TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Former AD's Contract Surprised Wetherell

ADVERTISEMENT

By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - When T.K. Wetherell took over as president of Florida State, one of his first acts was to commission a study of the athletic department. The study determined former AD Dave Hart's program operated in a "culture of isolation," putting a strain on their relationship from the beginning.

Wetherell also was surprised to learn how lucrative Hart's contract was. Hart, who left his post on Dec. 31 as part of a buyout he negotiated with the school last fall, earned more than $500,000 annually, plus numerous incentives based on team performances.

Hart's replacement, former Utah State AD Randy Spetman, will not be paid as handsomely.

"It's top three or four in the ACC," Wetherell said at Spetman's introductory news conference Monday. "He will actually make more than the president of the university."

According to a Chronicle of Higher Education study, Wetherell's base salary for the 2006-07 school year was $300,595. However, performance bonuses and other incentives made Wetherell's deal worth $702,127.

Spetman, whose contract at Utah State paid him around $177,000 annually, is expected to earn a base salary around $350,000 at FSU. The terms of the contract, featuring a bonus package tied to academic performance as much as student-athletes' athletic performance, has not been finalized.

HOOP DREAMS: Facing the probability of missing the NCAA Tournament for a 10th consecutive season, men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton spelled out a simple goal for the 13-10 Noles in their final eight games.

"When I look at our team, and I look at the fact that we have been right there against the better teams in our league, I'm still holding out hope that we can make one of those runs toward the end of the season here to regain some respectability," Hamilton said after Sunday's overtime loss to North Carolina.

Wetherell, who gave Hamilton a two-year contract extension on the eve of the season opener, remains committed to Hamilton despite the team's struggles.

"There are a lot of people that want to evaluate coaches on do you win or lose," Wetherell told The Tampa Tribune. "When you go out to Leonard's house, and you see those kids out there doing study hall at Leonard's house, you weigh it all. If it becomes where you've got to win or you are going to get fired, I don't think that's a very good message to send."

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: FSU enters the pinnacle of recruiting season today with 25 verbal commitments, the latest from Cleburn (Ala.) County offensive lineman Blake Snider. Middleton RB Carlton Jones, who won't officially commit until today, is expected to be No. 26.

FSU's class is ranked in the top 10 by all the major recruiting services, and could jump significantly if WR Julio Jones chooses FSU over Alabama and Oklahoma.

SAY WHAT: Dale Olsen, the professor who taught the music history course at the center of an academic cheating scandal involving FSU student-athletes, told The Orlando Sentinel he was surprised his course became tainted.

"It was a state-of-the-art class," he told the paper. FSU still offers the course but has restructured the way tests are administered.

SAM I AM: Former FSU basketball star Sam Cassell will spend the first day of next week's NBA All-Star Break in Tallahassee to have his No. 10 jersey raised inside the Donald L. Tucker Center.

The ceremony will take place during halftime of Thursday's game against Wake Forest.

NOLE NUGGETS: Former FSU quarterback Xavier Lee, who left school last month to enter the NFL draft, is not one of the four former Noles on the official list of invitees for the NFL Combine later this month ... Charlie Ward, a former teammate of Cassell's and now a high school coach in Houston, will represent FSU on the ACC Legends Team next month at the ACC Tournament ... ACC baseball coaches picked FSU, coming off a school-record 24-6 conference mark, to repeat as Atlantic Division champions in their annual preseason vote.

FSU SHORTS

HONOR ROLL: FSU football players Myron Rolle and Derek Nicholson were named to the All-ACC academic team Monday. To make the team, an athlete must have earned a 3.0 GPA for the previous semester and maintained a 3.0 cumulative during his/her academic career.

SOUNDBITE CENTRAL: "He wanted to see the athletic department more part of the university. That was something that was important to me and it's important to him." - FSU President T.K. Wetherell on new AD Randy Spetman.

LOOK OUT FOR: At 6 tonight, Seminoles.com is offering a free live videostream of FSU coach Bobby Bowden and his assistants breaking down National Signing Day.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Should FSU seriously consider building a roof on Doak Campbell Stadium as recently mentioned by President Wetherell? To vote and monitor results, visit TBO.com, keyword: Noles.

TBO.COM POLL: Which candidate would you hire as FSU's next athletic director? Martin Mayhew (49.1 percent); Randy Spetman (22.8); Wayne Hogan (17.5); Don Smiley (10.6).

BLOG BONUS: If you really think rankings mean anything on National Signing Day, then I've got some beachfront property I'd like to sell you in Iowa. To read more, go to TBO.com, keyword: Noles.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT