Clemson, Inc. out of touch with reality
In these times of hardship, when people are losing their jobs and homes, when the value of everything is contracting, when international markets are adjusting to a new world order, college sports still walks around with a cocky strut as if it were immune to economic reality.
Just last month, Clemson University thought nothing of paying football coach Tommy Bowden a $3.5 million buyout bonus not to coach the football team anymore.
That's after they paid him more than $15 million over the past decade and kept renewing his contract so he would stay.
Earlier this week, the University of Tennessee did the same thing, only worse. Tennessee officials decided to pay their football coach, Phillip Fulmer, $6 million not to coach the Volunteers after this season.
Bowden
In both cases, these coaches were given lucrative, long-term contracts just a year ago when their athletic directors were desperate to keep them. Then, before the next season was over, they were willing to do anything to get rid of them.
In any other business, this would be considered totally irresponsible management.
Reality check
Truth is, perfectly rational people get very angry when corporate executives receive million-dollar golden parachutes for poor performance and demand that the government step in and stop such stupid behavior.
But when it comes to their favorite college football team, money is not the issue.
Well, those days are gone.
Money is the issue.
If indeed our economic bubble has burst in the real world, it most certainly should relate to this unreal world we know as college sports.
We seemed quite willing to pay a coach several million dollars a season to coach our favorite football team as long as our home values were doubling every other year. We were all riding the glorious wave of unprecedented prosperity.
Now, home prices are falling, our retirement funds are shrinking, and our expectations are being re-evaluated in every area of our lives except sports.
Ultimate insult
If you were a stockholder in Clemson, Inc., you'd be calling the chairman of the board and demanding to know what the heck they are doing with the money.
The folks at the top of these collegiate corporations surely must see the irony of having to cut academic classes, teacher positions and important educational programs at the same time they are paying these ungodly sums of cash to get rid of unwanted coaches.
Then, without shame, they'll go right back out on the open market and pay the next coach several more million a year and give him a guaranteed contract, knowing they'll have to pay it off someday.
Because, as we all know, all coaches are hired to be fired. It's just a fact of life.
Supporters argue that these are separate issues, that athletic funds are privately donated and therefore unconnected to the university as a whole.
Hogwash. They both wear orange and call themselves Tigers and bask in the glow of the school logo.
For a public university to throw money away with one hand while begging with the other is the ultimate intellectual insult.
Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.
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Comments
This article has 45 comment(s)
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Posted by CNSYD on November 6, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't Post and Courier Inc. going to pay employees not to work there anymore? Other than the amount, isn't this the same thing? If Bowden had been retained would any of that buy out war chest have gone to fund other parts of the university? No. So what does it matter? Why do technical course professors get paid more than liberal arts course professors? Ever heard of supply and demand? Same principles work in athletics.
Posted by paperman90 on November 6, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is amazing that people like Mr Burger stir things up and then do not want to take credit. They will call for a coaches head at every loss then when the coach is let go they question the thinking.
Posted by jbh on November 6, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The IPTAY board of trustees came up with the money on there own to pay the buy out. No money from the university was used.
Posted by tgrfan2 on November 6, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of the comments are true. However, the fact that the administration allowed TB to manipulate them into the buyout showed they were wishing and hoping instead of being realistic about the progress the RS/TB offense was making.
The buyout will cost much less than keeping TB around would have cost. Barring a miracle finish, it also cost many good players the opportunity to be ACC Champions. That cost can't be made up by "The Company".
Those that allowed the buyout to take place rather than help CTB pack for the mythical U Ark job need to be held accountable to show everyone involved with Clemson that we won't do business that way any longer.
Posted by theronce on November 6, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
See there, you did say something that I agree with...Hogwash. Only, I apply that to most of what you claim in the article. The preceding posts are true and have been stated here before. If you choose to ignore the reality, then I would be wasting my time to respond further. However, I am often too forebearing. Let me ask you a question. You are under the umbrella of the P&C. Do you agree with and stand behind everything printed there during your tenure.
