they can pay $30,000 for Calipari to play golf.

 

http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/945151.html

On the surface, it looks out of whack because of the pay freeze for other staff and rising tuition costs.

 

On the other hand, it comes from the athletic budget, none of which comes from taxpayer money or tuition money. So the two issues have no effect on each other.

^ Novel idea....what if the athletic budget stepped up, and helped the school?

^ Novel idea....what if the athletic budget stepped up, and helped the school?

 

:thumb: As fans a lot of times I think people forget the athletics exist for the benefit of the school, the school doesn't exist for the benefit of athletics.

^ Novel idea....what if the athletic budget stepped up, and helped the school?

 

That would be ideal.

 

I'd be interested to know how many athletic departments fund the school too?

 

I agree that it looks a little out of whack, but the athletic association brings in a ton of money, most of which stems from the basketball program.

 

I have no problem with it. My question is whether or not the Lexington Country Club is the nicest one in Lexington?

And Florida cuts pay of staff professors and increase Urban's pay....UK isn't alone here, and you all know this. It is the nature of the beast. I'd say Rich Rod is still making fair money outside of Detroit isn't he??? Most of that state is out of work.

 

I guess Pitino and Nutt coach for minimum wage?

I bet most Universities do the same sort of thing. I have a huge problem with it. You do not lay employees off, then go spend $30,000 on golf. Let him pay it out of his pocket, $30,000 is at least one employee.

^ Novel idea....what if the athletic budget stepped up, and helped the school?

You mean like paying all the athletic expenditures including salaries, taxes, travel, equipment, housing, etc?

 

Seriously, you know that isn't the function of the athletic department nor should it be. The athletic department is a separate entity that receives no public funds and has no obligation to the general budget of the school. Their purpose is to fund athletics and further those departments.

 

It may look bad in this economy, but what some see as wasteful is an investment, an expenditure for future benefit. Offering over the top incentives attracts top coaches, who attract top talent, who bring more success, which sells tickets and merchandise. All of which brings more money into the athletic department coffers. You see the cycle.

I think the whole coaches pay system is out of whack and this is just part of it. Personally it's one of the reasons I ranked Joe Pa as one of the best coaches of all time. The media pushed and pushed to get his salary released a few years ago, and when they did it was discovered he was making about what an average C-USA coach was making, and donated close to a years salary to the school's library. It's just nice to see that kind of commitment to academics.

You mean like paying all the athletic expenditures including salaries, taxes, travel, equipment, housing, etc?

 

Seriously, you know that isn't the function of the athletic department nor should it be. The athletic department is a separate entity that receives no public funds and has no obligation to the general budget of the school. Their purpose is to fund athletics and further those departments.

 

It may look bad in this economy, but what some see as wasteful is an investment, an expenditure for future benefit. Offering over the top incentives attracts top coaches, who attract top talent, who bring more success, which sells tickets and merchandise. All of which brings more money into the athletic department coffers. You see the cycle.

 

...and people lose jobs, and pay, while the University still has money, even though it is budgeted somewhere else. It isn't right in any way.

Coaches salaries are outrageous, but they are set by supply/demand and these athletic departments that are paying them are very much captialistic in nature.

I think the whole coaches pay system is out of whack and this is just part of it. Personally it's one of the reasons I ranked Joe Pa as one of the best coaches of all time. The media pushed and pushed to get his salary released a few years ago, and when they did it was discovered he was making about what an average C-USA coach was making, and donated close to a years salary to the school's library. It's just nice to see that kind of commitment to academics.

No....that shouldn't be done. He should be milking all of the perks of the job, all the while not really spending any of HIS money.

...and people lose jobs, and pay, while the University still has money, even though it is budgeted somewhere else. It isn't right in any way.

 

Again, it isn't the univerities money. The athletic departments are separate entities that raise their own money. The university budgets are public/tuition supported. Two different animals.

I am willing to bet that donations to the university(not athletic dept.) increase when the football and basketball teams do well.

Again, it isn't the univerities money. The athletic departments are separate entities that raise their own money. The university budgets are public/tuition supported. Two different animals.

 

Listen to me. John Calipari is a STATE EMPLOYEE that works for the UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY....his salary may come from the Athletic Department, but in the end he answers to the President as does every other employee. IT may be two different coats of fur, but it's the same animal, and it's a joke. I do not say this to pick on UK with this, as I am sure 95% of the universities in the country do this. It's ludicrous that a University can have gobs of money in one department, but lay off people and freeze pay University wide.