Reminds me of the joke about UT. And it applies to the historic B1G as well.
It Texas somebody asks a kid:
"Where are you going to college, son?"
"Harvard."
"Gee. Didn't you get into UT Austin?"
Support for these schools, particularly athletics, go back 70-80 years. Rutgers still has some catching up to do.
Not only that. It is more complicated and worse.
Consider UCLA who we just lost to. Who is their coach? A UCLA grad.. with NFL experience. Who takes low pay in comparison to many.
What about the media that covers these other schools? Any chance they grew up fans? Any chance they were sports fans who chose to attend a sports powerhouse? Any chance their whole family, neighbors and friends did the same thing?
At Rutgers.. who chose to attend because it was a sports powerhouse?
Anyone remember Tom Luicci? He was a Rutgers grad who was a sports guy for the Targum, and, IIRC, WRSU in 1976 when we had an undefeated football team and an undefeated basketball team. He became a writer at teh state paper of record (if there was one) The Newark Star-Ledger.. that's what passes for media for Rutgers.. no NBC/CBS/ABC local TV.. they belong to New York City and Philadelphia.. very pro-sports orientation.. just like the Star-Ledger.
He held Rutgers failures against us. Even as he rooted for success.. he blasted the failures a bit too much, IMHO. And I'm sure he heard about every failure from all his colleagues.
You think the powerhouse programs or even those from states with some degree of state pride.. you think they have to put up with that?
I'm telling ya all.. Rutgers is in a very unique and unenviable position. Only consistent winning can change it. But.. we have a lot of challenges to overcome to get there.
One last aside.. Rutgers mission.. educating the state's students.. it takes it seriously and that is a good thing. It takes a lot of disadvantaged students and provides opportunities. But it will be generations before those alums from modest means would have the generational wealth that results in big donations. They have a lot of support they provide to their families and in their own neighborhoods before donating to sports becomes a priority.
And, as stated earlier.. among all Rutgers alums.. who chose Rutgers because of the sports? To support the sports?
New Jersey families producing children for whom sports are important.. where do they choose to go? You think they graduate those schools and then donate to Rutgers athletics when they become New Jersey residents?
It is a tough spot we are in. We cannot do things like other schools. We need to chart our own path.. and that is, IMHO, connecting with New Jersey and even New York businesses.. but we have to do that while winning.. striking while the iron is hot. Figure out packages that would attract the big donors. Some elite benefits.. maybe helicopter or limo transportation to games and luxury suites. We have to think BIG. Get it all set up.. network well.. then STRIKE.
