregory): 168,000

Tennessee (John Chavis): 340,000

Texas (Will Muschamp): 250,000

Va Tech (Bud Foster): 300,000

Clemson (Vic Koennig): 260,000

Average: $269,611

Even assuming Michigan refused a requested increase, which is not supported by any documented facts, the offer of 265,000 was competitive even among the nation's richest big-name programs. The fact that it produced the 109th-ranked defense in 2010 is ridiculous and a spectacular indictment of the hiring abilites of one man. His name isn't Bill Martin.

MGoBoard

Football

mjv

October 31st, 2014 at 1:08 AM ^

Baloo,

Your data is not accurate. And while I like the idea you are trying to pull together, with the accurate data, it flips your argument on its head. I've audited 8 of the names you list and opnly one has the correct salary. Some of the ames are incorrect.

It is apparent that GERG was on the low end of the scale. And a comparable hire by Illinois of Vic Koennig was for $325k and Minnesota was paying $305k. Given the hot seat RR was on, he probably would have needed a premium to lure a coach with decent standing at his current spot to AA in 2010.

Ohio State (Jim Heacock): 260,510 -- Heacock was making $309k http://Minnesota defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove (total compensation: $305,000, maximum bonus: $0)

Oklahoma (Brent Venables): 210,000 -- Venables was making $440k http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5869549

USC (Nick Holt): 300,000

Oregon (Nick Aliotti): 225,000

Alabama (Kirby Smart): 360,000 -- Article indicates that Smart's salary nearly doubled to $750k in 2011, so that puts him over $375k http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/01/alabama_assistants_kirby_smart.html

LSU (Bradley Dale Peveto): 200,000 -- John Chavis was the DC. He made $475k in 2010 http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2010/01/lsu_proposing_raises_for_john.html

Florida (Charlie Strong): 300,000 -- Teryl Austin was the DC and his salary was $440k http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-18/sports/os-florida-football-coaching-contract20100518_1_stan-drayton-offensive-coordinator-steve-addazio-chuck-heater

Nebraska (Carl Pelini): 190,000 -- CArl Pelinin was making $375k http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/tag/_/name/jim-heacock/count/16

Auburn (Ted Roof): 370,000 -- CORRECT

Georgia (Willie Martinez): 220,000

Florida State (Mickey Andrews): 295,483

Washington (Ed Donatell): 334,000

Cal (Bob Gregory): 168,000

Tennessee (John Chavis): 340,000

Texas (Will Muschamp): 250,000

Va Tech (Bud Foster): 300,000

Clemson (Vic Koennig): 260,000 -- Koennig was hired by Illinois for $325k. And Minnesota defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove was making $305k. ) http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/tag/_/name/jim-heacock/count/16

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Baloo

October 31st, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^

Given that you've used the wrong year, I'm sure much of my data will appear incorrect. My post was about salaries in 2008. You've cited salaries from 2010/2011.

Joined: 10/03/2014

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mjv

October 31st, 2014 at 2:06 AM ^

My mistake on the year. I got fixated on the year called out at the bottom of the post.

I should probably put my work down and go to bed since my ability to read AND comprehend is shot for the night.

Maybe I'll dash off a couple of nasty emails to clients?

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Baloo

October 31st, 2014 at 2:55 AM ^

Go ahead, and know that if you do, I shall steadfastly defend you until faced with unassailable proof that you indeed sent them.

Joined: 10/03/2014

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Proclus

October 31st, 2014 at 1:48 AM ^

Maybe you're right that it wasn't just the dollar amount as such that made Casteel's decision. Maybe he saw one of the wealthiest athletic departments pushing back over a few thousand dollars and some two-year contracts while negotiating to hire one of the hottest coaches in the country and realized that Rodriguez was facing a level of institutional dysfunction that Casteel wanted no part of. That would have been awfully perceptive of him.

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MGoGrendel

October 31st, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^

your avatar!

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His Dudeness

October 31st, 2014 at 8:47 AM ^

Why can't you morons just get over it and admit that RR was/is a great coach and that maybe just maybe the almight Michigan is at fault here?

RR was a great coach before he got here. RR is a great coach after he left here...

Maybe it was the masses of morons just like you, but with more money, that are making it impossible to win here.

MAYBE.

Take your grandpa football ideals and shove them up your ass. Hire a good coach this time and GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY.

Joined: 11/24/2008

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mgowill

October 31st, 2014 at 9:25 AM ^

DECAF COFFEE IS FOR BEGINNERS!!!!

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harmon40

October 31st, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^

that RRod only stunk at Michigan?

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Blue Durham

October 31st, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^

Yes, it does seem odd to these people, and it doesn't fit their narrative. That is why they try to disparage Rodriguez' accomplishments at Arizona. They try to pass off what he has done there by claiming his record is no different that Arizona's historical record, or that his record is no different than Stoops' last two WHOLE seasons, thus not including the 4-8 season where Stoops was fired mid-season. The very season that lead to Rodriguez' hiring at Arizona. Yeah, lets not include that season. Lets ignore the fact that Arizona hasn't had 3 consecutive 8 win seasons since the 1970s. Rodriguez is well on his way to accomplishing that.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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harmon40

October 31st, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^

30+ years in coaching, unqualified success in all but 3 of them.

Hmmm...looks like a pretty good football coach to me.

Of course I was a Poli Sci major, never did take a statistics course...

Joined: 05/02/2009

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BlueVoix

October 31st, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^

Jeez Baloo, you've brought back literally every RichRod supporter from the days of 2010. This is vintage board material. I'm swooning with nostalgia.

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93Grad

October 31st, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^

1) Do you really think that Castel was not RR's #1 choice to be his DC?

2) Do you really think that more money would not have increased the odds of bringing Casteel here?

The fact is that RR was not able to bring over his #1 choice and I think you have to be pretty naive if you don't think that more money would not have helped lure Casteel.

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