Posted by superstar90 on November 6, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess there wasn't much going on in the sports world. Ken just stated the obvious about the coaching world. It is rather sad when you think about it.
Posted by bdg45uj on November 6, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Slow news day, Burger?
Three weeks ago this was a story...now its just boring. Everyone involved knows where the money came from; the boosters who wanted Bowden gone, AKA the "stakeholders" in Clemson, Inc. As I recall, you called for his firing yourself - even though you aren't a "stakeholder" in the company.
Whatever....Can we please move on?
Posted by majorjohnson on November 6, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He's exactly right on one account. The same people who defend Tommy Bowdens golden parachute think CEOs who get one should be tarred and feathered.
Sports is the one God to far too many people. If the math and science department gets cut, eh, that's just life. But try cutting the sports department, and you might be hung as a traitor..
Posted by ashleyriver on November 6, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Burger---first, you state the "reality" of the situation and then criticize Clemson and Tennessee for having to deal with it. Why not write an article criticizing the media (television primarily)as the driving force behind these insane salaries paid to coaches??.
Blame the 4th estate--of which you are a member!! They control college football.
And to lend my voice to the above posts---no taxpayer money will be used in either of those buyouts. I grow so weary of lumps like you and Tony Barnhardt---sportwriters who make their living criticizing sports. Thats where the real "theatre of the absurd" exists.
Posted by porwoll on November 6, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No one likes the idea of someone else getting something for nothing - especially when it's millions of dollars. Keeping up with the Joneses costs money, and universities and their booster clubs are willing to pay it. If you're angry about this and want to see real change, then (1) quit donating to the athletic department, (2) stop buying the product (attending games), and (3) flood the president's and athletic director's offices with emails, letters, and phone calls. Alabama and Florida didn't get the coaches they wanted by being frugal. Clemson and Tennessee won't either.
Posted by TRich on November 6, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clemson football brings in the most revenue on a yearly basis for not only the Athletic Dept. but also the School. There were talks of canceling IPTAY memberships and boycotting games b/c Bowden was still the coach.
A $3.5mil buyout pales in comparison to what the UNIVERSITY stood to lose by keeping Bowden around. As far as the extension, yes that was a mistake but hindsight is always 20/20. Its all pretty simple Burger.
Posted by Chanticleer on November 6, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The next time a math or science class gets 80,000 people paying $40+ for a ticket and $50+ for parking, let me know.
Posted by JonIslandtigerfan on November 6, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ken Burger...you are such a bone-head. Tommy Bowden resigned 3 weeks ago and all you can do is compare Philip Fulmer and Tennessee to Clemson... if you weren't so bias in your opinions and so pro-Carolina, someone may actually think you were a sports writer.
Posted by mperk81 on November 6, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
great article
Posted by robbybobby on November 6, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
seems to me that using the words "clemson" and "reality" in the same sentence is stretching the bounds of credibility.
These are the most delusional people in the world, many of whom actually feel (i refrain from applyng the word think - same logic as my premise above) they have some sort of good football program. Nonsense, and hogwash. Just a so-so team in a so-so conference that no one outside the state cares about. Lots of psychotic orange kool aid drinkers here. Remember tiggers, the psychotic truly believes 2 + 2 = 3. Better to be more neurotic where you know it = 4, but you are unhappy as h**** about it. Then you can be "normal", or maybe that should by "A.B. Normal".
Posted by facman on November 6, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow Ken. Did you wake up in Allendale this morning? I do have to agree about golden parachutes for high level execs and college fb coaches. I can think of two counties in SC, side by side, that could use a shot in the infrastructure arm like the buyout. However, you did help fire TB. At least the great Danny Ford did stay in SC and is spending his severence to help the local economy. Maybe TB will buy a plantation in Allendale or Fairfax. tongue in cheek, of course.
