January 3, 2008
Show him the money
I won't deny that I had my concerns about hiring Rick Neuheisel and he certainly wasn't my first choice. But, he was the best choice left and now that he's the UCLA coach, its time for all good UCLA fans to come to the aid of their coach and give him our full support.
And, one of the things we'll need to do is to continue to put pressure on the administration to prevent it going back to its insouciant neglect of the football program. As we've seen, Dan Guerrero has heard and can be influenced by our voices. Just a few weeks ago, Neuheisel had no shot at the vacancy, but now he's the coach because of intense pressure from influential donors and alumni.
Just like it wasn't enough to fire Karl Dorrell if UCLA ended up hiring an unqualified candidate as the new coach, its not enough to hire Neuheisel if UCLA is unwilling to give him the tools he'll need to succeed. After Neuheisel came out with his wish list of Chow as his OC and Walker as his DC, will this program, on the cusp on greatness, seize the moment and pay what it takes to bring Chow back to Southern California?
Chow has enough reasons to return to SoCal to become the next UCLA OC- he still has a home in Manhattan Beach and he would love to beat Carroll- but the question is will UCLA be willing to pay 1M to lure Chow? Was Neuheisel given a below average salary at 1.25M for five years, when the avg. coaching salary in the big time conferences is around 1.5M, because UCLA was saving that money to bump up the salaries of all the assistant coaches, who are currently paid below average salaries? Or, was it simply a case of UCLA continuing its pattern of hiring a coach and assistant coaches at a bargain basement salary, even if it historically meant that the coach had no previous experience.
If its the latter, then we've seen too many times how well this has worked out at UCLA, especially one with no experience- not very well. Even if a university hires a promising, up and coming coach, the university will end up bumping up that salary if the coach exceeds the college's expectations. So, in the end, by trying to be cheap, you don't end up saving that much money and run a greater risk of hiring the wrong coach.
Its time to put a stop to this at UCLA with a chance to hire Chow, with a chance at greatness. There were a lot of doubts about Chow as a head coach, most of them unfair in my opinion, but there can be no doubts that he is one of the greatest OCs in college history and would be a great boon to the UCLA football program.
With no NFL team in the LA region, this region is hungry for a succesful football team to support. The increased turnout from excited fans would easily cover the money UCLA needs to start investing in this program. In 2000, before Carroll and Chow arrived at USC, UCLA averaged about 10,000 more fans each game than SC. But, last season, SC practically sold out its games at the Colisieum, which basically has the same capacity as the Rose Bowl, and averaged about 27,000 fans more than UCLA at each home game.
Don't be fooled by the increased turnout for this season's games which were driven by the multiple game package that people bought if they wanted to see the ND game as well as the high pre-season expectations. Instead, the average attendance over the past five seasons with Dorrell is basically around 64,000 fans, well short of the Rose Bowl Capacity of 91,136. If Chow is able to bring the same excitement and success to UCLA as he did to USC, the increase in turnout would easily cover his salary. UCLA stands to make an additional* 7.5 million dollars** in revenue each season with increased attendance.
A strong football program not only pays for itself, but it generates the revenue to support all the other athletic programs***. UCLA can no longer afford to be satsified with mediocrity.
-Dana
* Right now, UCLA gives away thousands of tickets to each home game. With a succesful football program, UCLA wouldn't have to give away as many tickets. But, trying to calculate this would overcomplicate this model, so I made the assumption that UCLA would continue to give away thousands of tickets.
** Since seats vary in prices, I simplified it by assuming that each additional person would bring in $50 in revenue. This $50 would cover the ticket price, food and drink, parking, and other matters. So, I mad a rough calculation of a sold out Rose Bowl compared to average attendance, and multipled that by $50.
** Basketball is the only other sport that can support itself. But, a strong football program is still a boon for a basketball program because the football money can be used to upgrade the basketball program.
23 Comments on Show him the money
January 3, 2008
Lifelong Bruin fan @ 11:45 pm:
Hear hear!!! Thank you for posting this article, DD!
UCLA has a chance to attract one of the great offensive football coaches of all time. Now is the time for us to step up and get it done! Let’s show our support and let our voices be heard!
January 4, 2008
Paul Stine @ 2:37 am:
Put an ad in the Daily Bruin driving home this point!
