How much say do boosters have in hiring a coach?

I wonder if the amount of influence boosters have is just an urban legend. It seems to me that the program generates such a mass amount of revenue from TV, tickets sales, and the conference (via bowl payouts and TV), that the amount of money a few of the biggest boosters put in would not give them that much influence. I may be wrong here, and I would like to know if anyone has any solid information on this topic.

 

LSU has its boosters, but thats not a real concern here, as the last two hires have been relative unknowns.

Now... the Board of Supervisors... thats another story. When LSU brought in Mark Emmeret in '99, he took them out of the equation and hired Nick Saban. But Nick and Mark had a ton of power and autonomy which the Board detested. So when Nicky left for Miami, and Emmeret packed up for UDub, the BOS gained power again by hiring O'Keefe and Miles.

 

I don't have any solid information, but from what I've seen it depends on the University. Oklahoma State's Boone Pickens probably carries quite a bit of weight in Stillwater after he donated $162 million. Auburn Boosters seem to have alot of power as does Texas A&M. Here in Nebraska the boosters appear to be hands off, but who knows what goes on behind the scenes.

This is an excellent question.

 

I could tell you a few stories, but I'll leave it as one. One of the guys I know was asked for a contribution for the last search with Saban. After the first check he said he would double it IF they were going after one of the two coaches. We did, and he did.

 

I agree. Excellent question.

I grabbed my calculator just to see what kind of revenue 92,000 people generate @ a minimum of $45.00 per ticket for 7 home games- $30 million. And I am guessing that there are some top-dollar seats at Tiger Stadium.

This doesn't include concessions, TV revenue, bowl payouts, or any of the other stuff.... ticket sales only.

:geaux:

 

Well, lets just say this. They obviously don't make those decisions, however, bet your "azzzzzzz" they've got the stroke to have their "suggestions" taken into "serious" consideration!


:geaux::geaux::geaux::geaux::geaux::geaux:

 

I had no idea we had boosters giving that much money. That is an incredible amount, 100 million. Is any of this information public, since it being donated to a public university, or is being donated to TAF?

 

Ask Aubarn how much influence their one big booster has. He can even make the governer keep him on the Board of Trustees.

 

I've found that they don't listen to me all that much.

 

How much voice in hiring, I'm not sure of.....they do have a voice in firing though.....Ask Jeff Bower of USM..Some big contributors became disenchanted with him and threatened to withhold money. Bye Jeff. (if all the sportswriters around here can be believed.):LSU231: