Chancellor: Saban "Best Investment"

[RobToxin]

Y! SPORTS

According to Alabama chancellor Dr. Robert Witt, the best investment that the university has ever made isn't a bond, fund, research project or building.

It's in Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide have won BCS National Championships in three of the last four seasons.

The quote from Witt is part of a 60 Minutes feature on Saban that's set to air on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Saban's salary is the highest of any head coach in college football at north of $5 million a season.

From CBS:

As the highest paid coach in collegiate sports, was Saban worth it? Dr. Witt responds without hesitation, "Nick Saban is the best financial investment this university has ever made. We have made an investment that's been returned many fold," he tells Keteyian.
Two weeks ago, the athletic department reported a net revenue of $143.4 million, which was up 16 percent from the previous year. And if you thought that Witt was just being hyperbolic, according to Al.com, the university's athletic department revenue is up 112 percent since 2006, which was the final season that Mike Shula was head coach.

In last year's title game, Alabama took home over $23 million in payout for the SEC. According to Forbes in January, the Tide's football program was valued at $95 million.

A quote like that makes it hard to see why Alabama wouldn't go to any lengths possible to match any offer extended towards Saban in the future. (Yes, we're talking about Texas.) Plus, the coach, who turned 62 on Halloween, has said that he doesn't want to start over again. Though at the same time, a major program wouldn't necessarily be seen as a reset point. If the time comes that Saban ever leaves Alabama, it won't be because Witt didn't see his value.

 

[TigerBait1971]

 

[john01992]

and people wonder why i bash bama & the sec all the time

 

[4down20]

and people wonder why i bash bama & the sec all the time

We don't wonder, it's because you are a jealous dipshit who has barely set foot in the world yet thinks he knows everything. You think we wonder because you refuse to accept the reality of it.

 

[Bamabino]

and people wonder why i bash bama & the sec all the time

Yes, we do. Please enlighten us of anything worth bashing in the article.

 

[ellupo]

Saban was a great investment. I dont understand why anybody has a problem with the guy speaking the truth. Saban brought them back to the top and makes lots of money for Bama. That is part of his job.

 

[john01992]

Saban was a great investment. I dont understand why anybody has a problem with the guy speaking the truth. Saban brought them back to the top and makes lots of money for Bama. That is part of his job.

because he said it for the wrong reasons. talk about how much alabama's brand exposure has increased, how much alumni donations have gone up, how much of an increase in applications the university has seen.

dont make a comment along the lines of "saban was the best investment this school has ever made" then proceed to only mention an increase in revenue for the athletic budget (money that goes back into athletics not the school)

 

[bamafan4evr12]

because he said it for the wrong reasons. talk about how much alabama's brand exposure has increased, how much alumni donations have gone up, how much of an increase in applications the university has seen.

dont make a comment along the lines of "saban was the best investment this school has ever made" then proceed to only mention an increase in revenue for the athletic budget (money that goes back into athletics not the school)

 

[Bandwagonbo2]

because he said it for the wrong reasons. talk about how much alabama's brand exposure has increased, how much alumni donations have gone up, how much of an increase in applications the university has seen.

dont make a comment along the lines of "saban was the best investment this school has ever made" then proceed to only mention an increase in revenue for the athletic budget (money that goes back into athletics not the school)

Which have all gone up too.

 

[BeaverShaver]

because he said it for the wrong reasons. talk about how much alabama's brand exposure has increased, how much alumni donations have gone up, how much of an increase in applications the university has seen.

dont make a comment along the lines of "saban was the best investment this school has ever made" then proceed to only mention an increase in revenue for the athletic budget (money that goes back into athletics not the school)

Money generated from a successful athletics budget does go back into the school. Are student athletes not students? Also, teams with successful athletic programs almost ALWAYS see a rise in attendance. Are you really here to make the argument that athletic programs bring nothing to the academics of a school? If so I think you are in the wrong forum, dude. Hiring a great head coach or having a great program HELPS your school, period. A great example of this is Boise State. You honestly think that without their athletic success (specifically football) they would have had a huge increase in attendance and an even bigger increase in revenue? Get off your horse and convince your programs (Colorado, SU and Mich) to make better hires.

