The Next Two Years are Free

yessir321

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2018
3,313
2,229
0
The run game sucked for the most part, but we did have some success against teams we could compete against, like Michigan State.
How was Schiano's coaching vs michigan state? Specifically with 1:33 left before halftime with 3 timeout only down by 1 score?
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
9,819
58
We blew out Temple, Delaware and Wagner in the other 3 games against non-major conference teams. 3 out of 4. I’m not trying to say there’s anything impressive about that - but it’s not accurate to say we’ve “barely been beating mid majors” when only one game against a mid-major was remotely close. The other two closer games were against ACC teams and we won those.
It seems to me the Temple and Delaware games were in 2021 -- when Temple went 3-9 and Delaware went 5-6. As for Wagner, I don't see how anybody can talk about that tomato can with a straight face. You're certainly right that there was nothing impressive about those wins.
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
Perhaps my recollection is mistaken, but I remember a lot of praise on this board for the Flood hire on the grounds that a quick hire of someone already on the staff was the best way to keep the recruited class together.

People were desperate to hold on to the recruiting class and Flood was not even the first or second option. He was the fall back option which eventually blew up in our face once Greg's classes started rolling off the roster.

Because of what was offered, we got very few suitors with Cristobal being at the top of the list. However, once he saw how limited the salary pool was going to be for assistant coaches, he backed away using the excuse his wife didn't want to leave Miami. Plus with Schiano having poached all of the other assistants we chose Flood as someone who was the assistant HC and who could keep the recruiting class together. At the time it was seen as a good choice, but circumstances proved otherwise. I still wonder if things would have been any different if Pernetti didn't get scapegoated and fired. Also, don't forget that Flood had to deal with the same issue that pushed Cristobal away, the lack of money for assistant coaches, which is why we had a revolving door there for several years.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
9,819
58
Because of what was offered, we got very few suitors with Cristobal being at the top of the list. However, once he saw how limited the salary pool was going to be for assistant coaches, he backed away using the excuse his wife didn't want to leave Miami. Plus with Schiano having poached all of the other assistants we chose Flood as someone who was the assistant HC and who could keep the recruiting class together. At the time it was seen as a good choice, but circumstances proved otherwise. I still wonder if things would have been any different if Pernetti didn't get scapegoated and fired. Also, don't forget that Flood had to deal with the same issue that pushed Cristobal away, the lack of money for assistant coaches, which is why we had a revolving door there for several years.
Schiano had just gotten a new contract with a considerable raise, correct? Was the university trying to spend less money on a new coach/assistants than it had in Schiano's last years?
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
Schiano had just gotten a new contract with a considerable raise, correct? Was the university trying to spend less money on a new coach/assistants than it had in Schiano's last years?

If I recall from back then, Schiano's total compensation was around $2.4 million. I think they offered Cristobal around a mil, and Flood started out I think at $875K.

As far as the assistant coach salary pool, I have no idea what it was under Schiano or Flood, I just heard early in the Ash Error that it was an issue when they were looking to replace Schiano.
 

brgRC90

Heisman
Apr 8, 2008
34,957
15,859
0
We blew out Temple, Delaware and Wagner in the other 3 games against non-major conference teams. 3 out of 4. I’m not trying to say there’s anything impressive about that - but it’s not accurate to say we’ve “barely been beating mid majors” when only one game against a mid-major was remotely close. The other two closer games were against ACC teams and we won those.
Delaware and Wagner are Div 1AA teams, though, not midmajors.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
9,819
58
If I recall from back then, Schiano's total compensation was around $2.4 million. I think they offered Cristobal around a mil, and Flood started out I think at $875K.

