Bill Jurgensen: Please help me to figure out if I've got this right: A college basketball or football coach signs a contract for a certain amount of money for a certain period of time. If, after part of that time goes by, he has failed to do the job, the college can fire him as long as they "buy out" the remainder of his contract, usually for some obscene amount of money. But, if a coach decides to bolt for--surprise!--more money, it's "tough luck, college, but I'm outta here". It's really been a long time since I graduated from college myself--44 years, to be exact--, but when I was a sophomore I took two night course in business law. If I remember correctly, a contract was a two way thing, placing certain obligations on each party for their mutual protection. So, what's changed? Is my memory at fault? I guess, if you're a college, you want your coach to be successful but not TOO successful. I hope that Bobby Petrino enjoys the same success with the Falcons that Rick Pitino enjoyed when he bolted from UK for the Celtics!
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Re: College coaches and "contracts"
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Larry: I think your memory is pretty accurate. It all favors the college -- or pro -- coaches. Petrino does have a $1 miillion buyout that he has to give Louisville. Of course, the Falcons are paying it. And what about his players? If they want to transfer, they have to sit out a year. Not exactly fair.
