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Urban Meyer gets raise to $4 million annually

By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer Aug 3, 3:40 pm EDT

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Florida coach Urban Meyer has two national championships in the last three years and the same number of raises.

Meyer signed a six-year contract Monday worth $4 million annually, up from $3.25 million, after leading the Gators to the national title in January. The new deal makes Meyer the highest-paid coach in the Southeastern Conference—at least for now.

Alabama’s Nick Saban, scheduled to make $3.9 million this season, is reportedly negotiating a contract extension. And LSU’s Les Miles has a clause in his contract that guarantees him $1,000 more than any coach in the league if he leads the Tigers to a national championship.

“Coach Meyer has certainly proven to be one of the top college football coaches in the country and should be compensated as such,” athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. “We are proud he is our coach and we appreciate all that he has done for the Gators.”

Foley said in June he planned to work on a new contract for Meyer and acknowledged the “sensitivity” of giving the coach a hefty raise during an economic downturn. The university recently announced $42 million in budget cuts and layoffs of nine faculty members and 49 staff employees.

But the state-funded school doesn’t pay Meyer’s salary. The University Athletic Association, a separate entity that funds the school’s athletic department, does.

Nonetheless, Meyer decided to give some of his money back to the school. Meyer, the co-chairman of the university’s Florida Opportunity Scholars Program, committed $1 million to the program over the duration of his contract. School president Bernie Machen created the program to provide financial assistance to first-generation, financially disadvantaged students working toward bachelor’s degrees.

“I continue to be very thankful and appreciative for everything the University of Florida and the athletic program has done for me and my family,” Meyer said in a statement. “Dr. Machen, Jeremy Foley and the community make this a special place and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Meyer came to Florida following the 2004 season and has led the Gators to a 44-9 record in four seasons. Maybe most telling, he’s had Florida at its best in big games. The Gators are 11-1 against their three main rivals—Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State—and won both national championships games in convincing fashion (41-14 over Ohio State in 2007 and 24-14 over Oklahoma in January).

Meyer signed his previous contract, worth $3.25 million annually, in 2007 after Florida won its first national title in a decade. He also earned $375,000 in bonuses last season: $75,000 for winning the Southeastern Conference championship, $250,000 for winning the national title and $50,000 for a top-10 finish in The Associated Press poll.

“I believe that Urban Meyer is the best at what he does,” Machen said in a statement. “He demands excellence of his players on the field and in the classroom. Not only did the University of Florida win a national championship in January, but all 13 seniors earned degrees and the 2008 football team tied an SEC league record with 37 players named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. We’re proud he’s a Gator.”

Meyer could be in Gainesville a while, too.

Speaking at a charity golf tournament last month, Meyer said he was floored when he returned from vacation and heard about another story linking him to Notre Dame.

“I’m not going to Notre Dame. Ever,” said Meyer, who chose Florida over Notre Dame in 2004. “I’m going to be the coach at Florida for a long time, as long as they want me.”

Updated Aug 3, 3:40 pm EDT
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158 Comments

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  1. Chris G
    158. Posted by Chris G Fri Aug 7 3:24am EDT

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    Dawgmeat-

    I wasn't accusing you of saying anything about the pay raise. I also didn't mean to imply that a professor doesn't bring anything to the table for the university. Quite the opposite, I understand that in the long run, the professor's have a much larger impact on the school and the students than the football coach does. And I understand about grant money, and even though I admit I don't know any numbers on that, I'd be willing the bet there isn't a professor that claim responsibility for bringing in with grants a fraction of what a top coach like Meyer can bring in with a national champion football team.

    I'm also not saying I think it's "right" that a football coach can make that much more than a professor. I'll be the first to say that if people got payed according to their actual contributions to the world, teachers would be at the top of the list. But that ain't the world we live in. Hell, look at what your average pro sports star makes in a year. Makes Urban Meyer's salary look like minimum wage. Is that right? In the grand scheme of things, no. But if the team can afford to pay them that because of how much money they'll bring in for them, that's just how the world works.

    This comment was aimed at the people who took issue with Meyer making more than professors, or even one of them mentioned him making more than the president (which, at 200,000 a year, isn't even more than most mid-level business executives).
  2. BGator
    157. Posted by BGator Thu Aug 6 2:57pm EDT

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    We all take satification in knowing when we are right....

    Go Gators! 6 mores years of Urban Meyers... music to our ears!

    It's Great - To Be - a Florida Gator!
  3. Dawgmeat
    156. Posted by Dawgmeat Thu Aug 6 1:54pm EDT

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    Bill .... perhaps you should follow your own advice.




    lol @ ignore Dawgmeat .... so engage with Dawgmeat, do talk about Dawgmeat, dont think about Dawgmeat .... Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat ...... just pay this Dawgmeat guy no attention ..... Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat, Dawgmeat. lol.
  4. BGator
    155. Posted by BGator Thu Aug 6 1:27pm EDT

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    Yo Folks, endulging this DAWGMEAT Dolt is an excersize in futility. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. As Joe Walsh stated... "You Can't Argue With a Sick Mind." Ignor this clown. It's not worth wasting the energy to care what comes from it... Whacko Nut Job that lacks any credibilty or rational thought. Ignor Folks - Don't go there - is Sage Advice! Most likely a Post Office employee anyway - likely to go postal sooner than later...

    Way to Go Gators! Having Urban on board through 2014 makes it great to be a Florida Gator!
  5. Dawgmeat
    154. Posted by Dawgmeat Thu Aug 6 12:59pm EDT

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    damn Michael ....... i was trying to remember who the guy was i debated with about the whole Bama thing just the other day, couldnt think of it. thank you for raising your hand so i could remember who you were.

    Go Dawgs !!!!!! (im holding you to your word)
  6. michael h
    153. Posted by michael h Thu Aug 6 8:45am EDT

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    Bard 136 - Good facts to back up your point. Give Dawgmeat 136 a break - once you get past his Sarcsam he normaly will back up his thoughts with facts. We all just have different ways of expressing ourselfs. Dawgmeat, I told you that I would root for your team this year, right behind BAMA.
  7. SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID
    152. Posted by SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID Thu Aug 6 7:20am EDT

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    Okay Dawgcrap good morning lets get started first we want to make sure you have your change of panties also make sure you have your binky and your nana.PLease wipe the snott from your nose and upper lip . Okay just relax take a deep breath play with the building blocks and I will be back with you in a little while. Please stay away from the electrical outlets.
  8. Dawgmeat
    151. Posted by Dawgmeat Thu Aug 6 12:48am EDT

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    #148 ..... if Meyer is paid 4 million a year than he earns it. you know who cries about him making 4 million a year ? people that make $10 an hour.
  9. Dawgmeat
    150. Posted by Dawgmeat Thu Aug 6 12:47am EDT

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    #146 ....... please do. nobody else around here is entertaining me.


    LOVE the response though ..... i know you are but what am i .... i know you are but what am i ........ i know you are but what am i ????



    hahahahahaha ..... VERY original response !!!!!!!!
  10. Dawgmeat
    149. Posted by Dawgmeat Thu Aug 6 12:45am EDT

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    Bard ...... now #147 i did read ..... much shorter. if you think i read that book you are stoned ..... and you clearly dont know me from a hole in the ground. IF i read that post ...... i could not have helped myself but to respond and point out every place you made mistakes. have i EVER not responded to a post directed at me ??????? hell no. i cant help it. it would eat me alive to not respond knowing i disagree. now ...... like mentioned before .... if youd like to give me a Cliff Notes version .... or at least break it up into different posts .... ill take a stab at it ..... but no way in hell am i going to waste my time reading a post that long .... hell, i dont even make posts that long and i am the king of the long winded post.
  11. Bard
    148. Posted by Bard Thu Aug 6 12:16am EDT

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    oh and yes.....I think Urban does deserve the 4 million per year/ any coach that wins a National Championship deserves some credit and extra money....face it.....he is a good coach.
  12. Bard
    147. Posted by Bard Wed Aug 5 11:44pm EDT

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    Hate I think your right on #137 and 138 I think he did read my post, and he knows he did read my post, and he knows I am correct.........

