Urban meyer could break the bank

GAINESVILLE - The national-title game is two weeks away, but the presents might continue to appear underneath Urban Meyer's tree well after Christmas Day.

Like the Holiday carol says, "Joy to the Meyers, for payday has come." Should the Florida Gators defeat Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game on Jan. 8 in Miami — giving Meyer his second title in three years — there will be no denying his financial leverage in Gainesville.

The last college football coach to win two national titles in his first four seasons at a school, USC's Pete Carroll, has quadrupled his original salary to become the highest per-year earner in the game at just above $4.4million.

Considering Meyer's salary jumped from $2 million to $3.25 million per year after his 2006 national title, he could become the country's highest-paid coach after a second. Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley declined comment on Meyer's contract.

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"Everybody understands that we have one of the best, if not the best, coach in the country," said a prominent UF booster who spoke on condition of anonymity. "You've got to pay them what the market allows. The way you keep a guy is you keep him financially happy."

Here's why the Meyer family could celebrate a Christmas worth millions in guaranteed money as the chance at a second national title looms.

A new deal?
Meyer's opponent in two weeks, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, reportedly earns more than $6million this season thanks to a unique bonus. OU is paying Stoops an extra $3 million for reaching the 10-year mark in Norman.

Though topping $6million is doubtful, Meyer could easily become the Southeastern Conference's highest-paid coach over LSU's Les Miles, who makes $3.751 million per year after winning the 2007 national title.

Florida will likely find a way to raise pay under the University Athletic Association's financial model driven by TV, licensing, marketing and booster contributions.

Even a losing effort against the Sooners might score Meyer a raise. Ohio State's Jim Tressel received a reported $1million raise in 2008 after getting outmuscled in two straight national-championship games.

Hefty bonuses
Meyer's current contract, good until the year 2013, includes a performance-based incentives package that maxes out at $450,000. A win should secure most of that money.

Meyer already earned $75,000 for winning the SEC title game and another $100,000 for reaching a BCS bowl. If the Gators walk away with the title, that BCS amount more than doubles to $250,000.

Then there's the $50,000 for finishing the season in the Top 10, which the Gators will do.

A lack of national coaching awards — and too much of Nick Saban — will deprive Meyer of $75,000. The Alabama coach won The Associated Press' Coach of the Year award, which would have paid out $50,000 to Meyer, and the SEC Coach of the Year award worth $25,000.

'Untouchable' tag
College-football coaches with complete job security at a reasonably young age are as scarce as John Goodman in a break-dancing contest.

You've got Carroll, Stoops, maybe Tressel and now Meyer, who is in his fourth year in Gainesville. Saban might be too new at Bama to be impervious from coaching purgatory down the road.

With this commanding four-year run, Meyer could perch on the Florida throne for years to come, even through the storm of potential 8-5 seasons.

Meyer said last week that he plans to coach the Gators for a "long, long time." Winning on Jan.8 would grant his wish with hardly any resistance from higher-ups, a stability that could be worth millions more than expected down the road.

"This is the best job in America," Meyer said. "You don't give your life to a school like our whole staff has. We plan on doing this for a long time."

Mr. Hot Commodity
Florida is arguably one of the best coaching jobs in football, but that doesn't mean other coach-seekers won't try to loosen Foley's kung-fu grip on his prized coach.

Notre Dame would be stupid not to apply a full-court press on a two-title-bound Meyer should Charlie Weis disappoint after next season. And the NFL is the next natural step for Meyer, some analysts speculate. After all, Meyer and Bill Belichick eat meals together.

The more phone calls from other schools and pro teams, the more Florida must keep him happy. If Meyer did decide to try the NFL, his salary would probably reach $6million or more per year.

Florida immortality
Not only would Meyer surpass basketball Coach Billy Donovan — the school's highest-paid employee at $3.5million per year after winning two titles — but he'd finally outdistance Steve Spurrier as the school's most polarizing figure.

Spurrier owned Gainesville for 12 years and one national title. With a win, Meyer could double Spurrier's work in a third of the time.

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