Front Page of TPFN (that paper from Newark): RU should spend $100M more on athletics

[RCTrooper]

The SL is reporting on the Ray Lesniak-led report that espouses the benefits of RU's spending an additional $50-$100M on Rutgers athletics programs and facilities. Lesniak authorized the report, which was produced by a Philly economics consulting firm and paid for by donors.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

Wait until we build something....then it will be back to "spending run amok at Rutgers, as it chases unrealistic dreams of Big Ten success."

 

[Virginiarufan]

As long as spending is in line with other Big Ten State's support of athletics and/or we use $$$ generated by athletics, the critics have no standing. We need to stop giving a damn about what the SL or anyone else says and stop with this defeatist attitude. What a downtrodden bunch of fans we have.

 

[RURM85]

As long as spending is in line with other Big Ten State support of athletic spending and/or we use $$$ generated by athletics critics have no standing. We need to stop with this attitude like we give a damn what the SL or anyone else says and stop with this defeatist attitude. What a downtrodden bunch of fans we have.

+1. Lesniak's message is invest in future growth and since we're operating in a current low interest environment, he would be right. If you develop a high quality product/service and continue to grow in the marketplace, increases in net income will result.

The critics who claim Rutgers has no money or Politicians telling Rutgers to spend without money (how dare they), are looking at this backward. For many businesses in growth marketplaces, waited for operating cash flow (without the use of financing activities) to invest in growth is a recipe for going out of business. The marketplace is continually evolving and standing still by waiting for operating cash flow to catch up is a strategy for the walking dead. The school is simply not in a cash cow position/marketplace and its strategy must take this into account.

The school can use locked in athletic revenue projections for future years to leverage its on-going investment in combination with donors. If it wants to take the path of a no-investment strategy based on fear of what the media may communicate, and/or public pressure, then its in the wrong business.

 

[j10oreo]

If spending the extra money for upgrades results in attracting more sought after recruits which results in more winning programs across the board, then eventually nobody will care about the money that continues to be pumped into athletics.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

If the academic people like Killingsworth want to fight this so hard. The one single piece of proof anyone needs to show them is this ....

Prior to 2005 RU invested at rock bottom like levels to athletics. We ended up cutting sports and just about every time was awful and had been awful for decades. Any NJ athlete offered somewhere else would go.

Then - seemingly with its arm twisted by Schiano threatening to leave - RU finally invests in football with the Hale Center and Stadium Expansion. Football all of a sudden starts getting better (some can argue that was the coach not facilities - I would argue it was both).

10 years later ........ the return on that relatively small investment has directly been increased admissions standards, record high private donations, incredible increase in visibility and marketing for the school AND HERES THE BIG WHAMMY - GETTING INTO THE BIG TEN. All because we invested in one sport !!!! Do that a couple times over (football again plus other sports) and wait 10 years and I would bet RU as a whole immensely benefits !!!

 

[RUevolution36]

If the academic people like Killingsworth want to fight this so hard. The one single piece of proof anyone needs to show them is this ....

Prior to 2005 RU invested at rock bottom like levels to athletics. We ended up cutting sports and just about every time was awful and had been awful for decades. Any NJ athlete offered somewhere else would go.

Then - seemingly with its arm twisted by Schiano threatening to leave - RU finally invests in football with the Hale Center and Stadium Expansion. Football all of a sudden starts getting better (some can argue that was the coach not facilities - I would argue it was both).

10 years later ........ the return on that relatively small investment has directly been increased admissions standards, record high private donations, incredible increase in visibility and marketing for the school AND HERES THE BIG WHAMMY - GETTING INTO THE BIG TEN. All because we invested in one sport !!!! Do that a couple times over (football again plus other sports) and wait 10 years and I would bet RU as a whole immensely benefits !!!

this is too much of a 30,000 ft view. this professor has a myopic view..."is my departmental budget growing? is my salary growing at the same rate that budget increases are? how does football and sports benefit me me me me me?" he's not looking out for the school or the state...he's looking out for his bottom line.