Tulsa is getting raked over the coals on the ACC board for the salary adjustments as reported by the Tulsa World. However, I reviewed the football and basketball coaching salaries available publicly and Tulsa coaching salaries compared favorably before the voluntary reduction. But that's not the point I want to make here regarding the AAC board.
AAC fans are stating Tulsa is not "investing" in its program and therefore Tulsa cannot build or sustain a strong athletic program. I disagree. Tulsa administration will work thru this. But that still is not the point I wish to make. The point I wish to make is no G5 school can pay a football or basketball coach enough to keep them when a P5 school comes calling. The allure and salaries of P5 schools is overwhelming for G5 schools. Just as a reminder....
UCF lost its FB coach to Nebraska.
Houston lost its FB coach to Texas.
SMU lost its FB coach to Arkansas.
Temple lost its FB coach to Baylor.
Navy lost its FB coach to Georgia Tech.
Memphis lost its FB coach to Virginia Tech & its basketball coach to Kentucky.
USF lost its FB coach to Oregon.
UConn lost its FB coach to Maryland.
And, finally, TU lost its last two winning FB coaches to Louisville and Pitt.
My guess is that, even with the voluntary salary reductions, Tulsa is still competitive with other G5 schools. And the voluntary salary reductions were done to minimize cuts in all the other facets of a sports program, for example, money for recruiting. There is no doubt in my mind that Tulsa will continue to successfully compete in all AAC sports.
AAC fans are stating Tulsa is not "investing" in its program and therefore Tulsa cannot build or sustain a strong athletic program. I disagree. Tulsa administration will work thru this. But that still is not the point I wish to make. The point I wish to make is no G5 school can pay a football or basketball coach enough to keep them when a P5 school comes calling. The allure and salaries of P5 schools is overwhelming for G5 schools. Just as a reminder....
UCF lost its FB coach to Nebraska.
Houston lost its FB coach to Texas.
SMU lost its FB coach to Arkansas.
Temple lost its FB coach to Baylor.
Navy lost its FB coach to Georgia Tech.
Memphis lost its FB coach to Virginia Tech & its basketball coach to Kentucky.
USF lost its FB coach to Oregon.
UConn lost its FB coach to Maryland.
And, finally, TU lost its last two winning FB coaches to Louisville and Pitt.
My guess is that, even with the voluntary salary reductions, Tulsa is still competitive with other G5 schools. And the voluntary salary reductions were done to minimize cuts in all the other facets of a sports program, for example, money for recruiting. There is no doubt in my mind that Tulsa will continue to successfully compete in all AAC sports.