I have discovered the source of Urbie's Energy

[Brad]

Gators to pay Meyer average of $2 million

BY DAVID JONES

FLORIDA TODAY  

Meyer's deal  

Just for 2005

Base salary: $225,000

TV, radio: $300,000

Personal appearances: $200,000

Apparel: $500,000

Bonuses: $500,000 signing when hired

Investments: $100,000

Expense account: $60,000

Educational expenses for family: $100,000

Total: $1.985,000

Tickets: 12 complimentary to each home game and a similar block at other games on the road, plus can buy 40 more a game at face value.

Also: Two medium-priced cars, one for the head coach and his wife, with auto insurance.

Complete deal, 3D.

Meyer's deal, by the numbers

2005 through 2007

Base salary: $225,000 in 2005; $231,750 in 2006; $238,702 in 2007.

TV, radio: $300,000 each year.

Appearances: $200,000 each year.

Apparel: $500,000 each year from Nike deal with UF.

Bonuses: $500,000 signing bonus in 2005.

Longevity incentives: $250,000 in 2006; $500,000 in 2007.

Investments: $100,000 annually deposited into account of Meyer's choice, but not redeemable unless he stays to 2012.

Expense account: $60,000 each year.

Educational expenses for family: $100,000 each year.

Totals: $1,985,000 in 2005; $1,741,750 in 2006; $1,998,702 in 2007. 2008 through 2010Base salary: $245,863 in 2008; $253,238 in 2009; $260,835 in 2010. TV, radio: $425,000 each year. Appearances: $250,000 each year. Apparel: $500,000 each year from Nike deal with UF. Longevity incentives: $250,000 in 2008; $500,000 in 2009. Investments: $150,000 annually deposited into account of Meyer's choice, but not redeemable unless he stays to 2012. Expense account: $60,000 each year. Educational expenses for family: $100,000 each year. Totals: $1,980,863 in 2008; $2,238,238 in 2009; $1,745,835 in 2010. 2011Base salary: $268,660 TV, radio: $425,000 Appearances: $250,000 Apparel: $500,000 Longevity incentive: $600,000 Investment: $150,000 Expense account: $60,000 Educational expenses for family: $100,000 Total: $2,353,660 Bonuses (every year)Non-BCS bowl: $37,500 BCS bowl: $100,000 BCS national title bowl: $150,000 BCS national title: $250,000 SEC Championship Game: $37,500 Win SEC title: $75,000 AP national coach of year: $50,000 AP SEC coach of year: $25,000 Top 10 finish (AP or USA Today): $50,000

GAINESVILLE - It's nice to be wanted. Just ask Urban Meyer.

The new Florida football figures to become very wealthy with his new seven-year contract worth about $2 million annually and signed April 20. The longer he stays, the more he will be rewarded -- capped off by a package worth $2.35 million in 2011, including a $600,000 longevity incentive.

Meyer left Utah with five years left in a deal worth $500,000 per season.

Meyer, who also received a $500,000 signing bonus, will make $1.985 million this year.

The final season is his highest payout, but a clause could allow renegotiation after the 2007 season.

His Florida contract became available Friday through the state's open-records laws and was obtained by FLORIDA TODAY. It includes:

Base salaries ranging from $225,000 this year to $268,660 in 2011 -- the only state money in the deal.

Payments of $500,000 a year through the school's apparel contract with Nike.

Appearance fees totaling $200,000 a year through 2007, then $250,000 a year.

TV and radio deals of $300,000 a year, increasing to $425,000 a year in 2008.

Longevity incentives alternating between $250,000 and $500,000 from 2006-09, then $600,000 in 2011.

Two "medium-priced" cars, one for Meyer and his wife, with auto insurance paid, and an expense account of $60,000 a year ($5,000 a month).

Payments of $100,000 a year for the Meyer family's educational expenses. Meyer's three children range in age from 6 to 14.

Meyer's contract also includes bonues such as $250,000 for winning a national title, $75,000 for winning an SEC title and $50,000 for being named the Associated Press national coach of the year (which he was in 2004 at Utah before leaving for the Gators' program).

Most of the contract, also including $100,000 a year for investments, will be paid by the University Athletic Association.

While UF officials did not comment, Meyer has said that even though he will be one of the nation's highest-paid college coaches, taking the job wasn't about the money.

"It's the best conference in college football," Meyer said during a recent booster stop in Brevard County. "I thought that before I was involved in the SEC, and now that I'm here, there is no question. It's the best players, it's in my opinion the best coaching. It's the passion."