As far as the assistant coach salary pool, I have no idea what it was under Schiano or Flood, I just heard early in the Ash Error that it was an issue when they were looking to replace Schiano.
Thanks! Flood was appointed coach at the end of January, 2012. Richard McCormick was then in his last year as President. Tim Pernetti was AD. I wonder who made the decison to offer Cristobal so much less than what Schiano was making. Cristobal wasn't doing well at the time at FIU; he was fired at the end of 2012 if Wilkipedia is telling the truth.
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
11,750
10,870
78
Delaware and Wagner are Div 1AA teams, though, not midmajors.
That Delaware team was no different than playing a bad Eastern Michigan team. I agree that Wagner is a different level of bad from the others. Regardless - we should blow out all and only didn’t do so once.
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
11,750
10,870
78
It seems to me the Temple and Delaware games were in 2021 -- when Temple went 3-9 and Delaware went 5-6. As for Wagner, I don't see how anybody can talk about that tomato can with a straight face. You're certainly right that there was nothing impressive about those wins.

For the second time - I was only responding to the comment that implied that Schiano has routinely just squeaked by mid-majors since returning. It’s not a true statement.
 

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
30,662
15,629
113
Perhaps my recollection is mistaken, but I remember a lot of praise on this board for the Flood hire on the grounds that a quick hire of someone already on the staff was the best way to keep the recruited class together.
I remember some praise but also remember a lot of posts here againat him beong the choice.
The praise if I remember correctly was because he kept the class Schiano recruited , the complaints claimed he wasan on the cheap choice .
Mario Cristobal had agreed to take the [position, but giving it second thought demanded more money in which RU refused.
Most posters claimed it was his wife not wanting to leave the state of Florida for NJ was the cause.
All in all Kyle was an on the cheap hire but RU needed a quick hire to keep the recruits after Greg1 went South..
It was a case of RU could have done better and not thinking Super Mario, but other qualified HCs that were being mentioned for the position.
My memory isn't there when it comes to naming names, if there were any
being looked at by RU
 

RUforlife

All-Conference
Oct 27, 2002
3,444
4,217
0
We blew out Temple, Delaware and Wagner in the other 3 games against non-major conference teams. 3 out of 4. I’m not trying to say there’s anything impressive about that - but it’s not accurate to say we’ve “barely been beating mid majors” when only one game against a mid-major was remotely close. The other two closer games were against ACC teams and we won those.
Temple is G5 FBS, Delaware and Wagner are FCS. Mid-major is a term for basketball, G5 vs P5 is how most people refer to the two levels at the FBS level. Rutgers should handily beat FCS opponents, it is a lower division. The two Temple games have been telling. We pulled away from Temple at SHI stadium in the third quarter and blew them out in the first game. At the Linc if we don't make a gem of a defensive interception and also a great defensive stop on the last drive we likely lose that game. Warner in his second year is not going to throw that interception, it should be a very interesting game on Sept 9.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
85,813
83,355
113
If I recall from back then, Schiano's total compensation was around $2.4 million. I think they offered Cristobal around a mil, and Flood started out I think at $875K.

As far as the assistant coach salary pool, I have no idea what it was under Schiano or Flood, I just heard early in the Ash Error that it was an issue when they were looking to replace Schiano.
Flood was $750K his first year. That was an insulting salary, regardless of how people felt about the hire. Rutgers was more than happy to save a few bucks after the loathing and griping about Schiano's salary. RU got what they paid for, and I don't blame Flood for leaving at 5 p.m. and going to Counting Crows concerts when he "should" have been at work. FFS, in his final season, after his pretty good year of 2014 with a Quick Lane Bowl victory (thanks to Friedgen), he only made $1,250,00 as a B1G Head football coach.


 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
11,750
10,870
78
Temple is G5 FBS, Delaware and Wagner are FCS. Mid-major is a term for basketball, G5 vs P5 is how most people refer to the two levels at the FBS level. Rutgers should handily beat FCS opponents, it is a lower division. The two Temple games have been telling. We pulled away from Temple at SHI stadium in the third quarter and blew them out in the first game. At the Linc if we don't make a gem of a defensive interception and also a great defensive stop on the last drive we likely lose that game. Warner in his second year is not going to throw that interception, it should be a very interesting game on Sept 9.
If last year’s version of Wimsatt is the best we’ve got, we may not win that game. We need someone to be able to hit mid range passes and we’ll move the ball considerably better.
 