J.J. @ 3:02 am:
if Chow is somehow hired by Nuehiesel,Usc and the rest of the nation better watch the “F” out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mattybruin @ 3:15 am:
NFL OC’s don’t even make 1 mil.
whp '68 @ 8:52 am:
Some data points on attendance underscoring how season ticket sales is affected by off-season P/R and expectations:
1998: 73,709 (unk)
1999: 49,825 -23,884
2000: 67,280 17,455
2002: 65,396 -1,884
2003: 56,636 -8,760
2004: 54,930 -1,706
2005: 64,218 9,288
2006: 64,955 737
2007: 76,378 11,423
Sources were the NCAA and UCLA’s archives. Your assertion that the bump in 2007 was attributable to ND purchases and the expectations of success owing to the 13-9 victory over SC are credible.
EZ @ 9:33 am:
I just want to hear what Andre has to say about this article. Where is he?
Twothphry '67 @ 9:41 am:
The checks in the mail!
DBruin @ 10:00 am:
Chow is well worth the money.
TN @ 10:49 am:
Nice article but the 2007 attendance figures are a bit off. UCLA averaged 76,378 this season compared to 87,475 for SC - hardly a difference of 27,000. Also, renewed excitement in the program combined with home games vs SC, Fresno St., & Tennessee - teams that travel extremely well - means there’s a very good chance we might see an average of 80,000 at the Bowl next season. And we won’t have to fill the end zones with high school bands and cheerleaders.
Mike @ 11:04 am:
dont get me going. If chow is hired as OC. i will simply just sit in the rosebowl stands until the season starts
Bruce Nagy @ 11:23 am:
I am not sure what Norm Chow’s salary is now, but he was making $350,000 when he left USC. Don’t think he’s in $1 million range, but I am sure he gets a bonus for making the playoffs. I do know Skins DC Greg Williams makes $1.8 and Eagles DC Jim Johnson makes $1.4. College salaries are sometimes hard to calculate. Saban gets $4 mill at Bama, but the Booster Club pays over a $1 million of that plus he also gets a lot of money for doing a TV and radio show. That is lumped together. Bellotti WAS getting $1.1 million plus perks at Oregon…used that UCLA interview to help push base to $1.5. Remember too, these guys get a total benefits package, cars, housing allowance etc. The assistants are the ones who need to be paid better…..it is tough working 14-15 hours a day and then hitting the 405 or 134 to the Valley. Not many living in Westwood or South Bay.
cliq @ 11:56 am:
it doesn’t seem likely that ucla will pay their hc 1.25 and their oc 1m. Their salaries are too close. Do have more info on neu’s salary?
Big Moe @ 12:38 pm:
Aloha cliq and fellow DD’ers!
Let me start by saying what a great job everyone has done through this board, as well as e-mails and phone calls to DG, and the rest of the administration. We are getting more coverage and excitement in the past few days than we’ve had in over 5 years. To the best of my knowledge, RN is getting $1.25 million as HC, with “potential” annual bonuses of up to $500k (that would probably include winning the Pac10, BCS bowl appearance and/or wins, graduation numbers, etc.)To the bst of my knowledge, UCLA was “prepared to pay” up to $2 million for HC. I don’t know if the $750k difference between what they were going to pay, versus what they are paying, will be applied towards assistants. Furthermore, DW had been making $330K as DC this past year, according to the many published accounts that I have read and followed. He has clearly received a substantial raise, including a “multiple year contract” (I don’t know if that’s 2 yrs or 10 yrs). My best guess would be somewhere in the $450K range…again, only a guess, based on reports that UW was offering that type of compensation package if DW would move to U-Dub. Furthermore, his assistants he kept (D-Line & LB coaches) were also “in line for a raise” (again, I don’t know how much). UCLA had stated that they were prepared to up the total compensation package they were paying this past year from $1.25 million total to $1.8 million total. Obviously DW will take a small part of that raise in salary, as well as his defensive assistants he is keeping here. We still have other other assistants to pay, as well as a nice compensation package for OC. If Rick can figure out how to get everyone paid and happy, we’ll see if either there’s enough in the package left for Norm Chow, or someone of his caliber. Perhaps, Rick can convince DG and administration to up their package for assistants to help bring Chow in…if we’re just a bit different between offered compensation, and requested compensation by Chow or someone of his abilities.
UCLABRU1 @ 12:50 pm:
Keep pushing. Keep writing Dan, we’re so close, and Norm Chow belongs in blue and gold!!
EZ @ 1:10 pm:
Big Moe - In the future, please spare us the recap and make a point.
