Just to give you guys an idea of how big this hire is in Arkansas . . . two Little Rock stations led off the 10 o'clock news (not the sports) with the hire. Normally they barely cover our games in the sports segment on Little Rock stations.
Every single Northwest Arkansas station had at least 30 seconds on it. We struggle to get any coverage there.
Funny thing is that one station's sports report is called the "Razorback Report" and they had to segue after the razorback-themed intro segment to an ASU story.
Erin Andrews put something on her facebook about it and on her twitter. At last check, her facbeook had 500+ likes and 600 comments on that update alone.
The value of this coverage is way more than $800,000.
I think this makes big statement for the SBC in general. You can see all of the schools are making a huge commitment and this is a national name. It changes the perception from fans of all the non-AQs for sure. This only helps in getting better TV deals and bowl commitments.
I think we are in the middle of an arms race in the SBC sort of. UNT and FAU just built new stadiums. FAU just hired a nice name as coach. ASU UL and WKU just stepped up salaries for coaches big time and ASU just hired a national name as coach. FIU is still strong, and South Alabama is making strides
I think Troy and MTSU will make big moves soon to try and step up the game. ULM might be in trouble.
(12-14-2011 12:18 AM)BlueRaiderFan. Wrote: Very cool...did he get a raise coming from AU or did you guys just match his salary?
He was making 1.3 million at Auburn. He took a major cut to come back to his home state.
The lure of being an HC and possibly moving up to HC at an AQ school is big. Maybe you'll get "lucky" and get a coach that wants to build somethign and stay.
(12-14-2011 12:24 AM)westcoastwolf Wrote: Every single Northwest Arkansas station had at least 30 seconds on it. We struggle to get any coverage there.
Funny thing is that one station's sports report is called the "Razorback Report" and they had to segue after the razorback-themed intro segment to an ASU story.
Erin Andrews put something on her facebook about it and on her twitter. At last check, her facbeook had 500+ likes and 600 comments on that update alone.
The value of this coverage is way more than $800,000.
For ASU fans, this is INSANITY.
If you're a state fan though, I wouldn't encourage you to read those comments.
(12-14-2011 12:24 AM)westcoastwolf Wrote: Every single Northwest Arkansas station had at least 30 seconds on it. We struggle to get any coverage there.
Funny thing is that one station's sports report is called the "Razorback Report" and they had to segue after the razorback-themed intro segment to an ASU story.
Erin Andrews put something on her facebook about it and on her twitter. At last check, her facbeook had 500+ likes and 600 comments on that update alone.
The value of this coverage is way more than $800,000.
For ASU fans, this is INSANITY.
If you're a state fan though, I wouldn't encourage you to read those comments.
Nor the ESPN ones (closing on 1000).
It's got them talking about and watching ASU and that's a valuable asset if we produce on the field. Our message board had some insane statistics.
(12-14-2011 12:24 AM)westcoastwolf Wrote: Every single Northwest Arkansas station had at least 30 seconds on it. We struggle to get any coverage there.
Funny thing is that one station's sports report is called the "Razorback Report" and they had to segue after the razorback-themed intro segment to an ASU story.
Erin Andrews put something on her facebook about it and on her twitter. At last check, her facbeook had 500+ likes and 600 comments on that update alone.
The value of this coverage is way more than $800,000.
For ASU fans, this is INSANITY.
If you're a state fan though, I wouldn't encourage you to read those comments.
I would imagine the comments aren't much different than what we've said on our board. I don't know that I could walk away from a job making that much $$$....but I'm glad he can.
Really hard to think of anyone that would be a better hire for ASU. Hopefully he can put together a defensive staff close to the quality of Wommack & Company.
Guys, honest statement/question here: Certainly there are some positive aspects to the Malzahn hire but I don't hear anything about the possible negative impact on the conference. I know that many may not see any downside here...that's okay as we caught up in the moment but as things settle down, what's ahead?
