This makes me think about the thread on how RU fans/alumni/students need to lose the mindset of “questioning ourselves if we deserve it/belong” at the top. Rutgers has so much going for it, we are the biggest athletics school and major state university within 50 miles of the capital of the world. People from other Big Ten schools, plus UConn with their “sixth borough” and Syracuse’s painted “New York’s College Team” on their court can try to spin it all they want and make us doubt, but it’s not reality. WE are the awakening giant. We have alumni $$$$$ and big donors who arent all public. We are a top-15 national public university. Time to stop sticking our tail between our legs and showing pride in the things that we have that are as good and better than any one else
Funny, had a conversation with an acquaintance today who has a kid at James Madison University. I mentioned that their football coach moved to Indiana, and was probably making $5M/year.
He pivoted to saying that Schiano did not deserve $4M/year and that he is the highest paid NJ employee. I pointed out that the football program is responsible for bringing in about $70-90 million in media rights revenue that has to go to a bunch of non-revenue sports because of Title IX. And that Schiano is the lowest paid coach in the B1G. Then he threw in that Rutgers does not belong in the B1G.
This is a common public perception Rutgers is dealing with. I pointed out to him that we were on a good trajectory before Schiano left, and two poor hired caused the program to take a big step back, but that we were on our way up. He did not look convinced or impressed.
Rome wasn't built in a day, but it only took a few years for the last two coaches to nearly leave it in Ashes. We have the right coach to make us a respectable program in the B1G, and perhaps even be in the upper third of the B1G. Onward, upward.