We knew all along that current Kansas University football coach Charlie Weis had been paid by his former employer to go away.

But now we know how much Notre Dame paid him.

According to an article that ran in the Chicago Tribune earlier this week, Weis has received nearly $8.7 million dollars from Notre Dame since being fired in 2009, and is in line to continue receiving compensation through 2015. Weis’ buyout from Notre Dame could total as much as $19 million by then.

Weis’ compensation included an initial amount of more than $6.6 million after his firing and payments totaling a little more than $2 million from July 2010 through June 2011.

The Tribune gained access to the financial numbers through a request for Form 990 that Notre Dame was required to submit to the Internal Revenue Service.

Weis, who spent one season as the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs and another as the offensive coordinator at Florida, was hired by KU in December 2011 at a salary of $2.5 million per year, plus incentives, for five years.

Six on preseason list

Six KU players were named to college football analyst Phil Steele’s preseason All-Big 12 squads earlier this week.

Senior safety Bradley McDougald, senior defensive end Toben Opurum and senior tight end Mike Ragone, a fifth-year transfer from Notre Dame, all were named to Steele’s third team.

Senior offensive linemen Tanner Hawkinson and Duane Zlatnik were named to the fourth team, where they were joined by junior linebacker Darius Willis.

ESPN praises Pierson

Sophomore running back Tony Pierson was one of seven Big 12 players named to ESPN.com Big 12 football writer David Ubben’s list of “spring breakout players.”

Pierson, whose 141 rushing yards and blazing-fast 88-yard touchdown trot highlighted KU’s spring game in late April, appears to be in line for more touches, both on the ground and in the passing game, as a follow-up to his solid freshman campaign.

Of Pierson, Ubben wrote: “Pierson made a small impact last season, but he’s essentially the unquestioned starter at KU for now after Darrian Miller was kicked off the team and James Sims was suspended for the first three games of 2012. The East St. Louis native is dangerous in the open field and gives KU a much-needed home-run threat.”

Weis the baseball fan

Just a couple of weeks after presenting New York center fielder Curtis Granderson with some KU gear out at Kauffman Stadium while watching the Kansas City Royals take on the Yankees, the KU football coach made a spirited appearance at Game 2 of KU’s three-game series with arch-rival Missouri over the weekend.

The Jayhawks, who took two of three from the Tigers, won Friday’s game, 6-3, and clinched a spot in next week’s Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma.

Weis sat outside with other KU officials on the baseball terrace of the McCarthy Family Clubhouse, and was on his feet for the top of the ninth when the Jayhawks sealed the victory.