1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: It was a massive day for sports in Indiana yesterday. 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: Some guy got a kajillion dollars. Let's get to the 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: bottom of it. John Herrick, news director here at WIBC, 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: also the pregame, halftime and postgame host for all things 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: Indiana Athletics, football, and basketball, joins us now John Herrick. 6 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: Hello, Hello, Rob. 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: How are you so we have a programming tonight right 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: here in WIBC. Yeah, it feels like it gets earlier 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: and earlier every year where they have exhibition games for 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: IU basketball. So they start their first basketball game against 11 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: it's against Marion. So Marion has their athletic director is 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: Steve Downing who played at IU back in the seventies 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: and they've always just had that relationship. And Pat Knight 14 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: coaches Marion nice Son, so there's an IU relationship there 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: between both schools. 16 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: And then the big game tomorrow. 17 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: I you giving nine million points to Michigan State, but 18 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: that's homecoming. 19 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 3: That is homecoming. 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: Yes, Okay, Now, speaking of which, big news yesterday, Kurt Signetti, 21 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: the IU football coach, the best thing that ever happened 22 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: to him was James Franklin getting fired at Penn State 23 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: because he just signed a massive contract extension, tell. 24 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 2: Us about it. 25 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 3: Well, So, I mean I think that Pam Whitten and 26 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 3: Scott Dolson thought last year when they signed him to 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 3: a big extension, that's the president, that's the president and 28 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 3: the athletic director. I think they thought, well, this is 29 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 3: going to last a while. Well, James Franklin gets fired, 30 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 3: Kurt Signetti's name is thrown around as a potential candidate 31 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 3: to replace Franklin at penn State and from and I'm 32 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 3: not surprised at all because from the conversations I've had 33 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 3: with Witten and Dolson, they are not going to let 34 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 3: Kurt Signette get away. 35 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 2: They're just not. 36 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 3: And so when I heard that Franklin got fired, and 37 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 3: you know, you know, Kurt Signette's from Pennsylvania, I was like, 38 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 3: they're not going to let this happen. They just won't. 39 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: So they they were able to go and remodify his deal, 40 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 3: and instead of having him stay through twenty thirty one, 41 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 3: it's now through twenty thirty three. And instead of him 42 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 3: making eight million, he's now making closer to twelve million. 43 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: And but here's the funny thing. Under his old salary, 44 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 3: he was like the eighteenth highest paid coaches. Well, I 45 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 3: was talking a few of my friends yesterday. There's no 46 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 3: way there are seventeen coaches in college football that are 47 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 3: better than Kurt Signetti's. So they had to re up 48 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 3: his pay to make him, you know, more competitive with 49 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 3: some of the elite coaches, especially when you're coming off 50 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 3: that big win over Ore again. 51 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: So it's eight years, ninety three million dollars. 52 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 3: Yes, so it's eleven point six thereabouts, and it's making 53 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 3: per year. 54 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: It's guaranteed, right if they give him the boot, like 55 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 1: let's just say he turns into a bad coach overnight. 56 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, he gets it all. Yeah, he gets it all. 57 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 3: And then the buyout is massive. I don't know the 58 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 3: exact number, but it would probably be more than what 59 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: Jimbo Fisher got. I think Jimbo Fisher has the largest buyout, 60 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 3: which is like close to seventy seven million. 61 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: So it comes up to like eleven point six million 62 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: dollars a year. So he in two years will really 63 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: less than two years, went from making two million dollars 64 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: a year to eleven point six million dollars a year. 65 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 3: Yes, and ten years ago he said he was making 66 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 3: one hundred thirty thousand dollars. He said that last night 67 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 3: on The Coaches Show with Tom Fisher, and now he's 68 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 3: making close to twelve million. 69 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: Okay, but the reality of this is he's probably worth it, 70 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: especially as the Big ten is rumored to be Now 71 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: Michigan and USC are apparently holding this up. But in some 72 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: deal that could be worth two billion dollars for this 73 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: conglomerate or whatever they're looking at putting together to make 74 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: money off rights deals, each of the schools will be 75 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: in for at least one hundred one hundred million. I mean, 76 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: football and basketball are the drivers on this for if 77 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: your IU, you can't let the guy go. 78 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, you definitely can't. And especially with you know, most 79 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: of your money coming from football sales and ticket sales, 80 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 3: With that and all, there's just so many people that 81 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 3: come to football games compared to other sports. And when 82 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: people ask me, well, why does football drive so much 83 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 3: of this, Well, A lot of it's about attendance. And 84 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 3: then when you sell out, your stadium's constant than you 85 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: build bigger stadiums, like so IU stadium holds about a 86 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: little over fifty thousand. 