Beyond Springsteen and porkroll, there are some unique aspects of NJ culture, and the athletic program has used different strategies to address them in the past. It’s a topic that is often addressed here, but it may be helpful to put it all in one place now that we have new head coach. Off the top of my head, I tried to highlight some of the distinctive aspects of NJ below, feel free to add to the list...
Competition with professional sports. Everyone loves winners, but Rutgers proximity to NY and Philly means that whenever a local pro team has a good season, sports fans follow the story. I’m sure this occurs elsewhere too, but what makes us different is the sheer number of other teams (NY has 2 football, 2 baseball, 2 basketball, 3 hockey teams, plus 3 in Philly). While there are a certain number of alumni who will support Rutgers regardless, causal sports fans can usually find another team having a good year. The solution is easier said than done – win.
Rivalries. In addition to competition for sports loyalties, Rutgers competes with many other elite colleges and universities for the best NJ high school students academically (there are 3 Ivy League schools within 2 hours of New Brunswick). In some cases, Rutgers has a better reputation out of state than in-state (we don’t have to like it, but it helps to understand it). Some of the alumni will debate this, others wear it as a badge of honor. In football, Penn State, Syracuse and Boston College have all recruited NJ very well in the past. Initiating a rivalry with “That Team From Pennsylvania” was a good strategy for building pride in the program--both inside and outside of the Hale Center.
Staff visiting every high school. I have no idea if this had a meaningful impact on recruiting or if this is still done. As an outsider, it had a symbolic impact. It’s still important to make inroads with the elite NJ high schools. However unlike other States, you can drive from one end of the state to the other in an afternoon, and being able to say that we were in every high school resonates.
The children’s book. This is another example of something that may have had little short term impact, and it was a little hokey. That said, when it was written, there were generations of NJ kids who didn’t necessarily have a positive view of Rutgers or its football program. It was a strategy to influence popular opinion of the State University at a very grassroots level.
Media. It amplifies everything – good and bad. When we win, access to the national media has enhanced our success. But it is a double-edged sword, when we stumble, it’s also covered in the New York Times. Have a proactive strategy for engaging the media and keeping “the story” on the field.
Competition with professional sports. Everyone loves winners, but Rutgers proximity to NY and Philly means that whenever a local pro team has a good season, sports fans follow the story. I’m sure this occurs elsewhere too, but what makes us different is the sheer number of other teams (NY has 2 football, 2 baseball, 2 basketball, 3 hockey teams, plus 3 in Philly). While there are a certain number of alumni who will support Rutgers regardless, causal sports fans can usually find another team having a good year. The solution is easier said than done – win.
Rivalries. In addition to competition for sports loyalties, Rutgers competes with many other elite colleges and universities for the best NJ high school students academically (there are 3 Ivy League schools within 2 hours of New Brunswick). In some cases, Rutgers has a better reputation out of state than in-state (we don’t have to like it, but it helps to understand it). Some of the alumni will debate this, others wear it as a badge of honor. In football, Penn State, Syracuse and Boston College have all recruited NJ very well in the past. Initiating a rivalry with “That Team From Pennsylvania” was a good strategy for building pride in the program--both inside and outside of the Hale Center.
Staff visiting every high school. I have no idea if this had a meaningful impact on recruiting or if this is still done. As an outsider, it had a symbolic impact. It’s still important to make inroads with the elite NJ high schools. However unlike other States, you can drive from one end of the state to the other in an afternoon, and being able to say that we were in every high school resonates.
The children’s book. This is another example of something that may have had little short term impact, and it was a little hokey. That said, when it was written, there were generations of NJ kids who didn’t necessarily have a positive view of Rutgers or its football program. It was a strategy to influence popular opinion of the State University at a very grassroots level.
Media. It amplifies everything – good and bad. When we win, access to the national media has enhanced our success. But it is a double-edged sword, when we stumble, it’s also covered in the New York Times. Have a proactive strategy for engaging the media and keeping “the story” on the field.