Posted by CaptPete on November 6, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bowden failed to produce a title. Clemson football is a business and felt the return on it's investment was not paying off after ten years.
Posted by tbird on November 6, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whether you are a Clemson fan or a fan of any of the NCAA teams, there is one consideration that has not been mentioned.
Advertisers pay big $ for broadcasting rights on ESPN and the other networks.
We are in a recession that is getting more severe. These same advertisers are having to renegoitiate their ad budgets. Companies such as News Corp. NBC, Disney etc. are at this time re-evaluating their budgeting for '09 and beyond. One thing is evident...The amount of available funds are being reduced which will result in belt tightening in the NCAA and all of the professional sports. The NCAA has already instituted strict policies regarding reducing travel expenditures.
Additional budget cutting is coming in all sports, including the outrageous salaries paid.. You can count on it...
Posted by ashleyriver on November 6, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good ol' Robbybobby---always with some stupid, derogatory comment in every Clemson related article in the P&C. How quickly your feeble mind forgets that usuck either is still paying or has just finished paying 2 buyout clauses themselves----one to Holtz and one to Odom.....and trust me, there is no bigger joke in college football than the history of gamecock football..... Barely above .500 in a 110 year history of playing football, won ONE championship during that period of time and cheated to win that one, never got a bowl win until the much despised Brad Scott became head coach, a very lopsided losing record to your rival--oh, we could wax the eloquence of your losing football program for hours.
Why not direct your moronic retorts at articles about your own school...........and remember, Nov 29th is just weeks away.........when, as usual, the gamecock faithful begin foaming at the mouth in anticipation of the normal results.
Posted by OldSalt on November 6, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Barely above .500 in a...history of playing football, won ONE championship during that period of time and cheated to win that one...." Which school are you talking about?
Clemson's record in its last ten bowl games: 3-7, including two 40-point losses to Texas Tech and Syracuse.
South Carolina's record in its last five bowl games: 4-1, including two victories over Ohio State.
Posted by cw218 on November 6, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That may be true OldSalt but the 4 USC wins are their only bowl wins EVER. 2 of those were in the Carquest and Liberty bowls. Nothing to brag about. The 4-1 bowl record is since 1994... meaning USC has only played in 5 bowls in 14 years.
Posted by softbatch on November 6, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
coots are magical with numbers.
"hey, we beat UT last game, so we're undefeated in the month of November!" - coot fan.
Clemson leads USC in National Titles, Conference Titles, head-to-head matchups, bowl wins, overall victories, 10 win seasons, yet they continue to pound their chest about the 1994 Carquest Bowl.
Posted by Gamecockfan1214 on November 6, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alright Clemson fans no one cares how many games you won a 100 years ago. Yea in the past you we have not had very good teams. But if you look at the way things are going now we are very close to breaking out of that shell and becoming a very good football team. It looks completely opposite for Clemson. You have no coach. Your losing probally the most talented team i have ever seen at Carolina or Clemson in the past couple of Decades. You have so much talent and your losing it all. Yall did not do anything with it. Now your losing your solid recruiting class you had. Things look bad for Clemson right now and its about time things dont go right for them. I cant wait to come to death valley and watch the game.
Posted by robbybobby on November 6, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gotcha again ashley and the rest of the gang. y'all are easier to spin up than a cracker jack top. sensitive, sensitive, sensitive - clashes with orange, donchaknow.
mainly the tigger loyalists react because they know the real truth when they hear it, not the orange kool aid propoganda (that means BS tiggers) you spew to each other. Especially that fairy tale about winning a national championship in football. You make my point about "clemson" and "reality" better than i ever could. Thanks.