brgRC90

Heisman
Apr 8, 2008
34,957
15,859
0
For the second time - I was only responding to the comment that implied that Schiano has routinely just squeaked by mid-majors since returning. It’s not a true statement.
Schiano beats midmajors and 1AA cupcakes whereas Ash lost half his games to midmajors like Buffalo and Eastern Michigan and only beat 1AA opponents reliably. Schiano also--sometimes--beats P5 turkeys. But that's pretty minimal. That pegs you as merely bad and better than complete doormats versus being rock bottom bad. The king of the dung heap.
 

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
30,662
15,629
113
As for the AL pledge , I'll pass on that because in a doom and gloom setting positivity is refreshing.
Some doom and gloomers might be attention seekers that get away with being negitive about everything RUFB, but I feel they do make some vaild points and deserve my attention because of that.
So I;ll just point out: if you want to pledge, use the ignore link and stop whining about seeing what you don't want to see.
I personal have enjoyed Al's positivity over the years because there were tomes Al was the only light in a tunnel of board darkness.
Of course many Al detractors claimed the light he shown was just from an electrical problem that actually a short circuit causing the program to burn out.
Positive messages seemed to be unwanted.
Al might go overboard, but sometimes that is necessary to counter all the doom and gloom in this board.
So enjoy or ignore, but stop whining dammit 🤬
 
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brgRC90

Heisman
Apr 8, 2008
34,957
15,859
0
When you have no passing game to speak of, stopping the run is a much easier task.
These days a lot of teams that run a lot do ok without much passing game. But they have creative plays, options and deception, not up the middle, up the middle, up the middle.
 
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DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
Thanks! Flood was appointed coach at the end of January, 2012. Richard McCormick was then in his last year as President. Tim Pernetti was AD. I wonder who made the decison to offer Cristobal so much less than what Schiano was making. Cristobal wasn't doing well at the time at FIU; he was fired at the end of 2012 if Wilkipedia is telling the truth.

The Board dictated to Pernetti what the salary limits would be for the HC position and the assistant coaching pool.
 

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
30,662
15,629
113
Thanks! Flood was appointed coach at the end of January, 2012. Richard McCormick was then in his last year as President. Tim Pernetti was AD. I wonder who made the decison to offer Cristobal so much less than what Schiano was making. Cristobal wasn't doing well at the time at FIU; he was fired at the end of 2012 if Wilkipedia is telling the truth.
Cristobal was considered an up and coming talent when he was being courted for the RU job.
He just come off 2 winning seasons ( 7-6 & 8-5) with bowl appearances
He had 3 losing seasons after taking over a program 15-41 for 5 years
under it's previous HC 0-12 in the year before Mario took over.
Many RU fans felt he was a great catch when he took the job and were bummed out when he decided to renege on the deal he accepted and demanded more then left after not getting it.

Wilkipedia told the truth about his being canned after having a 3-9 season in 2012 at FIU
(I used the same source for records I posted in this reply)
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
9,819
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The Board dictated to Pernetti what the salary limits would be for the HC position and the assistant coaching pool.
The BOG had been subsidizing athletics for years; why would it suddenly be concerned about cutting its subsidy? The only explanation I can think of is that Chris Christie (then at the height of his popularity in New Jersey) thought he could make political hay by limiting big-time sports at Rutgers -- and I find that explanation barely plausible partly because BOG members serve staggered terms and so a governor has limited influence. Keep in mind also that private donors could have made up for any money the Board wouldn't want to give. My guess is that something else was going on, and that blaming the BOG was a convenient excuse.
 

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
30,662
15,629
113
The BOG had been subsidizing athletics for years; why would it suddenly be concerned about cutting its subsidy? The only explanation I can think of is that Chris Christie (then at the height of his popularity in New Jersey) thought he could make political hay by limiting big-time sports at Rutgers -- and I find that explanation barely plausible partly because BOG members serve staggered terms and so a governor has limited influence. Keep in mind also that private donors could have made up for any money the Board wouldn't want to give. My guess is that something else was going on, and that blaming the BOG was a convenient excuse.
I believe back then the BOG approved cutting university subsidies to the athletic department and that might have been part of why RU went on the cheap when looking for Schiano's replacement .

