Letter Details Bellotti Exit From Oregon

((HT: KVAL-TV))

So, now there's a letter from Oregon general counsel Melinda Grier to the state conforming that there was no contract with Mike Bellotti and that his exit to the four-letter may have been accelerated by university president Richard Lariviere.

Bellotti is in the process of getting a $2.3-million green-and-yellow parachute from the school, and after a conversation where it was revealed Bellotti went to Lariviere with the idea that ESPN wanted him, the Prez apparently "determined that it was in the university's best interest to expedite this transition and find new leadership for the athletic department."

The Oregon Department of Justice is in the process of conducting a review of Bellotti's deal.

So, how in the green-and-yellow hell did Lariviere come up with the $2.3-million figure...???

Grier said that Lariviere, acting on the idea that Bellotti's contract was for three years, factored in compensation as part of a cut in pay he took when he went from being the coach to the AD.

"Although the sum paid to Bellotti is large, it represents an amount that is consistent with President Lariviere's best assessment of what would be due Bellotti. This is especially true for a longtime employee such as Bellotti who has served with such distinction and who is held in high regard," Grier wrote.

"Some have raised concerns that taxpayer funds will be used to pay this settlement. That is not the case, nor will Athletic Department operating funds be used," she added. "The UO will rely solely on donor funds for the payments to Bellotti."

At least the school has Pat Knight's numbers on speed dial for this one...
Here's the first part of Bellotti's exit presser...
Thanks to our friends at KVAL-TV...