Posted by uscsax on November 6, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Clemson fans forgot to mentioned the other categories they lead SC in which is the secret to all of their success, especially historically....amount of money paid to recruits, amount of scholarships given to family members of recruits, amount of time on probation, number of years banned from playing on TV, number of years banned from bowl play....shall I continue. Your national championship and ACC titles during the 80's and early 90's, or as I like to call is BFSU, were the product of massive amounts of cheating, even while being punished for cheating, you cheated some more. Most want to blame Pell for that situation but Pell wasn't at Clemson in the late 80's when the second round of paying players hit. But I digress because we could wax eloquence about the cheating that ranks Clemson right up there with Auburn and Alabama as the most infamously decorated schools in the nation.
Posted by cw218 on November 6, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Until USC starts beating Clemson on a regular basis I wouldn't say they are better yet. Sure we have not beat the best teams this year but neither has USC. Of the 6 wins, none of them are that impressive. The Division 1-A teams you have beaten have a combined record of 18-26... Before you say anything I know Clemson has not won big games yet either... But for some reason Carolina fans seem to believe their team has "arrived" on the national level and all of the sudden Carolina is better than Clemson. Lets see y'all beat a good team or even a down Clemson team. Until that day comes quit acting like you are somebody you aren't.
Posted by uscsax on November 6, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CW I'd imagine the reason the situation you described exists is because this year Clemson was preseason #9, this was supposed to be the best team Tommy Bowden had seen while at Clemson, a virtual shoe-in for ACC title game. Meanwhile, SC middle of the road SEC-E, hoping to move up on one of the big three, be competitive, improve on last year, develop depth on both lines and WR, got to a bowl game, win a bowl game. We've accomplished nearly every goal the majority of fans had for this team. On the other side Clemson has faultered to the bottom, coach has resigned, in danger of not making a bowl, Clemson still needs to win 3 of 4 to get to eligibility let alone be selected for a bowl. no Carolina fan is saying we've arrived on a national level, we're saying we see improvement, we see problems, namely the oline and rbs, but there promise. With a defense that essentially returns all starters except J. Brinkley and J. Lindsey, and an offense that is an offensive line away from putting this team in a favorable position. I'd say more than anything Carolina fans see our team as being in a better position than Clemson's team is right now. Any sensible SC fans knows we aren't relevant on a national level because as you said we haven't jumped up and beat anyone we shouldn't. We've come close but close loses are still a lose, moral victories are still loses. At this point the cause of the situation is promise, the way it looks SC has it, Clemson doesn't. Novemeber 29th will come and the head to head will occur, if SC loses something will be different than last year, we won't be mad because we barely lost, we'll be made because we should have won.
Posted by softbatch on November 6, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Was South Carolina's program clean while they were beating Ohio St. in back-to-back Outback bowls?
Posted by cw218 on November 6, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
uscsax, I definitely agree with most of what you said. It just seems to me that Carolina fans (maybe its just my friends or some people here) get a big head every time USC wins or Clemson loses, no matter who either team played. i also agree that yall should win if your defense plays like it has so far and our offense plays like it has most of the season.. But Death Valley will be a tough place to win especially if we have a bowl game on the line and its not a freaking noon game. Good luck against Ark and Florida... Cant wait until Nov. 29th!
Posted by uscsax on November 6, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well softbatch that depends, do you consider tutoring kids at Midlands Tech so they can get a 4 year degree damnable, or how about giving a kid a ride to a funeral for a family member because they don't own and can't afford a car. Those were the types violations the NCAA found in three years of investigating at SC.
cw, again, I think the reaction you are seeing is one where SC fans see more promise for improvement at SC than Clemson is showing. I've spoken with Clemson fans who would say the same thing. I guess the cliche war would be at SC we say, "Wait till next year" at Clemson in 2008 it was "This is the year", only one of those sayings still remains. I'm sure if the situation was reversed the same thing would be going on, look at what was going on in '04, was very similar to now, just flipped.
Posted by collegiatefan on November 6, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I luv, luv, luv intercollegiate athletics, but oh, do I hate the hypocrosy of it all. Burger is right on, salaries are absurd and out of control at the major sports campuses.Yes, athletics generates huge revenues, but the academic institutions don't benefit from them. It all goes to the athletic monster who has an insatiable appetite for revenue; simply put, you cannot generate enough money for athletics because it is never enough. Over 90% of athletic depts. operate in the red.