As for donors making up the difference, seems like over the years getting
enough from boosters to subsidize coaches salaries hasn't gone over very well..
I seem to remember some posts here claiming Hermann tried to get boosters to help buyout Flood and couldn't get the funding so he stayed .
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
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I believe back then the BOG approved cutting university subsidies to the athletic department and that might have been part of why RU went on the cheap when looking for Schiano's replacement .

As for donors making up the difference, seems like over the years getting
enough from boosters to subsidize coaches salaries hasn't gone over very well..
I seem to remember some posts here claiming Hermann tried to get boosters to help buyout Flood and couldn't get the funding so he stayed .
Hermann couldn't have persuaded a fish to swim. It's no accident that she was canned when Flood was. But I'm surprised. At most schools, boosters are instrumental in funding hirings and buyouts.
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
The BOG had been subsidizing athletics for years; why would it suddenly be concerned about cutting its subsidy? The only explanation I can think of is that Chris Christie (then at the height of his popularity in New Jersey) thought he could make political hay by limiting big-time sports at Rutgers -- and I find that explanation barely plausible partly because BOG members serve staggered terms and so a governor has limited influence. Keep in mind also that private donors could have made up for any money the Board wouldn't want to give. My guess is that something else was going on, and that blaming the BOG was a convenient excuse.

To my knowledge Christie had nothing to do with this, so let's not make it political. What I do know is that part of Schiano's salary came from private sources, and that there were still a number of BOG members who believed that we should still be playing the Lafayette's and Lehigh's of this world. We still had some of those lingering into Julie Hermann's stay and exit, but I think we've finally seen the last of most of them.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
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To my knowledge Christie had nothing to do with this, so let's not make it political. What I do know is that part of Schiano's salary came from private sources, and that there were still a number of BOG members who believed that we should still be playing the Lafayette's and Lehigh's of this world. We still had some of those lingering into Julie Hermann's stay and exit, but I think we've finally seen the last of most of them.
According to the linked article, published just days after Flood was hired, the University had just cut its athletic subsidy by $1 million -- which isn't much considering that the University (not the students, the University) had provided nearly $19 million in 2010. That 5% decrease is not enough of a decrease, IMHO, to make a meaningful difference in what could be provided to a new football coach. I'm sure you're right that part of Schiano's salary came from private sources -- apparently these sources were not willing to make up for whatever decrease there was in University support. BTW, the subsidy had to be drastically increased in the following years after the Mike Rice fiasco. https://www.nj.com/news/2012/02/rutgers_university_faculty_cal.html
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
I'm sure you're right that part of Schiano's salary came from private sources -- apparently these sources were not willing to make up for whatever decrease there was in University support.

I don't know what the breakdown of Schiano's salary was (private vs public), but I know those scum at the SL (fed by that ******** Zoffinger on the Board) used that info in attacking Mulcahy.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
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I don't know what the breakdown of Schiano's salary was (private vs public), but I know those scum at the SL (fed by that ******** Zoffinger on the Board) used that info in attacking Mulcahy.
Mulcahy had stopped being AD in 2009, and Flood is hired in 2012. So I'm not sure what you think the connection is between attacks on Mulcahy and Flood's salary.
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
I don't know what the breakdown of Schiano's salary was (private vs public), but I know those scum at the SL (fed by that ******** Zoffinger on the Board) used that info in attacking Mulcahy.

Mulcahy had stopped being AD in 2009, and Flood is hired in 2012. So I'm not sure what you think the connection is between attacks on Mulcahy and Flood's salary.

