RIP Fred Gruninger
- Thread starter MadRU
- Start date
RIP Fred. He got us into the Big East, got the RAC built, and got the football stadium built.
RIP. Those who remember him fondly definitely do NOT want to search his name in this forum, because there are 8 years worth of....... mentions..... .
He wasn’t the guy but I don’t think anyone ever said he was a bad guy.
RIP Fred..certainly responsible for much of Rutgers modern history. The good and bad and what could have been
I owe a lot to Fred. Frank Burns committed to give me a scholarship (I was a walk on) if I remained a starter throughout the 1983 season. It was devastating learning that he got fired after our last game. I met with Mr. Gruninger at his office at the Barn after the season was over. The next week I learned that I got the scholarship. RIP Fred.
I worked for Fred at the Barn for 3 years and it was Fred not Mr. Gruninger as he preferred a casual but professional environment. He was the last person to permanently move into the RAC as he loved his beautiful office at the Barn lol.
I've stopped defending Fred on here over the years simply because the haters don't have the facts and refuse to believe the truth. Fred did miracles with such a stingy college that wanted to be D1 but with a D3 budget.
Fred was a great man, person and friend. RIP.
I've stopped defending Fred on here over the years simply because the haters don't have the facts and refuse to believe the truth. Fred did miracles with such a stingy college that wanted to be D1 but with a D3 budget.
Fred was a great man, person and friend. RIP.
Always thought that was the case, but happy to see it confirmed.
He lived in retirement in Whispering Pines NC, bordering Pinehurst. But kept a low profile locally, apparently. Never ran into him in my 20 years there, which is kind of odd as it's such a small place. Anyway... on occasion I'd see a working guy sporting an RU hoody or sweatshirt or cap etc. and I'd ask if they had a connection to RU. Inevitably they say something to the effect of, "Nah. I did yardwork (or maintenance work or tree work) for Mr. Gruninger in Whispering Pines. And he's always giving me Rutgers stuff." LOL.
RIP "Mr. G"....
RIP "Mr. G"....
Wasn’t he the brains behind declining a Big East bid because he held out for an Eastern 8 and Joe Pa?
We can wish him to RIP but also note he was small time and incompetent. Both can be true.
We can wish him to RIP but also note he was small time and incompetent. Both can be true.
Why was that scene as a bad thing? Yeah.. it hurt Rutgers basketball... but hasn't it been proven that the Big East playing both football and basketball was doomed to fail? The catholic basketball schools demanded control at all times. Who knows what effect that had on football as they negotiated deals with ESPN for both sports. We know it prevented them from growing football and that resulted in defection after defection.
Fred was RIGHT. JoePA was right too.. but JoePA and PSU's greed screwed it all up.
RIP Fred.
So the story goes that Fred listened to Joe Paterno in hopes of having a major northeast football conference. The other was the dream of somehow getting into the B1G along with PSU. Soon after Penn State did …Rutgers didn’t. The one mistake which hurt perhaps more so was not joining the original Big East Basketball MBB conference. In our place we allowed Seton Hall to take the spot and we really lost out. MBB suffered for years as did other sports. Miraculously we are now part of one of the finest conferences in college athletics and academics . The journey for Rutgers still continues on and Fred is at rest.
I think we can save this for another thread at another time
He was always a gentleman when I encountered him so many years ago. The stuff about the original Big East and the Paterno stuff is all in the past. Now Rutgers is a part of one of the two largest and prestigious conferences in the country. Nothing else matters now. May he rest in peace.
Wasn't he also the golf coach at one time before he was the AD?
Wasn't he also the golf coach at one time before he was the AD?
You are entitled to your opinion , but this isn’t the thread for it. The guy just died .
Maybe his grandkids are googling this thread
Not the time for negative yeah buts.
A loyal son Focus enough there
A loyal son Focus enough there
Hopefully we can have Bob and Plum Street go back and forth on this for the rest of the day. I think Bob just raised the stakes with the ******* comment.
RIP Fred
seems like those that knew you feel you were a good guy and that's good enough for me to think RU lost a good man with your passing
seems like those that knew you feel you were a good guy and that's good enough for me to think RU lost a good man with your passing
just try and show respect and end arguing in this thread.
Fred Gruninger is remembered fondly by some posting here and there's no need to
act insensitive about their feelings by going to war with someone that tried to
keep this thread be just honoring a man that just died
An old saying might apply in this thread, ":if you don't have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all"
I learned something about the type of person Fred was and it gave me a new perspective about how he was towards those around him.
Making me feel he was a nice guy and deserves to be remembered as one
Stop your BS… there was no lack of respect. As a person who actually knew Fred Gruninger and followed his AD career he was a nice guy who was in over his head as Rutgers AD. You know squat about Fred . Don’t try and lay a guilt trip on me . Played many rounds at Rutgers golf course with the man. How about you?
I'm calling BS
Certainly not the day to be a complete *******
You mean stating an actual representation of how Fred’s career at Rutgers was joked about 20 years ago. You holier than thou fakes are what the real problem is. There were many still on this board who said much worse about the man. As I said I knew him personally . I’ll leave it at that.
And never forget that about “ entitled to an opinion”… my post was about. A nice man … I guy I knew. You tried as you usually do to antagonize others. GFY my man.
And never forget that about “ entitled to an opinion”… my post was about. A nice man … I guy I knew. You tried as you usually do to antagonize others. You like being a smart *** my man.