Since the BCS is such a hot topic today. And yesterday. And before that.
Whether you’re pro-playoff, anti-playoff, or somewhere in between, it’s always interesting to put some numbers next to this fluid and polarizing debate.
And certainly one of the areas of concern for playoff advocates are the egregious salaries raked in by some of the CEO’s of BCS bowls.
Or, blowing a portion of that salary on strip club extravaganzas with glitter. Lots of glitter.
According to IRS tax information obtained by the Associated Press, Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan pulled in $594,000 during the 2009 season. That total was just 50k under the $645,000 Hoolahan received in 2008 when the Sugar Bowl hosted the BCS National Championship between Ohio State and LSU.
The tax records also show Hoolahan got bonuses of $140,00 and $80,000 in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
The salary by itself may not say a lot other than beg the question “What do I need to do to get that kind of money?”, but remember, half of the schools who participated in BCS bowls lost money.
Interestingly enough, though, the two schools who participated in this last season’s Sugar Bowl, Ohio State and Arkansas, were able to net a profit of $289,000 and $5,500, respectively.
You can see a breakdown of Ohio State’s expenses HERE and Arkansas’ HERE.
On the other hand, many schools who are netting losses in bowl games have begun to take belt-tightening measures in travel and guest invites.
But if a school still sees financial red, can you really justify a single person making so much, especially when all five BCS bowls experienced declining television ratings?