This is tied into the Expansion Talk thread, but it's relevant to this thread as well. I keep seeing people talking about the inability to hire better coaches, and budget constraints. Guess what? We had the ability to correct that but we decided NOT to by turning down the B1G. We have lost an ADDITIONAL $15-20 million per YEAR since that decision in 2013. Do the math on that.
The hole we dug ourselves by paying out Gailey/Hewitt/Gregory would have been wiped out and we would have been ahead financially. Offensive and defensive coordinators that costs millions per year would not have been an issue. Do you want to put it into perspective? Last year, Alabama had the highest paid coaching staff at $7.5+ million for 2020. Saban is paid $9 million per year. In total, 'Bama is paying out $16.5 million per year for coaches salaries. GT's total coaching salaries come in at under $7 million total including CGC's salary. Even we just spent an extra $3 million a year on just high end DCs/OCs, that would have left plenty on the table for other parts of our Athletic Department.
If you want to hold onto "regional rivalries", "tradition", and not having to travel to Michigan or Ohio...well, we've lost $15-20 million a year for that "privilege". B1G gave us a lifeline for money issues, and we declined. At this point, I don't ever want to hear GT and money issues any longer...the problems we have with money we've done to ourselves (poor coaching extensions, leaving the SEC, turning down the B1G, bad business decisions, etc.). Honestly, I do not blame some fans at all for not giving more to our athletic department or renewing season tickets. GT has shown an extensive history of making poor decisions with money...why donate to someone who continues to spend poorly and throw good money after bad.