    Long Live the Big 12 the SEC and all teams in the PAC "9" I'm sure the Huskies will do just fine in DIII.
  13. SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID
    146. Posted by SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID Wed Aug 5 10:09pm EDT

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    Hey dumbass dawg meat you have proved that i am the puppet master i make a comment and your stupid ass gets all worked up you are a joke just like your huskies good night loser maybe i will pull your strings tomorow scumbag!
  14. Ed
    145. Posted by Ed Wed Aug 5 8:57pm EDT

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    Does this mean that the Coach will be paid more than the players?
  15. Justin
    144. Posted by Justin Wed Aug 5 7:43pm EDT

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    "YA GOTTA GO TO GATORS"
  16. Dawgmeat
    143. Posted by Dawgmeat Wed Aug 5 5:31pm EDT

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    #139 ..... YAWN. yes ..... he put me in my place so badly i didnt even take the time to read his post. like i referenced before ..... the difference between me and other dipsh*ts like Bart ... or Bard .... whatever the hell name he uses .... is that EVERYBODY reads my posts and responds to my posts. i am in ALL of your heads. i dont give a rats ass what any of you has to say .... probably wrong anyway. but you .... you .... im so in your head that you turn into a cheerleader for anybody who types a post to me. haha.


    i am the puppet master .... you are my puppets.
  17. Dawgmeat
    142. Posted by Dawgmeat Wed Aug 5 5:28pm EDT

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    #138 ..... did he ?????? hmmm ..... perhaps you can pass me along the Cliff Notes version, that i might take the time to read.

    LMFAO @ putting me in my place. hahaha. as if any of you f*cking idiots possess the capability. but he surely shut me up ..... boy .... wont hear a peep out of me anymore. hahaha.
  18. Dawgmeat
    141. Posted by Dawgmeat Wed Aug 5 5:26pm EDT

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    Bard ..... do you HONESTLY believe im going to waste my time reading that book you wrote ? lol @ you. hope you enjoyed spending all of that time typing a post to somebody who will never read it.

    you read my posts because you cant help it ..... i am addicting. everybody reads my posts and everybody comments on my posts. i am God .... you are a nobody.
  19. Dawgmeat
    140. Posted by Dawgmeat Wed Aug 5 5:22pm EDT

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    Billy Billy Billy .... i dont give a crap if this article is about Hilary Clinto getting f*cked by a water buffalo ..... i type about whatever the hell i want to type about and there isnt a damned thing you can do about ....... well, other than what you are doing .... crying about it.
  20. <i>jdjacobs04</i>
    139. Posted by jdjacobs04 Wed Aug 5 4:28pm EDT

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    buckeyes are the best and everyone nos it
  21. SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID
    138. Posted by SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID Wed Aug 5 4:05pm EDT

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    Ooooooh snap thats the way to bust dawgsh*ts balls good job bard dawgmeat just got b*tch slapped bye reality. bard you da man!
  22. SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID
    137. Posted by SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID Wed Aug 5 3:50pm EDT

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    Great job bart thats the way to put that dawgmeat ass hole in his place!
  23. Bard
    136. Posted by Bard Wed Aug 5 2:46pm EDT

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    #120 Might be 10 that know more than you.!! are you joking? ......you need to complete your sentence/ 10 more just in your
    cell block!/ in your band camp dorm ? what? you know from this list of the top 10 winningest college football programs ever/ I dont see your left coast Huskies (21 by the way)..

