Its funny how timing makes such a huge deal.
Imagine that in summer of 2010, the Big Ten had invited Nebraska AND Rutgers and someone else (could have been Maryland, but probably not - probably Missouri) to start in 2011 (when Nebraska started).
I'm not a big Schiano fan, but I think he would have recruited really well with the recruiting team he had at that time. Even if he had gotten that NFL invite in 2012, we would have been in much better shape - much less pressure to keep costs low, and less of a chance he takes it in the first place (with an RU team that would be poised to make a run at the Big Ten title in year two for reasons outlined below.)
Not only that but we would have started in the BIg Ten at or just before low points for Michigan, PSU, OSU. MSU was a powerhouse on the field at the time, but not yet in recruiting. Maryland wasnt any good, and if it had been Missouri we likely end up with Purdue in the division.
I have to believe that Schiano would have taken HUGE advantage of all of that in recruiting for several more years.
That two and a half year delay in inviting us really screwed us in the end.
Imagine that in summer of 2010, the Big Ten had invited Nebraska AND Rutgers and someone else (could have been Maryland, but probably not - probably Missouri) to start in 2011 (when Nebraska started).
I'm not a big Schiano fan, but I think he would have recruited really well with the recruiting team he had at that time. Even if he had gotten that NFL invite in 2012, we would have been in much better shape - much less pressure to keep costs low, and less of a chance he takes it in the first place (with an RU team that would be poised to make a run at the Big Ten title in year two for reasons outlined below.)
Not only that but we would have started in the BIg Ten at or just before low points for Michigan, PSU, OSU. MSU was a powerhouse on the field at the time, but not yet in recruiting. Maryland wasnt any good, and if it had been Missouri we likely end up with Purdue in the division.
I have to believe that Schiano would have taken HUGE advantage of all of that in recruiting for several more years.
That two and a half year delay in inviting us really screwed us in the end.