Alabama keeps GM Courtney Morgan from USC with hike to $825K salary

Alabama retained general manager Courtney Morgan with a three-year contract averaging at least $825,000 following interest from other power conference teams, according to multiple reports. CBS Sports and ESPN reported Morgan, considered an ace in the recruiting and player personnel role made more prominent since NIL and open transfer models were introduced, was considering an offer to become president of football operations at USC under Lincoln Riley. The University of Florida hired a search firm to locate a general manager of football earlier this month. Texas Tech's James Blanchard had his $400,000 salary approved as a two-year contract on Aug. 1. Former Washington and UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said on SiriusXM Tuesday that Morgan's deal won't be the end of the trend of splashy deals for college football general managers. "This job is going to grow exponentially. Mark my words," Neuheisel said. "Remember this date when we thought $825k was a monster deal for a general manager of a college football team." Roster churn and NIL complications present ever-present challenges for head coaches in college football. Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired in January, informing athletic director Greg Byrne the newly grown tentacles in college sports had become too difficult to manage. "I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?" Saban told ESPN after his retirement. "Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field. "So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?' I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years." --Field Level Media