Texas was willing to pay Nick Saban $100 million, according to upcoming book

How much is Alabama coach Nick Saban worth?

$6.9 million?

$10 million?

How about $100 million.

That’s what’s Texas was willing to cobble together to gain the services of the Tide’s national championship-winning coach, according to the SEC Network's Paul Finebaum.

In his upcoming book, "My Conference Can Beat Your Conference: Why the SEC Still Rules College Football," which he co-wrote with ESPN.com's Gene Wojchiechowski, Finebaum said Texas was “dead serious” about offering Saban an obscene amount of money.

AL.com obtained an advance copy of the book.

"Texas was dead serious about trying to money-whip Saban," according to Finebaum and Wojchiechowski. "Depending on whom you talk to -- Bama big hitters or Texas big hitters -- the Longhorns were prepared to give Saban somewhere between a $12 and $15 million signing bonus and a salary package worth $100 million (plus performances)."

And to think, new Texas coach Charlie Strong only makes $5 million.

Saban agreed to a new contract with Alabama in January, which will pay him $6.9 million plus incentives, and took him out of the running for Texas' head gig. Saban’s is the largest salary among college coaches, but it’s deserved since he has won a record four national championships, including three in the past five years.

I wonder how Texas folks decided on that number? Maybe the conversation went a little bit like this:

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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