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NBC: More Reason for Crewcut to Worry About His Job

By Mark

You know how bad Notre Dame was this past season so there little reason for me to rehash the details. I mean 3-9 just doesn't cut it under the Golden Dome. Now, Domers will tell you that it was to be expected because after all ND was playing all those freshman and sophomores. Next year, they will all have experience and things will be better.

Crewcut better hope so. Sure, he has the security of the 10 year contract Notre Dame foolishly gave him in the glow of the blazing start of his first season. However, now that he has stumbled to a worst record than the one that got Ty Willingham fired he has reason to be concerned. NBC has given him even more reason to be concerned. It seems that the Irish's sugar daddy is taking a bath since the team has gone into the tank. Ratings for Irish football in 2007 were less than half what they were in 2005 and NBC was forced to offer advertisers loads of givebacks to keep them happy and ponying up for next year.

Since the contract runs until 2010, ND's $9 million a year is not in immediate danger, but another season like this one will see NBC asking to begin negotiations on the renewal early and the bidding will be much lower. Expect NBC's ad rates for next season to be markedly less than this season's $55,000-$80,000, which will only further the expectation of NBC executives for a lower renewal. It's pressure Crewcut probably doesn't need, but that's what comes with the territory.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on December 25, 2007 (boomark / email).