A few things about Doug: I worked with him twice. I was also close to folks in the AD at the time. I have heard from both sides on this, and both sides screwed up in the negotiations. Doug asked for things that, to that point, had never been asked of colleges and universities. Frankly, what he asked for is still rare in broadcast negotiations.
Doug is excellent with the public. He's an incredible ambassador for whomever he works for, whether Channel 9, TW Sports, or SU. I don't want this to come across as bashing anyone. Doug did some great things for me personally and also some equally shitty things. He is a prima donna and can be vicious with people he works with and for. It doesn't change that he is an amazing "face" for whatever organization employs him.
So Doug shot for the moon. He asked for things for himself and also a family member. The family member stuff was something the SU AD was dumbstruck over. He was asking for things that went beyond the purview of athletics, and if you know anything about Jake Crouthamel - you should know this: He was a crotchety SOB who ran a tight ship and chafed at anyone he didn't consider a "team player."
What OrangePA said above is correct. They did offer him a reduced salary to give him the other things he wanted from SU (which had to go through the board). At the time, his request was worth more than $150,000. The university decided that if they tried negotiating that, they would need him to reduce his salary. Essentially, you give up some green for the perks you're asking for.
Doug and Coach Mac had an excellent relationship that helped foster goodwill between him and Jake. At the time, Mac was widely beloved and advocated for Doug several times. It also helped that contract negotiations weren't happening, and Doug is great out in the community. He was a win-win for SU.
What I'm trying to say is neither side wanted it to end. Doug asked for the moon, and Crouthamel and others involved in the negotiations drew a line in the sand.
