Adams: Money no object in SEC when winning on line

The SEC knows how to make a splash. The splash comes with cash.

Alabama did it in football two years ago when it made Nick Saban the highest-paid college football coach in the country. Kentucky did it Tuesday when it made John Calipari the highest-paid coach in college basketball.

Who says this is just a football league?

Sure, winning in football is the No. 1 priority in the SEC. But winning in everything else isn't that far behind. SEC programs have the canceled checks to prove it.

Don't tell Anthony Grant that the SEC is a football league. He was making $850,000 to coach Virginia Commonwealth University. Alabama more than doubled his salary. Georgia was trying to do the same thing for Mike Anderson, who is getting $850,000 at Missouri.

No one should be surprised by the SEC's willingness to spend this spring. That's how it rolls. The conference logo should include the inscription: "If you don't win, spend."

And if you still don't win, spend some more.

Look what just happened in football. Tennessee paid longtime coach Phillip Fulmer $6 million to vacate the premises after a 5-7 season. Auburn gave Tommy Tuberville more than $5 million in "go-away" money after a 5-7 season.

Finding money always has been easier than finding the right coach for your average SEC school. Finding money became even easier when the SEC negotiated long-term television deals with ESPN and CBS last summer.

The conference will get $2.25 billion from its 15-year deal with ESPN. It will get another $55 million from its 15-year deal with CBS.

With that kind of money lying around, losing becomes less tolerable than ever. No wonder Alabama and Georgia couldn't get rid of their basketball coaches fast enough when their seasons went south. Neither Mark Gottfried at Alabama nor Dennis Felton at Georgia lasted the season.

Coach Billy Gillispie wasn't doomed when Kentucky lost in the NIT. He was doomed when it made the NIT.

Kentucky making the NIT is worse than Tennessee not making a bowl. It's not acceptable for a fan base that expects its team to travel in the same elite circle with the likes of Kansas and North Carolina.

Paying $4 million a year to a basketball coach is acceptable.

Ask Alabama fans if that's too much. You think they are complaining about Saban's contract after his team went from 6-6 to 12-2.

Not that 12-2 is a goal for Alabama football. But it's at least a good start.

Calipari can relate to that. He didn't need a full day to figure out the expectations for Kentucky basketball.

He has won 30 or more games each of the last four seasons at Memphis. He has come within a few agonizing seconds and shots of winning a national championship. He didn't have to go to Kentucky to be rich or successful.

By accepting Kentucky's offer, Calipari isn't just taking the money, he's embracing the expectations of the SEC's premier basketball program. And if he wins championships - emphasis on the plural - Kentucky fans will embrace him back.

Meanwhile, the rest of the SEC will wait for the next big splash.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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