In contrast, according to the Coloradoan in Fort Collins, Colo., Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick has a base salary of $350,000 and total package of $500,000 per year. Estimates at the Air Force Academy put Fisher DeBerry's compensation package on par with Lubick.

On Sunday, former Ute offensive coordinator Mike Sanford signed for an estimated $600,000 a year, and that figure is believed to be more than New Mexico's Rocky Long, who signed an extended contract in November with the Lobos.

There are reports that in recent weeks some BYU boosters got their own university out of whack when they gathered money for a "fantasy hire" to get back to what they believed would be BYU's good old days. This group reportedly got commitments to pay USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow to come to BYU for more than $1 million a year.

While BYU administrators did not sign on for that fantasy hire and pursued Whittingham as a prime candidate, the Ute defensive coordinator may have caught wind of that money and wondered about BYU's offer that amounted to approximately $400,000. Apparently those boosters weren't interested in Chow money for Whittingham. Monday and Tuesday, BYU officials crunched the numbers, working to find solutions that may appeal to Whittingham.

In the meantime, an independent BYU booster group, different from the Chow supporters, created a fund-raising campaign on Tuesday for a personal performance signing bonus for Whittingham if he took the BYU job. Rob Seolas, a spokesman for Friends and Supporters of Kyle Whittingham, started the fund with $40,000 and put the call out for donations. Following NCAA guidelines, Seolas' group had raised $250,000 by Tuesday afternoon.

According to BYU sources, administrators worked hard the past five days in placating Whittingham's desire for a quick decision. This included having BYU President Cecil Samuelson travel to Salt Lake City for a Saturday interview, making the location easy for the candidate.

BYU also hurried up the timetable for a mandatory meeting with an LDS apostle, asking and gaining access Monday afternoon to Elder Henry B. Eyring, who serves as church commissioner of education at church headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City.

Utah's money move appears a bold strike to prevent the school from losing a head coach and both coordinators in the course of five days.

Is Whittingham Utah's top choice?

UNLV officials told Las Vegas media Sanford had turned down the Utah job when it was offered to him last week.

At Monday's press conference, Sanford said he had discussed the Utah job, if it opened, on several occasions with Hill before he visited Las Vegas last Tuesday. When Sanford interviewed for the UNLV job a week ago, he told reporters he had "several" voice messages from Hill that day after he finished his interviews.

When Sanford told Utah officials he was taking the UNLV job on Saturday, Hill reportedly called Sanford in Boise where he was attending a family function, and tried to change his mind. The Whittingham offer came after that with formal meetings with Hill and university President Michael Young on Sunday.

The Deseret Morning News cannot corroborate reports in Las Vegas that Sanford was actually offered the Utah job by Hill before he made a bid for Whittingham.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com