Mike Furley
11-07-2009, 11:42 PM
At $2.5 million per season, Rich Rodriguez is earning $625,000 per victory through 22 games.
Not to be forgotten, the University of Michigan agreed to pay $2.5 million to WVU as part of the settlement of Rodriguez's buyout from West Virginia. This means Rodriguez is actually earning $937,500 per victory in his first 22 games.
Rich Rodriguez buyout clause with Michigan is $4 million, and it decreases $500k every year. So, if Rodriguez is fired at the end of this season, UM would owe Rodriguez $3 million. This would mean, if he doesn't beat Wisconsin or Ohio State and gets fired, he will have earned $1,312,500 per victory over his first 24 games ($10,500,000 for two years).
09/06/08 (gm 02) UM 16 Miami (Oh) 6 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/27/08 (gm 04) UM 27 Wisconsin 25 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
11/15/08 (gm 10) UM 29 Minnesota 6 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/05/09 (gm 13) UM 31 W Michigan 7 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/12/09 (gm 14) UM 38 Notre Dame 34 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/19/09 (gm 15) UM 45 E Michigan 17 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/26/09 (gm 16) UM 36 Indiana 33 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
10/17/09 (gm 19) UM 63 Delaware St 6 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
Given these numbers, firing Rodriguez would be tough to stomach. If Rodriguez keeps the same rate of improvement, and goes 7-5 next year, and the fan base calls for a change, the numbers change to this:
$12,500,000 paid out by UM to Rodriguez for 15 wins in 36 games.
$833,333.33 per victory. (UM knocks $500k off cost per victory thru 2009)
Finally, if they give him the 2011 season and he goes 9-3 and they fire him the numbers change to:
$14,500,000 paid out by UM to Rodriguez for 24 wins in 48 games
$604,166.66 per victory (UM knocks $700k off cost per victory of thru 2009)
Now if Rodriguez should happen to win a conference title, BCS game, or national title, then a lot of the pain of 2008-09 goes away. That's what they are betting on. If they cash in their chips now, they lose big.
Not to be forgotten, the University of Michigan agreed to pay $2.5 million to WVU as part of the settlement of Rodriguez's buyout from West Virginia. This means Rodriguez is actually earning $937,500 per victory in his first 22 games.
Rich Rodriguez buyout clause with Michigan is $4 million, and it decreases $500k every year. So, if Rodriguez is fired at the end of this season, UM would owe Rodriguez $3 million. This would mean, if he doesn't beat Wisconsin or Ohio State and gets fired, he will have earned $1,312,500 per victory over his first 24 games ($10,500,000 for two years).
09/06/08 (gm 02) UM 16 Miami (Oh) 6 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/27/08 (gm 04) UM 27 Wisconsin 25 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
11/15/08 (gm 10) UM 29 Minnesota 6 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/05/09 (gm 13) UM 31 W Michigan 7 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/12/09 (gm 14) UM 38 Notre Dame 34 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/19/09 (gm 15) UM 45 E Michigan 17 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
09/26/09 (gm 16) UM 36 Indiana 33 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
10/17/09 (gm 19) UM 63 Delaware St 6 - $1,312,500 to Rodriguez
Given these numbers, firing Rodriguez would be tough to stomach. If Rodriguez keeps the same rate of improvement, and goes 7-5 next year, and the fan base calls for a change, the numbers change to this:
$12,500,000 paid out by UM to Rodriguez for 15 wins in 36 games.
$833,333.33 per victory. (UM knocks $500k off cost per victory thru 2009)
Finally, if they give him the 2011 season and he goes 9-3 and they fire him the numbers change to:
$14,500,000 paid out by UM to Rodriguez for 24 wins in 48 games
$604,166.66 per victory (UM knocks $700k off cost per victory of thru 2009)
Now if Rodriguez should happen to win a conference title, BCS game, or national title, then a lot of the pain of 2008-09 goes away. That's what they are betting on. If they cash in their chips now, they lose big.