DoubleHokie

No question this was a focused, aggressive pursuit that has set us up for an unusually early transition with a great coach. Despite the committee looking a little cumbersome at first, it was a great mix of heavy hitters that got us through a complex negotiation quickly (even if it might have felt slow along the way). Having the BOV actively in the mix must have helped, and there was plenty of reach on the committee to activate key donors (who were absolutely critical in making this happen). I’m sure the sausage-making wasn’t always pretty, but the results are exceptional.

I think you’re saying we’d pay him $5M, PSU would pick up the difference ($3.5M) and he’d make $8.5M. He’s sitting on at least one offer higher than that which renders this approach a non-starter, right?

And he’s going to go to a high bidder at a price point well above what he was making at PSU. We’re at least a part of setting his new price point (maybe along with Arkansas/others) - there’s no way he’s settling for anything close to what PSU was paying him. For your approach to work, he’d have to want VT and only VT - and want it so bad that he’d be willing to leave $$ on the table - never, ever happening

He’s now seen all of VT’s cards with this Franklin pursuit and he’ll be representing other candidates if Franklin doesn’t come our way. He’ll have similar leverage over other big schools too - gives him a unique ability to continuously ratchet up offers and play schools off each other. It’s not a monopoly, but he’s got some real negotiating advantage given his broad range of high performing clients.

How did he forget to mention the joy of playing 5 ACC schools a year? 😀