ASU is now stuck paying any future coach $800,000, or more, forever and ever. There is no going back. The money has to be found and it has to be constant, year after year. What happens if ASU football takes a step backwards (the fans get seriously upset) and Malzahn is fired or leaves. The next coach ain't settlin' for less, no matter what, and the salary demand could be a solid million by then. Wow.
Obviously, other schools in the SBC will have to rethink the pay of their coaches when contracts are up for renegotiation or renewal. Say what you want, ULM is not the only school here who has to deal with this and face the challenge of finding the funds. Several SBC schools could find themselves hurting here and that's the truth.
Salaries have to be increased for assistants, too. Malzahn's assistants aren't going to settle for $125,000 a year. ASU has to find that money from now until forever if they want to stay at a higher spot in the FBS world. If ASU can do it, then that's great. I really hope you can.
I just hope that a salary war among the schools in the SBC doesn't lead to its demise. The conference already has a good thing going and I hope we still can keep it up. Anyway, I'm trying to see the good and the bad here, and dare to bring up the possibility of the bad.
This is a great hire for Astate. I don't know what it does for the Sunbelt in general but for Astate, It makes them look like a legit program. I'm not trying to take shots at Astate. This is just the first time a big named coach decided that Astate was a destination instead of a stepping stone. They will become the next Boise state.
(12-14-2011 07:17 AM)hawghiggs Wrote: This is a great hire for Astate. I don't know what it does for the Sunbelt in general but for Astate, It makes them look like a legit program. I'm not trying to take shots at Astate. This is just the first time a big named coach decided that Astate was a destination instead of a stepping stone.
(12-14-2011 07:09 AM)SOT1977 Wrote: Guys, honest statement/question here: Certainly there are some positive aspects to the Malzahn hire but I don't hear anything about the possible negative impact on the conference. I know that many may not see any downside here...that's okay as we caught up in the moment but as things settle down, what's ahead?
ASU is now stuck paying any future coach $800,000, or more, forever and ever. There is no going back. The money has to be found and it has to be constant, year after year. What happens if ASU football takes a step backwards (the fans get seriously upset) and Malzahn is fired or leaves. The next coach ain't settlin' for less, no matter what, and the salary demand could be a solid million by then. Wow.
Obviously, other schools in the SBC will have to rethink the pay of their coaches when contracts are up for renegotiation or renewal. Say what you want, ULM is not the only school here who has to deal with this and face the challenge of finding the funds. Several SBC schools could find themselves hurting here and that's the truth.
Salaries have to be increased for assistants, too. Malzahn's assistants aren't going to settle for $125,000 a year. ASU has to find that money from now until forever if they want to stay at a higher spot in the FBS world. If ASU can do it, then that's great. I really hope you can.
I just hope that a salary war among the schools in the SBC doesn't lead to its demise. The conference already has a good thing going and I hope we still can keep it up. Anyway, I'm trying to see the good and the bad here, and dare to bring up the possibility of the bad.
It may lead to the demise of a certain football program. But S. Al. steps up soon, so no great loss.
(12-14-2011 07:17 AM)hawghiggs Wrote: This is a great hire for Astate. I don't know what it does for the Sunbelt in general but for Astate, It makes them look like a legit program. I'm not trying to take shots at Astate. This is just the first time a big named coach decided that Astate was a destination instead of a stepping stone.
(12-14-2011 07:09 AM)SOT1977 Wrote: ASU is now stuck paying any future coach $800,000, or more, forever and ever. There is no going back. The money has to be found and it has to be constant, year after year. What happens if ASU football takes a step backwards (the fans get seriously upset) and Malzahn is fired or leaves. The next coach ain't settlin' for less, no matter what, and the salary demand could be a solid million by then. Wow.
Not necessarily.
Somehow, we managed to pickup a highly regarded and highest paid coordinator in the FBS. If the next hire is comparable to Malzahn, then yes, we would be paying high $$.
SOT, no doubt there is risk in any effort to move forward. However, this is nothing but good news for stAte and Sun Belt football. Donors have stepped up for the money. Since the regular season has ended our two hires have been named Pelini and Malahn and the Cajuns have sold over 18,000 tickets to NO. Our little conference is showing signs of growing up.
