I am not looking to pick on just SEC coaches for this, I think coaches from many BCS conferences would voice similar displeasure ($ content). Still, it came from the SEC meeting.A few coaches have concerns about the price gouging of nonconference games with some low and mid-majors wanting $80,000 to $100,000 for a guarantee game.Price gouging is hardly what it is. It's called the free market. Considering the salaries of many SEC coaches -- and how they have happily played one job offer off of the other to get raises -- are a result of market forces they might be more understanding.
The SEC schools are hardly the only schools that have to pay that price range for guarantee games, that is games against patsies or low-risk opponents willing to play on the road for no return game. Even with a return game, if there is an opt-out, they will take it.
What bothers them, is that their athletic departments aren't as willing to pay that price -- and cut into the athletic department's desired profit margin from the game -- for a guarantee games. (Of course, if the coaches were willing to take a pay cut, maybe the profit margin and need for the money from guarantee games wouldn't be so important, and... okay, that's just being silly.) And the coaches and schools aren't willing to offer a return game or even a 2-for-1 deal. Some conferences like in the MAC have strongly encouraged their teams to limit the number of guarantee games and push for at least a 2-for-1. Further shrinking the number of potential patsy teams.
The pool of teams -- even with over 330 possible teams -- that are willing to go on the road for a guarantee game and are suitably weak enough (i.e., not from the Missouri Valley Conference) to not have a realistic chance at an upset is actually rather limited. Add in the fact that there are 73 teams just in the 6 major conferences plus the WAC, MWC, A-10 and MVC looking for some of those opponents.
That creates a tight market for the patsy teams and drives the price higher. Hey, if bad teams have to go on the road to be sacrificed, it might as well be to the highest bidder.
If the SEC coaches (or coaches from any of the major conferences) really wants to seriously cut down the price for guarantee games they need to reduce the demand. There are only a few options to do this;
- Increase the number of games in the conference schedule, thereby reducing the number of non-conference games needed to be filled.
- Play more games against other major conference teams -- which would entail more home-and-home games.
- Have the NCAA shrink the number of games allowed to be played in the regular season, and take the appropriate pay cut from lost revenues from TV and gate receipts.
Previously at Fanhouse:
Welcome to the Beatdown, Here's Your Check
Kentucky Pays UMass $50K to Avoid Playing Them