Big Moe @ 1:55 pm:
Sorry EZ…just trying to answer cliq’s ?? on Neu’s salary (and other salary structures as well). I will try to shorten any posts in the future!
EZ @ 2:08 pm:
No problem Big Moe, just trying to be an instigator. Just waiting to see who Andre wants our next OC to be.
Big Moe @ 2:16 pm:
EZ, you are funny! I think we’re all a little bit giddy about the bright future of UCLA football!
PHIL @ 2:42 pm:
Slick will be lucky to have this team go 7-5 next season…Now the following season is when we should start seeing some improvement.
Fred @ 3:04 pm:
There’s no possible way you can justify paying an OC or DC $1 Million per. UCLA’s success doesn’t hinge on Chow joining the staff. The key is RN, and I’m sure he’ll find the right guy who wants to be part of building a championship team who isn’t primarily motivated by $$.
Throwing money at coaches is a VERY dangerous game and schools like Alabama will eventually pay for playing that game. Yes, pay well but don’t go crazy by thinking the key to success is paying the highest salary.
Tom @ 4:02 pm:
Well looks like this is going to be my last comment on DD since I’m going home early and my computers down @ home. Anyway, I just want to thank the WHOLE Bruin Nation for coming together on this and especially DumpDorrell.com for all their efforts to bringing UCLA Football back to it’s road to DOMINANCE. I sincerly believe this site, had a lot to do with turning the Program around as well as the Boosters.
I’m going to now be a season holder for the first time now, and I can say that for the first time in 5 yrs that I ‘m truly exited about UCLA Football once again. Hopefully I can see you guys next year @ the Rose Bowl.
I wish CF started tomorrow, but we’ll just have to wait. Well goodbye BN and see you @ the game. For all you TrOJans that visited this site(i.e Andre?) a change in the wind is coming, and is heading to Westwood.
If the head people at DD ever create another site of support(which it should) please email me with the address site.
Goodbye my Friends.
BruWIN your Life…Don’t SCum it!
asiansportsfanatic @ 5:44 pm:
Slick Rick was my first choice… I could not be happier with UCLA’s decision. I’m tired of watching USC win the Pac-10 every year. Things are about the change with Slick Rick at the helm. UCLA Football is back!
Bluebruin (AKA Diego) @ 5:56 pm:
I dont’ think we’re going to be as bad next year as some believe we will be. Yes, we have Tenn at home, but they’re not the world killers they were in the past (by the way, how did they manage to schedule Cal away and the following year UCLA away; that’s a bit odd).
Here’s the reality: We lose most of our players on the defensive end. The offense is coming back in good numbers, and while many of you may not appreciate that as much, it will be far better under Neu and a different OC (be it A Borgess or Chow).
We have Ben, who we SHOULD NEVER quit on. Look, the best prospect at QB in high school in 2001 suddenly doesn’t suck! Clearly the guy was in the wrong stystem, that was neither suited for him nor one he understood. With Rick and hopefully Loeffleur workign with him, you’re going to see a WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY better Ben.
Khalil Bell at the RB. We’ll have the Moline attack in there, too.
at WR Ketchum, who was injured this year, Graves, Dominique Johnson and Austin also return. Maybe Osaar will be allowed to use his play making abilities as the Receiver he was supposed to be this year.
We have some experience returning at O-line, and we’re losing some there, but the injuries this year gave the back ups some good playing time.
Defensively we lose the most, but those injuries ALSO caused many back ups to play a great deal.
At D-line, we’re getting Harwell back afterhis Medical Redshirt…. HE was KEY this season. Part of the reason why our Defnese was shredded some times was because we didn’t get the pass rush we had last year. Davis had a bunch of double teams, and the other guys didn’t have the push they should’ve had. Harwell is a Sunday player like Bruce Davis. That guy is strong!! Bosworth and a couple of others are physical athletes and will continue that strong push from the D-line.
Linebacking we’ll have Reggie Carter and Kyle Bosworth, who played well this year, too.
Now, at Safety we’re dinged big time with Horton and Keyes being out, but Bret Locket got some strong playing time. We have ATV back at corner, so that’s godo experience.
many of our back ups, due to injuries, got some valued playing time.
We’re not going to a BCS bowl or winning a conference title, but we’re not going to be an abortion either!
There’s some talent there to do something with it.
DWalker scheming will also help. With Walker knowing his personnel and properly using it, we have a good decent enough elements to put forth a good enough team.