You're talking about a different context than I am referring to in that paragraph. I was referring to the more general discussion that gets brought up about state employees, their salaries, tax money and the more fiscal aspects around the state budget. The more political aspect, if you will.
To your specific point, the numbers are there to make the case. When you consider what his pay is in relation to other top coaches and then take a look at what he has to work with at Iowa in terms of building a program it's not apples and oranges. Let's just take a look at the top paid coaches, in no particular order:
Saban
Stoops
Brown
Miles
Ferentz
Now, sit long and hard and think about what those programs have in terms of donor support...it's not even close. In terms of in state recruiting...it's not even close. In terms of perceived power and history...it's not even close.
Top college football teams, in terms of value:
Texas
ND
Penn St.
LSU
Michigan
Alabama
Georgia
Arkansas
Auburn
Oklahoma
Florida
Tennessee
Ohio St.
Nebraska
Wiscy
South Carolina
Texas A&M
USC
Michigan State
Iowa
So, again...look long and hard about that list, which IS in order, and again see the difference in demographics. Big schools, big bank accounts, big boosters, hot recruiting pockets.
We're getting what we are paying for...it's easy to slice and dice things in simple terms of salary, but you have to look at the big picture.
People who pigeonhole their perspective of KF's salary in relation to where we finish and stop there are being disingenuous to reality.