Florida State's Bobby Bowden, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, Texas' Mack Brown and Phil Fulmer of Tennessee also have deals averaging more than $2 million a year. Fulmer will make $2.05 million through 2011 after a recent extension.

Fulmer receives $800,000 from radio-TV, $625,000 from the Vols' apparel deal and $300,000 from an appearances and endorsement agreement.

Meyer's deal dwarfs the contract of predecessor Ron Zook, who made just more than $1 million per season in his three years at Florida before being fired late in the 2004 season.

The new coach's appeal and expectations are obvious in his new contract. He is required to attend 20 Gator gatherings, although that number can be negotiated downward and is expected to decrease in the near future.

Zook received $400,000 in his first year for the apparel part of his contract, $200,000 for TV and radio and $100,000 for appearances -- all three portions considerably less than Meyer.

Similar to a clause in most of Steve Spurrier's years at Florida, Meyer's deal allows him to consider other jobs only after the regular season until Jan. 2 each year. Meyer does not have a buyout clause in his Florida deal. He had a $250,000 buyout at Utah.

Longevity could provide more incentive than any buyout demands. The $100,000 investment will be deposited in a fund of Meyer's choice. If he remains at Florida until Jan. 31, 2012, he collects the entire amount plus all interest accumulated.

Coupled with the $600,000 bonus in 2011, Meyer would collect a total of $2.1 million dollars in longevity bonuses if he stays the full seven years.

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**** Right he BETTER win NOW - which I hope he doesn't.... [smiley=FIREdevil.gif]

[Brad]

Meyer's Deal Incentive-Laden

By ANDY STAPLES

astaples@tampatrib.com

GAINESVILLE - Urban Meyer has spent the past month telling University of Florida football fans he plans to coach the Gators for a long time.

Meyer has plenty of financial incentive to keep his word, according to the seven- year, $14 million contract signed by Meyer on April 20 and by UF president Bernie Machen on April 25. The first- year coach's contract, released Friday, calls for a total of $2.1 million in longevity bonuses if Meyer stays for the length of the contract.

Before bonuses, Meyer is scheduled to make about $1.5 million his first year. He also received a $500,000 signing bonus - former coach Ron Zook received a $375,000 signing bonus - and is due perks such as $100,000 for his children's educational expenses, a $60,000 expense account and free use of a vehicle ``in the medium price range'' for Meyer and his wife. Meyer's vehicle is a Dodge Durango.

Meyer is scheduled to receive a $250,000 lump sum payment following the 2006 regular season, $500,000 in 2007, $250,000 in 2008, $500,000 in 2009 and $600,000 in 2011. There was no mention of 2010. In most cases, coach's contracts are revised long before they expire.

If Meyer wins, he stands to make even more. Bonuses begin at $37,500 for making - and losing - the SEC Championship Game and escalate quickly. Meyer would receive $75,000 for winning the SEC title, $100,000 for reaching a Bowl Championship Series game and $250,000 for winning the BCS national title game.

Meyer's contract has no buyout if he chooses to leave. Every year, he has from Dec. 1 until the day after Florida's bowl game to decide whether he wants to take another job. Should Meyer be fired, Florida would owe him $1 million for each year remaining on his contract.

And if Florida fans didn't have enough reasons to cozy up to their coach, here's a new one. Meyer's contract calls for 12 complimentary tickets - probably not nosebleed seats, either - to each home game. He also has the option to buy 40 more tickets to each game at face value.

UF received a commitment Friday from Stephenville, Texas, quarterback Jevan Snead. Snead, a 6-foot-4, 205- pounder, threw for 3,025 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for 618 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. He chose Florida over Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma, and he intends to graduate in December and enroll at Florida in January.

Snead is Florida's second commitment for the class of 2006. Fort Myers Riverdale running back Chevon Walker committed last month.

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Pressure on now...it's all over the media...even the Gators in Trailers Club is likely to see this as they toss the neighborhood fishwrap at other mobiles...  Wow, I give Urbie two years now.. ;D

[Knight_Light]

One would think that a $2 Million Salary can help pay for Private Schools for his kids.

Guess not...UF is paying him $100,000 per year for Educational Expenses!

Yikes!

KL

[TripleB]

One would think that a $2 Million Salary can help pay for Private Schools for his kids.

Guess not...UF is paying him $100,000 per year for Educational Expenses!

Yikes!

KL

Also curious as to what "Expenses" cover for 5 grand a month .....

I always thinks it's ludicrous that the highest paid  sports figures usually get outrageous perks to go along with it ........... sickening.