    1. Michigan: 872-297-38
    2. Texas: 832-320-34
    3. Notre Dame: 831-285-42
    4. Nebraska: 827-337-41
    5. Ohio State: 808-306-53
    6. Penn State 801-349-43
    7. Alabama: 799-316-43
    8. Oklahoma: 788-300-53
    9. Tennessee: 776-327-55
    10. USC: 765-303-54



    ..now try to give your best analysis of the winningest programs ever..list ..I'm sure it will be some good liberal excuse of (I'm talking about the last 20 years, or the game is different today,or how about this......... over the last 100 + years the Huskies have played more teams during daylight hours with the sun in our eyes with the temperature above 75 with humidity at a higher percentage than any team EVER! Face the facts , dont just antagonize you smuck!! read the print below.....those are facts...now back to your wonderfull pac9 .... I think a majority of this country ....even pac9 fans would rate the Lienart/Bush team(s) as one of the best ever!! and that is the same "team" for the most "starting part" as your 2004 Trojans you mentioned you idiot!! your 91 Huskies are not even close to them

    And if you are able to look at the big picture and not one with your rose colored glasses ...just another case in point towards my argument at the pac 9 rating of #5..I will now say they are tied for 6th ...if you look at the number of teams per conference that are rated in the top 25 of winningest programs in the history of college football
    and just in case you were wondering, the conferences with the most teams in the top 25 are...

    SEC- 6

    Big 12- 5

    Big 10- 3


    Big East- 3

    ACC- 3

    Pac 10- 2

    Independent- 2

    MAC- 1

    Make all the excuses you want about not rating a conference in general and how that is unfair etc.... but it is just one of the many facts that help define a team/program.

    VINCE YOUNG holding Tommy Fraziers jock/ boy there's an old school yard saying from the past!! Vince Young in college is one of the greatest ever....if you wanna go through those facts we can.....even against Tommy Frazier who is also one of the best ever....any huskies on their list/ stop jumping off the huskies short bus yourself...like you blame others of doing you fool. I can see right past your smoke and mirrors....so now your on the Big 12 (full size bus) huh? giving praise to Nebraska, trying to pull people into your game of getting a Texas fan to have it out with a Nebraska fan ahahahahaha you simple minded idiot....same clown different circus with you...and only you. I MUST say this will make it ALOT more interesting for me from now on when any team from the Big 12 or SEC plays your 0-12 huskies. OH dont cry foul on your 84 huskie team that BYU TOOK TITLE FROM YALL........I seem to remember the Trojans that year beat you...it was BYU that went undeafeted 12-0 not the huskies 11-1 you finished the year rated #2....no one remembers who finishes second !!


    YOU KNOW THE ELITE PROGRAMS dont flop all the way to 0-12 with 7 losing seasons in a row even with a "bad coach excuse". I believe it's evident by the number of people on here you stir up and argue against that it is you that seems to be the pea brain simple minded wanna be football GURU..... lets make a list of players from Texas that succeed in the NFL compared to the huskies.... no your list would be short...lets just make a list of former/current players from each school that make it "to" the NFL.... "and yes another tool or measuring device of judging a successful football program.
    There is no point in talking with you other than to show you all your wrong points...which in a way is kind of fun remember there are 11 teams from both the Big 12 and SEC with a better winning percentage than your huskies who would leave either one on these two conferences to join the MAC.

    LongHorn4Life
    2005
  24. SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID
    135. Posted by SNOT BUBBLE KOOLAID Wed Aug 5 1:56pm EDT

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    Gators suck!
  25. BillyB
    134. Posted by BillyB Wed Aug 5 1:46pm EDT

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    Holy Crap Batman... can anyone be as obtuse as the Dawgmeat drone! The article is about Urban Myers' Contract extension... You need take your riddilin and have a pudding pop before bedtime!

    Who cares if UF doesn't play any out of conference games out of Florida... We play in the SEC and that alone is tough enough. Florida had the nations toufgghest schedule when we won the Championship in '06. Drone all you want, you seem to be quite the unhappy sort. It comes as no surprise that you have a blog and slam ESPN or about anything/everything else. Why??? because you are quite disturbed and should be summarily ignored. I for one will ignor anything that comes from you from now on. My advice would be for all to do the same. Mentalitalties such as yours should be left alone.... completely alone! We may wish to have Homeland Security track your IP address, the likelyhood of you climbing a tower somewhere with a rifle seems to be imminent! HAd a MRI of your brain lately??? You should, something is askew in there!!!!

    Why to go Gators! Inking Urban through 2014 makes it GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!
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