We do have to pay out the contract. But you are glossing over some important facts. We are paying that coach $1M/year... and revenues as a result of his product being down are heading further downward. Since you are a stickler for the $1.5 million buyout being a solid value. Then pay attention to the real math. We are not going to pay the next coach $1M/year. We are also going to, hopefully, place a tourniquet on the current bleed of lost revenues. I'm certain that another year of Hud... and another losing season... would more than cripple our finances... well beyond the buyout value... and cost us years of trying to recover.
The point T was making is that we do not have to have a donor (or donors) on hand to pay the buyout. It isn't like a check is cut for $1.5 million along with the letter of termination. We all know the amount of the buyout. But T is absolutely correct. In fact, every business operates on expectations of future revenues. You do not set budgets for next year strictly based on money in hand. You'd fall behind competitors in a flash.
What T-Joe will do is make sure he understands the sentiment of the primary boosters (including business sponsors that have let him know that they aren't liking the affiliation as of late with a coach that no longer brings value to their co branding with UL football) and the fans in general. T-Joe does not have to have the cash in hand. He knows it. Would T-Joe put out to the primary boosters that he needs their solid commitment upfront? You better believe it. Any smart president would. Does he actually have to have the check? Absolutely not.