They simply can’t pocket that much money by moving it to a home-and-home series, and another neutral-site venue like Atlanta would be a tough sell for fans who genuinely embrace the game’s tradition.īetween the cooperation of the Jaguars, city politicians and the money each school generates from the game being in Jacksonville, it’s hard to imagine this game going away any time soon. Both work heavily in Jacksonville’s favor because Georgia and Florida pay no expenses and are both guaranteed about $5 million each year. The schools cited tradition and finances as being the two most critical factors for the venue of future games. It’d take an extraordinary set of circumstances, even with a new SEC scheduling model coming once Texas and Oklahoma join the league, for Jacksonville to lose a game that has been played here almost continuously since 1933. When Georgia and Florida issued what came across as a dubious joint statement this week about the future venue of their football rivalry, some interpreted it as a potential warning shot of the game moving away from TIAA Bank Field when the contract expires after the 2023 season. In the SEC arms race where nearly half the schools are giving out monster contracts, Georgia and Kirby Smart is a marriage that could benefit the Bulldogs for a long time. The Gators are banking on Napier eventually catching Georgia, much the same way Smart’s program has closed the gap on Alabama and practically become its equal. ![]() It made the right decision by waiting until Smart built a sustainable dominant program before giving him Saban-like money.įlorida signed first-year Billy Napier to a seven-year, $51.8 million contract, almost identical to the second contract Georgia gave Smart in 2018 after he won his first SEC championship. More schools than not are paying a heavy price for handing out large guaranteed contracts to coaches who fall short of expectations. Even now, Texas A&M has to be wondering if Jimbo Fisher (10-year, $75 million contract) can deliver an SEC championship in a West division where the programs of Saban, LSU first-year coach Brian Kelly (10-year, $95 million) and Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin present huge roadblocks. ![]() That wasn’t the case for so many fired coaches who didn’t live up to monster contracts. Smart has positioned his program to potentially dominate the series in the same manner Vince Dooley (17-7-1) and Florida’s Steve Spurrier (11-1) once did.Īt 46, Smart is not only one of the most highly-compensated coaches in college football, but he’s proven over time - like his former boss, Nick Saban at Alabama, and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney - to be well worth the investment. Georgia, which has won a remarkable 40 of its last 45 conference games, is a 22-point favorite Saturday at TIAA Bank Field to beat Florida for the fifth time in six years. 1, according to 247Sports, and the 2023 class is currently third. ![]() The future looks even brighter as their last five recruiting classes were ranked No. The Bulldogs have been in four of the past five SEC title games. 829 winning percentage (73-15) is tops among FBS coaches with a minimum seven seaons - and will continue that trend. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”Įverything about Smart’s resume suggests Georgia is winning big - his. “Kirby’s first contract was not 100 percent guaranteed. “Where presidents and athletic directors get into trouble is signing off on fully guaranteed contracts for multiple years,” said TaxSlayer Gator Bowl CEO Greg McGarity, the former Georgia AD who hired Smart in December, 2015. ![]() At least it's fun to watch: Jaguars not winning, but Trevor Lawrence, offense creativity makes them entertainingĪt Georgia, which awarded Kirby Smart a 10-year, $112.5 million contract extension in July after he won the Bulldogs’ first national title in 41 years, that’s looking like money well spent.Same old story: Jaguars failing to come through in clutch moments | Gene Frenette.Good move? Jaguars trading James Robinson for 6th-round pick feels like premature move.Whether it’s Scott Frost at Nebraska, UCF coach Gus Malzahn when he exited Auburn, Geoff Collins at Georgia Tech or Herman Edwards at Arizona State, too many programs find themselves having buyer’s remorse. Then some regret the millions of dollars it ends up costing to buy out their fired coach. Many schools take that plunge, believing a massive investment in a rising star or a championship coach is all it takes to become a national contender. All over the country, there’s evidence that one of the most dangerous risks for a college administration is breaking the bank to secure the long-term services of a Power 5 football coach.
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