Jeremy Pruitt was the Tennessee football coach fired with cause. Many ASU fans and reporters have suggested that ASU should have fired Herm with cause to avoid paying him $4m and use Pruitt as the example.
In a “just” world, that’s exactly what should have happened. Herm should have been thrown out on his behind and ASU should have clawed back bonuses, not paid a buyout.
But, there is nothing “just” about the world of college football.
Pruitt is now suing the NCAA for $100m. Even if Tennessee isn’t sued (which they might be), I’m sure the Tennessee athletic department is entering a multi year distraction where lawyers will be combing through what is currently hidden in Knoxville.
UCONN went through the same thing when they fired Kevin Ollie for cause.
There’s certainly room for disagreement here, but my position is that ASU did the smart thing to negotiate a reduced buyout of Herm rather than risk this.
In a “just” world, that’s exactly what should have happened. Herm should have been thrown out on his behind and ASU should have clawed back bonuses, not paid a buyout.
But, there is nothing “just” about the world of college football.
Pruitt is now suing the NCAA for $100m. Even if Tennessee isn’t sued (which they might be), I’m sure the Tennessee athletic department is entering a multi year distraction where lawyers will be combing through what is currently hidden in Knoxville.
UCONN went through the same thing when they fired Kevin Ollie for cause.
There’s certainly room for disagreement here, but my position is that ASU did the smart thing to negotiate a reduced buyout of Herm rather than risk this.
