John Bazemore / AP

A snapshot of the Alabama athletic department’s balance sheets pre-Nick Saban and post-Saban do show a marked rise in revenue.

Former Alabama and NFL player Barry Krauss thinks the $4 million is money well spent.

“We needed that drive and vision,” said Krauss, a motivational speaker and broadcaster in Carmel, Ind. “I don’t think there’s any question we got what we paid for.”

They also get a driven coach and recruiter who puts in long hours.

“I don’t think he’s happy unless he’s coaching or recruiting,” Krauss said.

Defensive end Lorenzo Washington says Saban’s salary talk has been overblown.

“People just think they’re giving him the money,” Washington said. “He works for everything. He’s up here before everybody and leaves after everybody. He’s worth every penny.”

Ozzie Newsome knows football from both the business and on-field perspective as a former Alabama and NFL star who is now the Baltimore Ravens’ general manager. It comes down to what the market demands, he said.

“In sports today, collegiately and in the National Football League, coaches’ salaries have escalated, just like players’ salaries in the NFL have escalated,” Newsome said. “It’s just like anything else, it’s supply and demand. In order to get a quality person you’re going to have to pay a premium price. It’s just like buying a Mercedes over a Chevrolet.”

Newsome said it takes a winning product to get people to fork over money for suites and sponsorships. Enter Saban. The Tide won only seven games his first season, including an Independence Bowl victory over Colorado.

Saban’s second ’Bama team has almost matched that total already, and the fans are following the Tide even on the road despite high gas prices and other economic issues, Moore said.

“I think he is a perfect fit for this university and this athletic department,” Moore said. “When we hired him, looking at the national salaries, we were right in the ballpark, maybe at the top edge of it at the time we need the very best coach.

“The economy is frightening for everybody, but our fans are following the team.”

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