87 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: Is that the John Mellencamp Field. Is that what it's called, 88 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: That's that's the practice field. Mart Memorial Stadium is what 89 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: holds closer to fifty five. He only game enough to 90 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 1: get the practice field named after Amethan. 91 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 3: Yeah. 92 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, is there like a menu when you give well, 93 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: I want the factual field, damrew. Well, okay, that's going 94 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: to cost us. What about the practice field, Well, here's 95 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: gonna be okay, I'll write a check for that. 96 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. 97 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes there. 98 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: John Herrick from the wec newsroom is our guest. He's 99 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: also the pregame halftime postgame host for IU football and basketball. 100 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: You can hear him tonight. In fact, right here on WIBC. 101 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: IU basketball starts tonight. So but when you think about 102 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: it from an economic standpoint, people are going to IU 103 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: football games now, yeah, no offense. Somebody was going to 104 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: the games two years ago. 105 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 3: No, they weren't. 106 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: So you're almost getting your money back just based on that. 107 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean you're basically, I mean, he's bringing so 108 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 3: much money into the university just before anybody shows up 109 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 3: to the game to buy a hot dog. I mean, 110 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 3: he's just the interest in the buzz around AU football 111 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 3: has been in a level it's never been before. I 112 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 3: mean there's been different seasons where they've had one good 113 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 3: season here and there, and then they fall off the map. 114 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: Ethan I wish ever could see either. Now you can't. 115 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 2: If you go to the YouTube chat. 116 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: Look your jaw is hitting the floor because and this 117 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: way I said, I've taken this off your plate either 118 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: because I know you don't do sports. 119 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: Think about this. 120 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: The guy was making two million dollars two years ago 121 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: and now he's making an eleven point six million guarantee. 122 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 4: The main takeaway for me is that at least college 123 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 4: universities have the ability to build their own sports stadiums. 124 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 4: I wonder how long it is before we start having 125 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 4: a call up and pay for those too, just like 126 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 4: we do Lucas Oil Stadium. 127 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: That's a good point. 128 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 4: I mean, at least they're generating enough income to make 129 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 4: it self sustaining. Regardless of whether I can even build 130 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 4: another stadium. 131 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: I know they just do a bunch of stuff and 132 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 2: I used to. 133 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, they've been upgrading it, and I do think at 134 00:05:55,839 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 3: some point that they are going to make upgrades. Kurtzignetti 135 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 3: had said in the off season that that press box 136 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,559 Speaker 3: is gonna come down, which I know Don Fisher would 137 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 3: love to have happened, because it does need to be upgraded, 138 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 3: as do a lot of press boxes around the big 139 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 3: ten Penn States, which is all bad state, awful, terrible, 140 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 3: absolutely horrible. 141 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 2: Yes state. 142 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 3: Yes, So when we went in there two years ago, 143 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 3: there's no room in that press box at all, and 144 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 3: so I just waited until Don set everything up. I'm like, 145 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: you're far more important. I'll wait till you get set 146 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: ups and then I'll sit in next to you. And 147 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 3: we were like elbow to elbow me him, but me 148 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 3: and him, rht Lewis and our stat guy were just 149 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 3: like all knuckle to knuckle at It's terrible in there. 150 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: You get tempted, like just when you're doing the pregame 151 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: show or something, just go on a rant about something. 152 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: I mean, you got the live mike. 153 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 3: We do, but we yeah, we all kind of go 154 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 3: on rants during sometimes during commercial breaks. One time a 155 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 3: wasp flew in and it almost it came really close 156 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 3: to stinging Don. So I grabbed a water bottle and 157 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 3: I just killed this wasp and he's over here like 158 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 3: what are you doing? I was like, saving your life 159 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 3: is what I'm doing. A wasp was getting near you. 160 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: Just like here at WIBC, you never get the credit 161 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: you deserve here. John, Tonight, I you basketball. What time 162 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,679 Speaker 2: does this game start? It starts at seven thirty. 163 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: We go on at six thirty. 164 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: Very good, John, Eric, thank you, Thank you guys, appreciate it.