I'm a bit behind on this because there has been so many more immediately pertinent things to talk about, but this – from Minnesota Public Radio higher education reporter, Alex Friedrich – is very interesting indeed.
Friedrich spoke with the state House higher education committee chairman, Gene Pelowski, who had some choice words for Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague's decision to buy out former Gophers coach Tubby Smith for $2.5 million.
Pelowski – who called the move "obscene" in a Rochester Post-Bulletin story – hinted that the move could hurt the school's chances of receiving funding the athletic program may want for facilities in the near future because it shows there is ample money in the athletic fund.
Here's an excerpt of what Pelowski said, which Friedrich posted:
"When we have the bonding hearings, if there is anything relating to athletics, this will be a topic of conversation. Because you're now talking millions of dollars that are apparently available that could just as well go into buildings as paying someone not to do anything — or paying someone to do an incredibly mediocre job."
Obviously, the Gophers have a lot of new facilities on the brain, the master blueprint of which could cost as much as $125 million and would include a long-coveted practice facility.
Teague has not stated how much money, if any, the 'U' would be seeking from the state, but it asking for some assistance wouldn't come as a surprise.
However, there is of course another major spending project nearer on the horizon – hiring a coach. The Gophers will likely have to pay for a buyout of whichever coach they hire – unless it was someone like Flip Saunders – and then, of course, give the new coach a contract.