 

[Red_Alert]

Dang right elite programs rake in the cash.

 

[4down20]

Money generated from a successful athletics budget does go back into the school. Are student athletes not students? Also, teams with successful athletic programs almost ALWAYS see a rise in attendance. Are you really here to make the argument that athletic programs bring nothing to the academics of a school? If so I think you are in the wrong forum, dude. Hiring a great head coach or having a great program HELPS your school, period. A great example of this is Boise State. You honestly think that without their athletic success (specifically football) they would have had a huge increase in attendance and an even bigger increase in revenue? Get off your horse and convince your programs (Colorado, SU and Mich) to make better hires.

Wasting your breathe, that guy doesn't even remotely care about the truth. If he see's something to spin in a way to make Alabama seem like it's below average education, dumb and whatever, he's going to take it. Just look at his sig.

He pretty much does this anytime the subject of Alabama comes up. I'm not sure why he hasn't been banned yet, it's more than clear his only reason for being here is to try and start shit with people, just as he has done here.

 

[BeaverShaver]

Wasting your breathe, that guy doesn't even remotely care about the truth. If he see's something to spin in a way to make Alabama seem like it's below average education, dumb and whatever, he's going to take it. Just look at his sig.

He pretty much does this anytime the subject of Alabama comes up. I'm not sure why he hasn't been banned yet, it's more than clear his only reason for being here is to try and start shit with people, just as he has done here.

No worries. I just wanted to throw my thoughts in.

 

[Red_Alert]

CFB is the main athletic revenue generator. It's been business like for decades.

The AD was spot on and it's nothing to be ashamed of unless you're some kind of commie.

 

[john01992]

Which have all gone up too.

yeah and thats what he should be bragging about

 

[bamabear82]

yeah and thats what he should be bragging about

 

[john01992]

Money generated from a successful athletics budget does go back into the school. Are student athletes not students? Also, teams with successful athletic programs almost ALWAYS see a rise in attendance. Are you really here to make the argument that athletic programs bring nothing to the academics of a school? If so I think you are in the wrong forum, dude. Hiring a great head coach or having a great program HELPS your school, period. A great example of this is Boise State. You honestly think that without their athletic success (specifically football) they would have had a huge increase in attendance and an even bigger increase in revenue? Get off your horse and convince your programs (Colorado, SU and Mich) to make better hires.

1. sorry but the athletic program is only a small part of the school. claiming putting money into the school qualifies as massive funding to the AD program is a total joke that only oregon fans believe. are student athletes not students is probably the lamest excuse out there.

2. yes sports help academics but i didnt see one comment about any of the academic benefits of the nick saban hire

 

[Bandwagonbo2]

yeah and thats what he should be bragging about

The fact he mentioned the athletic department supports itself with money left over is a big deal, since its a state school and the money that would normally go to the athletic department can now go to buildings, facilities for the school to attract more students and so on. The fact that it was asked about the coach as a tongue and cheek type of question and responded to in a manner supporting the department he represents if no surprise.

It does boggle the mind why it chaps your ass so much that he answered the question honestly and you didnt like the answer he gave. You're showing yourself.

 

[rolltide14_0]

Goddamn john...

 

[john01992]

The fact he mentioned the athletic department supports itself with money left over is a big deal, since its a state school and the money that would normally go to the athletic department can now go to buildings, facilities for the school to attract more students and so on. The fact that it was asked about the coach as a tongue and cheek type of question and responded to in a manner supporting the department he represents if no surprise.

It does boggle the mind why it chaps your ass so much that he answered the question honestly and you didnt like the answer he gave. You're showing yourself.

you do realize that the athletic departments rarely build classrooms right?????

they build weight rooms & player lounges ==> stuff that only a minority of the alabama student base gets to benefit from. by no means does the money from the athletic budget go to benefit of the general student population. in fact its the complete opposite.....

alabama football took a $5,461,200 subsidy last season