I was talking about the breakdown of Schiano's salary and how the SL used that to attack Mulcahy in 2008.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
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I was talking about the breakdown of Schiano's salary and how the SL used that to attack Mulcahy in 2008.
So it sounds like you're saying that the controversy over Schiano's contract four years earlier caused Rutgers to be unwilling to give a successor a comparable contract. But the SL itself said that much of the criticism of the Schiano contract was not about the amount of the contract but about the alleged secrecy of its provisions -- a criticism that McCormick acknowledged as legitimate. https://www.nj.com/news/2008/07/rutgers_reveals_more_secret_de.html
 

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
So it sounds like you're saying that the controversy over Schiano's contract four years earlier caused Rutgers to be unwilling to give a successor a comparable contract.

No, I'm just commenting on how Schiano's salary got up to what it was. I'm not sure how much of it was coming from private contracts. But a lot of members of the Board chafed at the amount being paid to a football coach no matter what their peer universities across the country were doing.
 
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Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
85,813
83,355
113
So it sounds like you're saying that the controversy over Schiano's contract four years earlier caused Rutgers to be unwilling to give a successor a comparable contract. But the SL itself said that much of the criticism of the Schiano contract was not about the amount of the contract but about the alleged secrecy of its provisions -- a criticism that McCormick acknowledged as legitimate. https://www.nj.com/news/2008/07/rutgers_reveals_more_secret_de.html
Ahh, the Excellent Adventures of Josh and Ted (pun on the movie named Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure). Josh Margolin and Ted Cantrememberhislastname were the dynamic duo of exposing RU Athletics' deep, dark and dangerous secrets.

Looked up Josh. He went on to Bigger Adventures at the NY Post, and since 2019, he is an investigative reporter for ABC News.

For goodness sake, Josh made it sound like Rutgers was trying to hoodwink the world while stealing enormous sums of money:

"Greg Schiano would be required to pay $500,000 for breaking his contract if he left following the end of the 2009 football season. However, an addendum to his contract, never divulged by Rutgers, releases him from any damages if the stadium construction is not completed on time."



"Tuesday The Star-Ledger reported Rutgers had guaranteed Schiano $250,000 in compensation on top of the $2 million contract he signed in February 2007. The extra money was funneled through a university vendor and never appeared on the school's payroll."
step brothers dale GIF


Oh, and Loretta Windbag had to chime in:

""The taxpayers deserve to know the total price tag that comes with the hiring of a prominent and sought-after football coach," said Weinberg, referring to the side letters as a "covert operation.""

Give us a break. Focus on something more important.
 

Shelby65

All-Conference
Apr 1, 2008
7,902
4,365
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Flood was $750K his first year. That was an insulting salary, regardless of how people felt about the hire. Rutgers was more than happy to save a few bucks after the loathing and griping about Schiano's salary. RU got what they paid for, and I don't blame Flood for leaving at 5 p.m. and going to Counting Crows concerts when he "should" have been at work. FFS, in his final season, after his pretty good year of 2014 with a Quick Lane Bowl victory (thanks to Friedgen), he only made $1,250,00 as a B1G Head football coach.


if 750k was so insulting, why did he take it ? turns out it egregious in the other direction considering he was exposed as a complete buffoon later. am not convinced he can tie his own shoes. i rail on Schiano morning, noon and night but i’ve never called him a moron. Flood is a moron. Has all his teeth, a higher # than his IQ.
 
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-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
30,082
46,668
113
Ahh, the Excellent Adventures of Josh and Ted (pun on the movie named Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure). Josh Margolin and Ted Cantrememberhislastname were the dynamic duo of exposing RU Athletics' deep, dark and dangerous secrets.

Looked up Josh. He went on to Bigger Adventures at the NY Post, and since 2019, he is an investigative reporter for ABC News.

For goodness sake, Josh made it sound like Rutgers was trying to hoodwink the world while stealing enormous sums of money:

"Greg Schiano would be required to pay $500,000 for breaking his contract if he left following the end of the 2009 football season. However, an addendum to his contract, never divulged by Rutgers, releases him from any damages if the stadium construction is not completed on time."



