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.