AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > November > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGailey’s crying to the bank
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
It’s always sad when one of the decent people of sports gets fired. So, when Georgia Tech shoved Chan Gailey and his devout Christian ways out the door after six years as a solid but unspectacular football coach, it made you flirt with dabbing the corner of your eyes.
Well, until you started to think.
I’m not talking about Gailey’s 0-6 record against Georgia. Or about the maddening habit of his Yellow Jackets losing to inferior competition either before or after significant victories. Or about the inability of his teams to entice Tech fans to remain enthusiastic at home games - you know, even when they bothered to show up.
Four million dollars. That’s how much Gailey is getting not to coach.
FOUR MILLION!
This isn’t 1978, for instance, when Ohio State axed the legendary Woody Hayes after he slugged that Clemson player during a bowl game. Hayes’ salary was $43,000, a measly amount compared to that of today’s coaches, even if you consider inflation, global warming and whatever.
Four million dollars. Guess Gailey is crying all the way to the bank, and he’s likely sobbing by himself.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
Comments
By Christine Blackley
November 28, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Its money well spent….bet Dan R. will never get us in a mess like this again. Now if we can just get rid of Paul Hewitt. He’s a good recruiter but a terrible floor coach. Example last night….team was so undisciplined.
By Jack G
November 28, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU DAVID NO BRANE
By Jack G
November 28, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Mispelling of Braine intended
By ben
November 28, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
The sad thing is we Tech fans think that is a lot of money to pay a mediocre coach. Look at Nutt. An also ran in the SEC fires him, then a cellar dweller hires him for double that. Thats why, it’s either Tenuta or a young, unproven coach.
By tyler
November 28, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Here’s a better way to do that: THANK YOU DAVID NO BRAIN!!
By Navigator
November 28, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
I’m amazed that Rad didn’t make Gailey and assistant AD, so he could pay him the $1M a year. This would have locked Gailey down to forfeiting his right to coach elsewhere. Under those circumstances Gailey may have been willing to negotiate a reasonable settlement. Hopefully, Rad has a reason for not doing forcing a negotiation, or he felt that Gailey presence on campus may have been too disruptive.
By Real GT Fan
November 28, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
He didn’t make him a Asst AD because he had no grounds to do so. The contract called for the full payment if fired with out circumstance. A winning record doesn’t fit that criteria. The only one to blame for that, well really two, to blame is Dr. Clough, who had to sugn off on the deal and Dave Braine.
Why would Gailey or anyone for that matter stay on where there obviously not wanted, especially when they get paid not too.
By fred
November 28, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
Can’t you editorialize without sophomoric slams on my faith (Christianity)? Your’s (faith) is 100% your concern—-stay out of mine.
The Gailey move was a bargain-basement “sale”—-GT lost $$$ for the moment but got rid of obsolete merchandise.
Now we are primed for progress and it will come
To Hell With Jawja!!!
By scooter11
November 28, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Real: Is ‘fired without circumstance’ the same as ‘fired without cause’?
By Hugh G. Rection
November 28, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Our university will regret this firing, mark my words - too many other great jobs are open, which will tend to attract the top talent in the profession. We should have kept Chan around and gotten something for our $4 million.
By CW
November 28, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
Does he still get the $4 mil if he takes another job?
By B
November 28, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this
What has his devout Christian ways got to do with him getting fired? I hope the next coach has devout christian ways also like Mark Richt at UGA. There’s alot of good coaches just waiting for the call. Dan R. will get the right one…then TM will have something else to write about.
By T. Moore
November 28, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this
What do you mean, “Chan Gailey is WHITE?!?!?!?”
By Lee
November 28, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this
Woody Hayes’ $43k in 1978 equates to about $138k in today’s dollars.
Woody was one of the premier coaches of his day. Consider that many of today’s coaches are getting paid in the millions.
More proof that big money is ruining college football.
By Shazzam! Gomer Gailey Is Finally GONE!!
November 28, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this
“We should have kept Chan around and gotten something for our $4 million.”
Gotten what…4 more losses to UGA, 4 more years of Rip-Your-Heart-Out-Through-Your-Chest Losses to lesser opponents, 4 more years of QBs who are “developed” like Ball and Bennett, 4 more years of NO TOP 25 finishes, 4 more years of Toilet Bowls, 4 more years of declining Athletics Contributions, a Bobby Dodd Stadium with a few hundred GT Fans at home games? NO THANKS…6 years was quite enough for most of us.
WOW! You mean we only had to pay $4 Million to get rid of Gailey?
BEST FREAKIN DEAL OF THE DECADE! Mark my words.
By Connie Lingous
November 28, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
I think your personal insults are very ill-placed. Coach Gailey is a fine man who represented our University well every day he worked here.
By The Big Bug
November 29, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this
Connie: Gailey wasn’t hired as an Institute spokesman. He was hired to coach football. He failed. Poorly. What was even more irksome, he did not seem to care. Good riddance. 51-7 did it for me. That should have shown him the door. What a disgrace.
By kudzu
November 29, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this
Besides sports (people) who gets guaranteed contracts? I know there are others, but it’s not the norm. Guaranteed money is the problem with all sports. Average people work everyday of their lives then get a check (at the end of the week), get paid for what they do. This whole culture of contracts needs to be up and down sided…in other words, flat salaries and load up on incentives…Earn your pay…
Construct “performance agreements” that protect all parties, but don’t leave the owner or employer strapped with a debt load that somebody else has to pay.
Stupid stuff…we do. If injuries happen or poor performance or losing records, then after a grace period say goodbye, without being handcuffed…
By wamblin weck
November 29, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
Sure would like to see MacWhorter back from Austin
By Gordon
November 29, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
First of all, no one who really cares about Georgia Tech calls it a University. It is the Georgia INSTITUTE of Technology. I know that may seem like a small point, but if you represent yourself as a Tech person you should get it right.
Second, as has been mentioned above, the fault for the $4 million lies with Dave Braine. He was wrong to give the extension for 2 reasons: 1) Gailey had done nothing to earn it, and 2) He was leaving, and should have left that to the new guy.
Third, to Tech (or any other school out there), I will be happy to not coach for one tenth what Gailey is being paid. In fact, I have more experience not coaching that he does.
By Pat
November 29, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
No mention of Dodd in the first 20 respones? Amazin’!!!
By GE
November 29, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Only a complete idiot would want to coach at Tech with its high academic requirements, history of losing to Jawja, sacrimonious alumni and local press without the benefit of a guranteed contract. Coach Gailey is no idiot. Based on all the job openings out there, Tech will not land a big time coach without shelling out a lot of bucks. They can get a young , untried coach who wants to build his resume. The best that Tech can do is go 7 and 5 over the coming years. UMMM!!!!! That just what Coach Gailey was doing.
By Sue Bee
November 29, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this
I hope the AD gets a charming coach with loads of personality and whose season high for the next five years is 3 wins and seven or more losses.
By russell sorrells
November 29, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this
If Chan Gailey really said: “I don’t care what the fans think about which quarterback I should play,” then he was in breach of contract and should forfit the 4 million. Especially if he is such a “great guy”.