Yet, when a coach is fired or "resigns", he walks away a multi- millionaire because the funds were from "private funds". I'm a fiscal conservative, but I'm for taxing all funds to athletic depts. that do not go for athletic scholarships....at least there are limits to scholarships.
Posted by softbatch on November 6, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So I guess South Carolina is an ethical cheater, if there is such a thing. By the way, they had other, more harsh, violations that involved the Governor of South Carolina and extra free tickets to players. My point is, every school cheats to some degree and both USC and Clemson have been on probabtion.
Posted by localboy on November 6, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like uscax should replace the x with an "ss" since that is where his head seems to be located. Good that he can still breathe.
He might should check his "facts" against reality for both teams.
Posted by uscsax on November 6, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
localboy since you wish to drag this into a childish name calling and thus showing your age as indicated in your name, tell me what "facts" I should be checking?
And softbatch, you are right all college have these infractions, most ridiculous from the NCAA. While you are correct that SC and CU have been on probation, the degree to which Clemson has cheated is exponentially greater than SC. The governor thing, the infraction was a couple of recruits were introduced to him on the sideline of a game, the free ticket thing, was a recruits friend was given a ticket to the game, and if memory serves, we ended up signing both kids to schollys.
Localboy I look forward to your response.
Posted by tgrfan2 on November 6, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think you need to check your "facts", uscsax. I think you will find your gov was caught recruiting for USC in OUR office among other places!
Posted by jmac_66 on November 6, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Berger, you're so fulla *** your eyes are brown
good god
Posted by flinsc on November 6, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This town has second rate hacks in the newspaper and on the radio talking about sports. We need people with some life and some humor to take over. Someone in touch with what people care about, not trying to fish for stories. If you agree with me let me know.
Posted by Whopper on November 7, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think Clemson will go 12-0 this year and win the ACC. Not even close. LOL. What a miserable failure the clemturds are -- dominatd by the cupcakes. They would be dead last in the Big 12 or SEC -- dead last.
p.s. Rivals is reporting two more clemturd recruits have decommitted dropping clemson to #79 in the rankings. Way to go, hot air losers.
Posted by fjms on November 7, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't finish dead last in the s.e.c. when we beat y'all every year!
Posted by uscsax on November 7, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good logic fjms, because losing one game to one team makes you dead last in a conference. They're saying Clemson would lose every game against any SEC opponent they faced this year, and at the end of November, what you're talking about will be decided. But I'm not sure you're going to like the outcome.
Posted by sbs920 on November 7, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wrong again fjms!
what was the score the last trip to Dump Valley? Hmmmm...
Who won? Who lost?
get your facts straight! thanks for playing!
Poor little Jad! LOL!
Posted by fjms on November 7, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know historically the s.e.c. is the toughest conference in college football but this year I think y'all only have two great teams. Every body else is o.k. I think it's safe to say that in college football anybody can beat any team. Call it parity!
Posted by uscsax on November 7, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's the thing fjms, you are giving off the impression that you think the SEC is down this year because we only have 2 great teams. This year the ACC and Big East has no great teams, and the Pac-10 and Big 10(11)has 1 and the Big 12 measures up with the SEC with 2 or 3 great teams. You can say anyone can beat any team any Saturday, but 95% of the time, it's pretty obvious who's going to win when the big boys go against lesser teams.
Posted by sbs920 on November 7, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what was the acc's bowl record last year ? ? ? LOL!
ACC 2-6 .250 2007 acc bowl record
Average Coast Conference! Now thats a stretch. . .
should be the BACC - Below Average Coast Conference
Posted by bdg45uj on November 7, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sad how obsessed gamecocks hijack an article that is not about them. obsessed with the tigers. will it ever end?