Barry Alvarez To Squeeze UW-Madison For $225,000 For Coaching Rose Bowl Game

This story in the Wisconsin State Journal makes me puke. Perhaps State Representative Steve Nass might want to dig a little deeper into this gem of a mess in the UW-Madison’s sports program.   Or does the interest in fiscal messes end when a sports team is involved?

While reading this rot in the morning paper I thought back on the many times this past year when I heard rank-and-file Wisconsinites explain why a high school teacher should be expected to take on extra-curricular duties such as play practice for no extra income, and just expect that is part of their job duties.

So how would those same citizens feel about the news that Barry Alvarez is going to try to demand more money from the UW-Madison for coaching the football team at the Rose Bowl?

Alvarez is trying to make it sound that he gave up money when coaching past Rose Bowl’s.  He should not have been paid extra then, and has proven that the money was not needed to secure victories.

At a time when everyone, and every institution is cutting back while trying to make ends meet I would think that Alvarez could see the bigger picture, and forget about trying to add more money to his already too hefty paycheck.

This news is just insane, and truly one of the more gross and greedy stories I have read in some time.  ( And, I read a lot.)

Crunch time comes for employees in all sorts of businesses.  But at those times workers are expected to ‘buck up’, tuck their chin in, and grind down for the job that needs doing.  How many would be still employed if they stepped into their boss’ office and asked for a mere $225,000 for the additional tasks that need doing?

Greed knows no bounds.

You know what? I did my first three (years) in double duty for free — and no  mas,” Alvarez said on Friday after the UW athletic board meeting.

Alvarez was referring to 2003-2005, when he had dual roles of athletic  director and football coach but was paid one salary.

It’s pending Board of Regents approval, but Alvarez said he would be paid  one-twelfth of former coach Bret Bielema’s total yearly compensation package of  $2.7 million. That comes to $225,000 for Alvarez for the next month’s work. He  makes $1 million as athletic director.