" Rutgers launches match canpaign....."

[Mholinko]

reality is its an incredibly tiny fanbase, it just is...no one wants to admit it and no one wanted to admit it when we joined the Big 10

bashing of fans here for not giving but not acknowledging we only have about 5K fans actually giving is why this is hopeless. Unless RU is courting some sort of big time company or CEOs to drop tons of cash here, our wittle fanbase isnt going to be able to accomplish jackshit

The difference with Indiana sucking for years in football is that they had a rich incredible hoops history. The opposite true for Penn State with respect to hoops and football. Does anyone truly think Indiana will have sustained success in football

The best comparisons were Purdue and Northwestern but the Painter hire put Purdues hoops on the map in a way never before so RU basically is a Northwestern in both hoops and football. Every conference needs a bottom feeder with little fanbase.

I am not hating or insulting fans who do not want to donate. I am going to do my part for my Alma mater regardless of what anyone else does … what I have a hard time with is the bashing of the team, players, coach, roster construction etc from people who willingly do little to zero to do their part

It’s kind of like complaining about who won the election when you didn’t vote… you had your chance to have your say. If your standing on a pedestal to fire this coach or say this players sucks or that player is over rated or we need to do XYZ to fix it and you’re sitting on your hands then you don’t really have a meaningful voice IMO in this era of college athletics.

 

[Mholinko]

Dont kid yourself. The same people who only contribute with their mouths would be doing the same,in whatever league we were in or the number of wins we have. Excuses.By the way there are people who contribute on this board and many who are not. The truth be told this board may have a good number of members but inconsequential to the number who actually give. I think that number is almost 40000 to 50000.

Again I would dislike seeing us in a smaller league or taking that route or even having a discussion about it because I’m from a “if you wanna be the best then compete with the best” mentality.

 

[bac2therac]

I am not hating or insulting fans who do not want to donate. I am going to do my part for my Alma mater regardless of what anyone else does … what I have a hard time with is the bashing of the team, players, coach, roster construction etc from people who willingly do little to zero to do their part

It’s kind of like complaining about who won the election when you didn’t vote… you had your chance to have your say. If your standing on a pedestal to fire this coach or say this players sucks or that player is over rated or we need to do XYZ to fix it and you’re sitting on your hands then you don’t really have a meaningful voice IMO in this era of college athletics.

that is fine until you realize there really isnt a big pool of fans to pull from so telling people they cant complain when they make up part of a tiny fanbase isnt going to get you anywhere

 

[bac2therac]

the R Fund ranking has only 27689....when one checks their rank, you will all likely be shocked that most of us here are likely in the top 10%. Yet we are the ones put on blast

 

[Mholinko]

that is fine until you realize there really isnt a big pool of fans to pull from so telling people they cant complain when they make up part of a tiny fanbase isnt going to get you anywhere

So bac I know you are one of the largest contributors what do you suggest is a realistic path to success

We’re not leaving the big 10, you’re saying we’re not going to raise money, you keep banging the table the AD hire will be the big deciding factor but realistically what is a path to success

Success in my mind is not 6-6 or 7-5 in football and a bubble team every couple years which is what our “success” has been for 25 years

 

[NickRU714]

Again I would dislike seeing us in a smaller league or taking that route or even having a discussion about it because I’m from a “if you wanna be the best then compete with the best” mentality.

ASU, SMU and Boise State were in the CFP.
Seems like they were competing against the best.

UConn won back to back championships from the Big East.
Every conference champ is making the NCAA tournament.

I dont really believe this "If we won the AAC and made the CFP/NCAA Tournament it wouldn't really be that exciting."

We weren't competing against the best in 2006 but seems like people enjoyed that season pretty well.

 

[NickRU714]

A-10 was before my time.

For "not competing against the best" people sure do tell stories about some exciting games.

 

[bac2therac]

ASU, SMU and Boise State were in the CFP.
Seems like they were competing against the best.

UConn won back to back championships from the Big East.
Every conference champ is making the NCAA tournament.

I dont really believe this "If we won the AAC and made the CFP/NCAA Tournament it wouldn't really be that exciting."

We weren't competing against the best in 2006 but seems like people enjoyed that season pretty well.

the Flood year when we competed for the league title probably was the 2nd best year behind 2006. Its about winning not names on the jersey.

 

[Mholinko]

ASU, SMU and Boise State were in the CFP.
Seems like they were competing against the best.

UConn won back to back championships from the Big East.
Every conference champ is making the NCAA tournament.

I dont really believe this "If we won the AAC and made the CFP/NCAA Tournament it wouldn't really be that exciting."

We weren't competing against the best in 2006 but seems like people enjoyed that season pretty well.

