Again, look at the dates that contract is from 2009. If you pay any attention to college football you'd know that he's renegotiated several times since then. I also think it would've been leaked by now especially if it's been a done deal. They would have to find a coach ASAP and doubt they'd be paying for a helicopter for him to visit recruits.
This has been on our boards for quite some time and a lot of them saying it's a done deal or 100%. They would've acknowledge by now cause if you have that kind of info it gets out. Now you have every side and insiders giving them outs on their certainty of Saban. It's very telling.
If you take the time to actually read it you'd note that the contract was signed in 2007 originally, it was amended in 2009. Amendment #2 only addresses an extension to the term of the contract, base salary and talent fees, market rate reviews, liquidation damages, contract year completion benefits and the date the amendment goes into effect. There are no other changes made to the contract, including the addition of a buyout clause that neither party felt necessary when the contract was originally negotiated. If you pay any attention to college football you'd know that Saban's contract has only been extended once, in March, 2012, since 2009. Based on the existing amendment, the fact that amending a contract is much easier/cheaper and less time consuming than negotiating a new contract and a little common sense I think it's safe to assume that Amendment #3 looks almost exactly like Amendment #2 with dates and $ figures changed.
The Prospective Employment section of the contract it states:
So in January Tom Hicks and co. have a 45 minute conversation with Jimmy Sexton, Saban's agent, during which he implies interest in the Texas job ("Texas is the only job he'd leave Alabama for"). I may be reaching but I'd be surprised if the conversation was as easy as Hicks dialing and Sexton answering on the first ring. Assuming that at least one message was left for Sexton about discussing the possibility Saban's interest in potentitally becoming Texas' new head coach, you'd think that agent and coach would've had a sit down to decide whether or not to entertain the call...it's hard to imagine Sexton talking to Hicks without notifying Saban first. The simple fact that Sexton knew that Texas is the only job that Saban would leave Bama for implies that they'd discussed the possibility, right? If Nick knew about the call and gave Sexton his blessing to talk to Hicks, he would've been contractually bound to notify the AD before any conversation took place. We know for a fact that the conversation took place and we know some of the details discussed because both were reported by every sports media entity from ESPN and FoxSports to the Galveston Daily News. Is it possible that Saban already has permission to talk to Texas about the job? That he sought and was granted permission to talk about the job back in January and that the leaks/coverage of him being allowed to explore the potential vacancy that we'd all expect from a story this big have already happened but were dismissed as rumor/lack of interest?
The term "renegotiated" is often used in place of "amended." If you look at the first few and last few pages of the document, you will notice they are amendments to the original contract, which is part of the linked document. Drafting an entirely new document each time one provision is amended is avoided because it just creates more unnecessary work to review looking for possible typos or mistakes that could substantively change the meaning of a provision. I can show you were the erroneous omission of a comma in jury instructions has lead to murder convictions being overturned. No attorney wants to rewrite anything that doesn't need to be. Hence, changing only relevant paragraphs is how these contracts are usually amended (or "renegotiated.")
Saban doesn't need permission, he only needs to notify the AD that he is talking to another school. I have not read anywhere that Saban notified UA that he was talking to Texas. It would make no difference whether Sexton or Saban was doing the talking. If Sexton was acting as agent for Saban, Saban would need to disclose to the UA AD before any meeting was set. If Sexton got a call from anyone regarding Saban possibly wanting to coach there, Sexton would be obligated to determine what the school would like to discuss, if it were possible employment he would then have to contact Saban to see if Saban was interested in discussing the matter with the school. If yes, notification would need to be made to UA and then the meeting could be scheduled. Then the meeting could happen.
That is very interesting
One of his main sources is on the coaching staff.
