Arthur Smith's nepotistic ties to FedEx may be the greatest asset he brings to his Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator job in Columbus. That wasn't the most satisfying sentence for most to read, but it's one OSU fans are probably okay with, given the potential ROI.
Ohio State Buckeyes On SI's Nick Pedone believes Smith's hiring could bring with it the financial spending power of his late father's "multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in transportation, e-commerce, and business services."
"While it’s wildly unfair to suggest that the Buckeyes hired Smith because of his late father’s wealth, it certainly will not hurt Ohio State to have that close of connections with one of the richest men in the country's history," Pedone wrote.
"Ohio State has a robust NIL program already. It’s partly how the team has been able to stockpile talent like Smith and Sayin. But this is an ecosystem that isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s continuing to expand with college football player salaries increasing rapidly."
Money may be more important than coaching in College Football
It's getting to the point where money is more important than coaching. It makes you wonder if that was always the case, with the SEC building its reputation with guys who oftentimes couldn't hack it in other conferences or leagues. Let's not forget Nick Saban wasn't a legend with the Michigan State Spartans or the Miami Dolphins in the NFL.
Was it Saban's X's and O's and culture or the Alabama-area car dealerships that helped build up the Crimson Tide into six-time champions?
College Football is completely money-driven now, and though Smith is not a great offensive mind, his potential ability to get FedEx money to top recruits could negate the difference. It's not fun realizing this is what the sport is now, but, again, if it benefits the Buckeyes, Ohioans will not care.
The new normal is funds over fundamentals. Payouts over preparation. Checks over coaching chops.
Or maybe that's just how it's always been. Many of the top teams with the most money in the modern age, like Ohio State, TTUN, the Texas Longhorns, and the Miami Hurricanes, were the schools reeling in top recruits in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, as well.
Clearly, there's a line, since Joey McGuire's Texas Tech Red Raiders didn't win a single playoff game with an expensive roster. But spend enough to create a sizable gap with your opponent's books, and talent will take precedence over coaching.