I agree with this. Again I’m saying I’m glad we’re in the big 10 but if we’re not going to behave like we’re a big10 school then it’s worth discussing the alternative

Like you said the path to playoffs and march madness doesn’t require you be at the big boy table anymore

I can tell you I would sure have had more fun being wake forest or Stanford in the acc sitting at 19-10 right now and being in the conversation even if the path was “easier”

You still get a major conference vibe in the acc you play duke and unc twice each in hoops you play Clemson and Florida state minus this year in football …

 

[bac2therac]

A-10 was before my time.

For "not competing against the best" people sure do tell stories about some exciting games.

my time in school so definitely more passionate but I would put the Penn State and UNLV games up over any game since. The Maryland win in 2020 is right up there because it validated the progam and the celebration on the court after almos 30 years without a NCAA bid....then the rug pulled out from under us with covid. Purdue game finish and beating #1 an incredible moment as well. Likely throw in one of those first wins over Syracuse back in the day

The RAC has lost its luster for sure year by year, mainly due to the scoreboard music and times change with attention spans. The A10 crowds in the 88-92 years were very solid overall. Getting 7K for St Bonnies one of those seasons

 

[bac2therac]

I agree with this. Again I’m saying I’m glad we’re in the big 10 but if we’re not going to behave like we’re a big10 school then it’s worth discussing the alternative

Like you said the path to playoffs and march madness doesn’t require you be at the big boy table anymore

I can tell you I would sure have had more fun being wake forest or Stanford in the acc sitting at 19-10 right now and being in the conversation even if the path was “easier”

You still get a major conference vibe in the acc you play duke and unc twice each in hoops you play Clemson and Florida state minus this year in football …

agree with this...i think in respect to schools in the ACC going 19-12 and still not on the bubble, I think the acc schools need to schedule tougher out of conference across the board and start winning. In the Big 10 you dont have to do that as much.

playing duke and unc at the rac is a step up from michigan state who by the way we dont play at the rac anymore and Ucla.

 

[Mholinko]

my time in school so definitely more passionate but I would put the Penn State and UNLV games up over any game since. The Maryland win in 2020 is right up there because it validated the progam and the celebration on the court after almos 30 years without a NCAA bid....then the rug pulled out from under us with covid. Purdue game finish and beating #1 an incredible moment as well. Likely throw in one of those first wins over Syracuse back in the day

The RAC has lost its luster for sure year by year, mainly due to the scoreboard music and times change with attention spans. The A10 crowds in the 88-92 years were very solid overall. Getting 7K for St Bonnies one of those seasons

I was at the Maryland game in 2020 and it was the best atmosphere at the RAC I have ever sat through since I was a kid

The win over Illinois that year and Seton Hall all 3 are games I’ll remember as it was the last year I could attend games with my grandfather and father together

The RAC roared that year and only had glimpses since…

 

[365Poster24Seven]

Rutgers could use a DOGE like purge.
The State of New Jersey really needs a DOGE like purge,
Why does anyone think the Athletic Dept should be $$$$$$$ positive?
Unrealistic.

Or we can stop coming up with every excuse and just donate right?

 

[Mholinko]

agree with this...i think in respect to schools in the ACC going 19-12 and still not on the bubble, I think the acc schools need to schedule tougher out of conference across the board and start winning. In the Big 10 you dont have to do that as much.

playing duke and unc at the rac is a step up from michigan state who by the way we dont play at the rac anymore and Ucla.

But to your point at 19-10 you’re still being discussed regardless and your fan base always feels hope and sees a fix much more easily than you do when you’re 14-16 and staring up from the bottom of the big 10

You can sell your fan base hope at 19-10 and competing

 

[365Poster24Seven]

the R Fund ranking has only 27689....when one checks their rank, you will all likely be shocked that most of us here are likely in the top 10%. Yet we are the ones put on blast

You have not donated to anything. You’re so full of it. You bash players coaches teams of Rutgers University but look where you spend 16 hours a day. You should be ashamed of yourself.

 

[bac2therac]

But to your point at 19-10 you’re still being discussed regardless and your fan base always feels hope and sees a fix much more easily than you do when you’re 14-16 and staring up from the bottom of the big 10

You can sell your fan base hope at 19-10 and competing

alot of rac losses the last 3 seasons are wearing on people, there was a mystique building about the rac that of course started in the early 90s but by 2020 it was front and center. That is gone now

 

[DHajekRC84]

the R Fund ranking has only 27689....when one checks their rank, you will all likely be shocked that most of us here are likely in the top 10%. Yet we are the ones put on blast

That's the June 30 snapshot. September 30 shows....2627 out of 38050 6.9%

(and it's missing a couple of years of corp. giving I secured worth about $25k)....

 

[ru66]

That's the June 30 snapshot. September 30 shows....2627 out of 38050 6.9%

(and it's missing a couple of years of corp. giving I secured worth about $25k)....

Yup its over 38000 and actually grew by slmost 8000 last year. By the wsy where Does bac get that theres only 5000 RU fans??