"Tuesday The Star-Ledger reported Rutgers had guaranteed Schiano $250,000 in compensation on top of the $2 million contract he signed in February 2007. The extra money was funneled through a university vendor and never appeared on the school's payroll."
step brothers dale GIF


Oh, and Loretta Windbag had to chime in:

""The taxpayers deserve to know the total price tag that comes with the hiring of a prominent and sought-after football coach," said Weinberg, referring to the side letters as a "covert operation.""

Give us a break. Focus on something more important.
Good old Loretta, everything was a cover up if her pocket wasn't being lined. I met her and Torrecelli once at a function and unfortunately had to shake hands with them. The sleaze oozing off them was incredible. I went straight to the restroom and washed my hands multiple times.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
85,813
83,355
113
Good old Loretta, everything was a cover up if her pocket wasn't being lined. I met her and Torrecelli once at a function and unfortunately had to shake hands with them. The sleaze oozing off them was incredible. I went straight to the restroom and washed my hands multiple times.
The Torch!!! He dated Bianca Jagger.
 
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kupuna133

All-American
Jul 13, 2015
6,078
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Good old Loretta, everything was a cover up if her pocket wasn't being lined. I met her and Torrecelli once at a function and unfortunately had to shake hands with them. The sleaze oozing off them was incredible. I went straight to the restroom and washed my hands multiple times.
The same Loretta that changed the retirement and pension classifications to allow her to be appointed to Horizon board? Golden parachute position and largest vendor to NJ. Nothing to see here folks.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
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No, I'm just commenting on how Schiano's salary got up to what it was. I'm not sure how much of it was coming from private contracts. But a lot of members of the Board chafed at the amount being paid to a football coach no matter what their peer universities across the country were doing.
Oh, I thought we were talking about a quite different topic: why Rutgers wasn't willing to pay Cristobal what he wanted,, assuming that's why he pulled out of last-minute negotiations. The story that Cristobal wasn't willing to come because of his wife could be true; she grew up in the South and met him after he returned to Miami after his stint here, so it is possible that she didn't like the idea of moving to the Northeast when he had a seemingly secure job at FIU. (He has just taken them to a bowl game for the second time.) But of course there's no way of knowing.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
85,813
83,355
113
Oh, I thought we were talking about a quite different topic: why Rutgers wasn't willing to pay Cristobal what he wanted,, assuming that's why he pulled out of last-minute negotiations. The story that Cristobal wasn't willing to come because of his wife could be true; she grew up in the South and met him after he returned to Miami after his stint here, so it is possible that she didn't like the idea of moving to the Northeast when he had a seemingly secure job at FIU. (He has just taken them to a bowl game for the second time.) But of course there's no way of knowing.
The full truth may never be revealed. Having been in these type of situations in my own career, it is always a convenient crutch to lean on the, "my spouse is homesick," "we want to stay close to our families," etc when giving a reason for turning down a job offer in another location. The reality is that it was probably a combination of the items identified-his job security at FIU, location and money offered.
 

Retired711

All-American
Nov 20, 2001
19,664
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The full truth may never be revealed. Having been in these type of situations in my own career, it is always a convenient crutch to lean on the, "my spouse is homesick," "we want to stay close to our families," etc when giving a reason for turning down a job offer in another location. The reality is that it was probably a combination of the items identified-his job security at FIU, location and money offered.
According to press reports, Cristobal and Rutgers were at the "details" stage of the contract. So my guess is that the salary offered was not the primary problem; if it had been, they wouldn't have gotten that far. It was probably at most a contributing factor as you suggest.
 
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DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
46,450
56,373
113
According to press reports, Cristobal and Rutgers were at the "details" stage of the contract. So my guess is that the salary offered was not the primary problem; if it had been, they wouldn't have gotten that far. It was probably at most a contributing factor as you suggest.

The main problem I heard years later, which was not released at the time, is what I mentioned above about the salary pool for assistant coaches being minuscule. We really didn't start addressing that until under Ash (although we did derivate from that to hire Ralph Friedgen), and I think Schiano finally pulled us up to the level of our peers in the Big 10.