Alabama Byrne

Greg Byrne speaks during a news conference after being introduced as Alabama's new athletic director, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Naylor-Stone Media Suite in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP)

As Arizona’s AD,Β Greg ByrneΒ was paid $735,000 in his final year. He forfeited a $2.1 million (or thereabouts) retention bonus to be paid in 2020. But Alabama has now signed Byrne through 2022 in a five-year, $5 million deal. There’s more: Alabama paid Byrne’s $50,000 buyout at Arizona, gave him a $200,000 relocation fee, a $400,000 no-interest loan for down payment on a house in Tuscaloosa, two cars, a country club membership and $25,000 per year for personal expenses. He also has a chance to earn $200,000 per year in bonus money. The money flows in Tuscaloosa: last week Byrne raised the pay of ’Bama offensive coordinatorΒ Brian DabollΒ to $1.2 million per year, and gave defensive coordinatorΒ Jeremy PruittΒ $1.3 million per year. The Crimson Tide plays a money game with which Arizona is not familiar.Β 


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