Here's a statement straight from the mouth of Captain Obvious himself: national championships are great for everyone involved. Especially their bank accounts.
As detailed by Aaron Suttles of Tide Sports, the Tide doled out more than $2.2 million in bonuses to more than 60 athletics department staffers as a reward for their SEC and College Football Playoff championship victories.
Nick Saban led the way, another obvious statement, with a $125,000 bonus for winning the SEC title and $400,000 for the national title. Kirby Smart followed with $310,000, then Lane Kiffin at nearly $150,000. The rest of the on-the-field coaching staff: Mario Cristobal, $113,000; Mel Tucker, $110,000; Bo Davis, $104,000; Bobby Williams, $97,000; Tosh Lupoi, $93,000; Burton Burns, $76,000; Billy Napier, $75,000. Strength coach Scott Cochran netted $92,000, and athletics director Bill Battle followed with a quote-unquote modest $50,000.
But that's not what's truly interesting here. Saban was rich no matter what happened that night in Glendale. His $400,000 title game check went in the pile with his other bonus check, stuffed at the bottom of the closet in his third guest bedroom.
Compare that to the impact the title victory had on the down-the-line employees, the nuts-and-bolts worker bees that keep the department humming that, nevertheless, the army of Crimson Tide super fans couldn't pick out of a lineup.
Their reaction when the clock hit triple zeroes in Glendale? Something like this.
For employees like director of athletic facilities Brandon Sevedge ($7,913.50), accounting administrator Amy Woods ($5,859.71), director of travel operations Margaret Johnson ($5,662.73) and recruiting operations coordinator Asha Sowell ($3,603.56), that money will have a greater impact on their day-to-day than Saban's 400 large.