As far as I can tell NU receives 80 million in donations, that is pure profit. Their profit is far smaller from tickets, and they receive a bunch from the big 10 in revenue sharing. Losing 25% of your donations for the next four years because Rhule sucks is 80 million dollars. Also, Rhule isn't going to sit at home for 6 years, NU won't pay the full buyout, and they can defer a lot of the payments in different ways over a longer period of time. If the season goes how we think, Rhule will be fired, mainly because he was blown out in his last three games, will be blown out many times this upcoming season, will be like 0-67 against ranked teams. And will be like 4-11 in his last 15 games once the season is over. From a local viewpoint the extension was stupid, but these types of extensions are extremely common in year 3-4...coaches can't recruit when their contact ends during a players career...at least that is their story.The problem with that theory is the money it takes to change head coaches. Yeah I know, empty seats cost a lot of money too but then you’re just adding to the financial pain. The businessman in me says that we’re stuck and have to bide our time. The extension probably bought Rhule 2 more years. Even then, you’re probably looking at hiring a no name staff if you fire Rhule in 2 years. The original package we gave him was a lot but millions of that was paid by his former team. The other extension is all ours
I’ve been preaching for at least 5 years that we don’t have the depth of alumni financial support that some of the other B1G schools not to mention the SEC. IMO, we’re screwed as far as football goes.