U regents approve Fleck’s updated contract after extended discussion

[Pompous Elitist]

So you’re saying if an “opportunity” arises to fire for cause, well, you never know when such “opportunities” are going to come again.

*cough*NW and MSU*cough*

The situation at Northwestern is delicious. Fitzgerald seems determined to push for trial or a large settlement. Northwestern has to prove the veracity of allegations from some really curious characters (good luck). The Northwestern admin is a mess. Great theater if it goes to the finish line.



A judge for the Illinois Circuit Court for Cook County encouraged both parties to settle out of court in former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s breach of contract and defamation lawsuit against Northwestern and University President Schill at a Monday morning hearing. In an order issued after the hearing, the judge also set an April 7, 2025, trial date for the case, rejecting efforts by Fitzgerald’s lawyers to move the trial up.

Fitzgerald sued the University in October for breach of an oral contract, breach of employment contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false light and tortious interference with a business expectancy related to his termination last July. He’s seeking more than $130 million to fulfill the remainder of his contract — $68 million, through 2030 — and calculated future earning losses of $62 million.

Judge encourages Pat Fitzgerald and NU to settle lawsuit

A judge for the Illinois Circuit Court for Cook County encouraged both parties to settle out of court in former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s breach of contract and defamation lawsuit against Northwestern and University President Schill at a Monday morning hearing. In an order issued...

dailynorthwestern.com

 

[MplsGopher]

I don’t consider MSU’s situation any less shady.


But anyway back to the point, the U is way too cheap to go down such paths and we don’t have rich people to fund them anyway.

 

[caliGopher]

A. You of all people would have zero idea either way.
B. If the reports of their AD Jarmond flying to Mexico to meet with Fleck are true (no idea why or how anyone would make that up), there was definitely at least some interest.

You have zero idea of what anyone on this board know or doesn't know. But your confidence is amazing. Go strong buddy.

Why anyone would make that up? It got Fleck and extension after a shit show of a season. Yeah. Michigan was interested, too, right?

 

[proudgopher]

Looks like Gulley and Turner voted no, the former more on grandstanding grounds. Upset about tuition, living costs for students. Pragmatism is lost on the young. Turner questioning Coyle mirrored a federal judge questioning the NCAA about promoting a level playing field. The nuance is lost, doesn’t quite “get it”. Coyle did make an interesting remark that football now funds 80% of department operations.

His bit starts at 35:00

March 8, 2024 - University of Minnesota Board of Regents Meeting

www.youtube.com

Coyle's statement that football funds 80% of department operations is a bit slight of hand. The department budget is $130-135M. Revenue received from the BIG TV package is about $71M/year or a bit over half of department revenues. Its true that but for football there probably would not be a large TV revenue stream, but football income, standing alone, does not come close to providing 80% of department revenue.

 

[mngolf]

Coyle's statement that football funds 80% of department operations is a bit slight of hand. The department budget is $130-135M. Revenue received from the BIG TV package is about $71M/year or a bit over half of department revenues. Its true that but for football there probably would not be a large TV revenue stream, but football income, standing alone, does not come close to providing 80% of department revenue.

The money football brings in comes from more sources than just the B1G tv package.

 

[MplsGopher]

The money football brings in comes from more sources than just the B1G tv package.

When the Big Ten is cutting a $100M check to the U, the vast bulk of that money will come from their (the Big Ten's) main TV contract and from the money ESPN pays for the CFP. Other not insignificant sources would be bowl games (but split over 18 teams isn't huge) and Big Ten's units in March Madness (again split over 18 isn't huge).

 

[60's Guy]

Looks like Gulley and Turner voted no, the former more on grandstanding grounds. Upset about tuition, living costs for students. Pragmatism is lost on the young. Turner questioning Coyle mirrored a federal judge questioning the NCAA about promoting a level playing field. The nuance is lost, doesn’t quite “get it”. Coyle did make an interesting remark that football now funds 80% of department operations.

His bit starts at 35:00

March 8, 2024 - University of Minnesota Board of Regents Meeting

www.youtube.com

Thank you for the link. Very interesting listen...if as the chairman stated this money is coming out of the athletic departments budget and not the University's...therefore it has nothing to do with teacher salaries. Could just as well be complaining that Major League baseball players make too much money...it's not fair...professors deserve more. And then she says what a big fan of PJ she is...the logic is amazingly twisted.

 

[mngolf]

When the Big Ten is cutting a $100M check to the U, the vast bulk of that money will come from their (the Big Ten's) main TV contract and from the money ESPN pays for the CFP. Other not insignificant sources would be bowl games (but split over 18 teams isn't huge) and Big Ten's units in March Madness (again split over 18 isn't huge).

Ticket sales? Radio?

 

[dpodoll68]

You have zero idea of what anyone on this board know or doesn't know. But your confidence is amazing. Go strong buddy.

Not anyone, YOU. YOU specifically. There are people with inside information on this board from time to time. You are not one of them. You don't know anything more than the average rube on the street, and it's hilarious to watch you pretend that you do.

Why anyone would make that up? It got Fleck and extension after a shit show of a season. Yeah. Michigan was interested, too, right?

What the fuck are you talking about? Michigan? There was never any reported interest from Michigan, even casual outreach. There was definitely legitimate interest from UCLA, with absolute certainty. And I also have zero inside information (just like you), but that much is obvious.

 

[Some guy]

Coyle's statement that football funds 80% of department operations is a bit sleight of hand. The department budget is $130-135M. Revenue received from the BIG TV package is about $71M/year or a bit over half of department revenues. It’s true that but for football there probably would not be a large TV revenue stream, but football income, standing alone, does not come close to providing 80% of department revenue.

It is funny how you accuse Coyle of slight of hand and then say TV revenue isn’t football revenue

I am going to say you’re doing the slight of hand

 

[Ski U Mah 55]

Not anyone, YOU. YOU specifically. There are people with inside information on this board from time to time. You are not one of them. You don't know anything more than the average rube on the street, and it's hilarious to watch you pretend that you do.


What the fuck are you talking about? Michigan? There was never any reported interest from Michigan, even casual outreach. There was definitely legitimate interest from UCLA, with absolute certainty. And I also have zero inside information (just like you), but that much is obvious.

Calm down dude. It's just football.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Thank you for the link. Very interesting listen...if as the chairman stated this money is coming out of the athletic departments budget and not the University's...therefore it has nothing to do with teacher salaries. Could just as well be complaining that Major League baseball players make too much money...it's not fair...professors deserve more. And then she says what a big fan of PJ she is...the logic is amazingly twisted.

Yep, law of unintended consequences. Why is tuition outpacing general inflation? Regarding her rant it could be pointed out universities are arguably the epicenter of administrative and regulatory “bull$hit jobs”. Every initiative, process, rule, enforcement or adjudication mechanism enacted over the years has a cost associated with it and become self-perpetuating and self-justifying black holes. Throw in the very easy to obtain spigot of (non-dischargeable) student loan money and is little to no incentive to rein in costs for students.

 

[proudgopher]

It is funny how you accuse Coyle of slight of hand and then say TV revenue isn’t football revenue

I am going to say you’re doing the slight of hand

Most but not all of the TV revenue is generated by football. Coyle, and most other BIG AD's are blessed to have well over half their overhead expenses covered by this TV revenue....even before one single ticket is sold. Most business people would recognize what a great windfall that is. BTW, have you ever run a business?

 

[MplsGopher]

Ticket sales? Radio?

My post was about the money the Big Ten pays to each member (eg. Minnesota).

Ticket sales and radio are other forms of revenue than that.