The Lions' Pride

It's crazy to see O'Brien's bonuses for winning compared to some coaches at other programs.

Incentives: (not to exceed $200,000 cumulatively)

Winning the division: 5 percent of base salary
Big Ten championship game: 8 percent of base salary
Participation in bowl game: 11 percent of base salary
Winning the BCS championship game: 9 percent of base salary

Interesting that compensation cannot exceed 200k, but cumulatively the bonus' add up to 33% of base salary (313k). You would think that since he has to achieve 1, to get 2, 3 is not necessarily dependent on 1 and 2, but certainly if BSC championship is in the works all three prior have been achieved. Hence, why cap at 200k?

I'm ssuming the 11% bonus is for getting to a bcs bowl, not a little Caesars bowl

Yea, that math doesn't make sense to me either. It would seem there's no financial incentive for him to want to win the NC. Obviously there are more incentives besides the stated financial ones, but still, it doesn't seem to add up

I assume it is a typo. Making a bowl is the easiest of those tasks, so why would it have greatest incentive? Also, many bowls are financial losers due to forced ticket sales, travel costs, etc...

I certainly could be wrong, but as written it does not make sense. (plus IMO his incentive for making A BOWL is not getting canned)

I'm not sure about a typo. Here is a link to the actual contract. (bottom of page 5)
http://openness.psu.edu/pdf/OBrien_contract.pdf
It's just as unclear as the pennlive article states. Seems like it may be something that was overlooked by B'OBs agent & lawyer.

I'm not sure it was an item overlooked by the BO'B's lawyer. if the language seems to indicate any bowl gets 11% bonus that works in BO'B's favor.