 

[bac2therac]

Yup its over 38000 and actually grew by slmost 8000 last year. By the wsy where Does bac get that theres only 5000 RU fans??

my point remains...small fanbase and you are bitching about all the people here who all already reside in the top 10%

 

[ru66]

Perhaps.
If their objective is to win then sure the conversation would be reasonable.
It's obviously not a 1 year discussion.

What's the outlook for Purdue football over the next 10 years? Are they sitting on some boatload of funding and last year is an anamoly?
MLB is constantly having the discussion "Is this team trying to win or are the owners happynjust collecting checks and losing?"

If direct rivals (other Big Ten teams) have double(?) the revenue to spend - then a conversation about level setting to a conference with teams operating on a similar level isn't crazy.

All those Boise State and ASU fans didn't seem very upset they weren't getting Big Ten money in the CFP.

Is it about money or about winning?

Note: I think Rutgers can be competitive in the Big Ten despite the money gap. I believe (perhaps foolishly) that we can be smarter and operate better than the top of the Big Ten with less money.

It's not just money or winning, it's school pride , name recognition ,the academic status on being a BIG school , student activities, the affect on applications ,campus life,research grants--- it's a slew of stuff. Some around here act like sports is the reason RU exists-- it's not. But those that say give it up are clueless. I'll tell you what UCONN , the institution ,would give up its national championship to get into the Big.

 

[RUDivision]

Perhaps.
If their objective is to win then sure the conversation would be reasonable.
It's obviously not a 1 year discussion.

What's the outlook for Purdue football over the next 10 years? Are they sitting on some boatload of funding and last year is an anamoly?
MLB is constantly having the discussion "Is this team trying to win or are the owners happynjust collecting checks and losing?"

If direct rivals (other Big Ten teams) have double(?) the revenue to spend - then a conversation about level setting to a conference with teams operating on a similar level isn't crazy.

All those Boise State and ASU fans didn't seem very upset they weren't getting Big Ten money in the CFP.

Is it about money or about winning?

Note: I think Rutgers can be competitive in the Big Ten despite the money gap. I believe (perhaps foolishly) that we can be smarter and operate better than the top of the Big Ten with less money.

Are athletic department is a clown show and so far from being on par with the Big ten schools. So being smarter is probably not a great strategy

 

[Mholinko]

It's not just money or winning, it's school pride , name recognition ,the academic status on being a BIG school , student activities, the affect on applications ,campus life,research grants--- it's a slew of stuff. Some around here act like sports is the reason RU exists-- it's not. But those that say give it up are clueless. I'll tell you what UCONN , the institution ,would give up its national championship to get into the Big.

NOBODY IS SAYING GIVE UP THE B10

It’s just frustrating and fruitless to hear people complain about why we’re not competitive in the B10 but not be open to the solutions

They want us to be in the B10 but behave fiscally like we’re in the A10

 

[ru66]

my point remains...small fanbase and you are bitching about all the people here who all already reside in the top 10%

I'm bitching about those that give little or nothing and guys like you who advocate not giving. Make me happy be in the top 1% in real dollars. And if you think RU has only 5000 fans you're got dementia or just want to continue your disparaging RU routine.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Yup its over 38000 and actually grew by slmost 8000 last year. By the wsy where Does bac get that theres only 5000 RU fans??

I thought the seat fees might have had something to do with the increase but for football they have been there. Perhaps they expanded them? Regardless I'm glad to see the increase whatever the driver.

 

[DHajekRC84]

It's not just money or winning, it's school pride , name recognition ,the academic status on being a BIG school , student activities, the affect on applications ,campus life,research grants--- it's a slew of stuff. Some around here act like sports is the reason RU exists-- it's not. But those that say give it up are clueless. I'll tell you what UCONN , the institution ,would give up its national championship to get into the Big.

....very valid. points.

 

[bac2therac]

I'm bitching about those that give little or nothing and guys like you who advocate not giving. Make me happy be in the top 1% in real dollars. And if you think RU has only 5000 fans you're got dementia or just want to continue your disparaging RU routine.

lol

 

[NickRU714]

Are athletic department is a clown show and so far from being on par with the Big ten schools. So being smarter is probably not a great strategy

But we're Rutgers!
We can 100% operate smarter and overcome the money discrepancy.

The problem is we need to Moneyball the shit out of it (see our year over year shot charts for example).

But nobody wants to do what it takes to win.
Rather just stick to what we know even though it's never really produced consistent results and isn't the best way to win.

 

[NickRU714]

It's not just money or winning, it's school pride , name recognition ,the academic status on being a BIG school , student activities, the affect on applications ,campus life,research grants--- it's a slew of stuff. Some around here act like sports is the reason RU exists-- it's not. But those that say give it up are clueless. I'll tell you what UCONN , the institution ,would give up its national championship to get into the Big.

So then why the push for fan donations?
All those things you mentioned are doing great.

Why bother pestering fans for money and seat fees and donations and NIL?
If winning isn't the #1 priority and it's more a collective with a bunch of other stuff then we're already "winning".


Regarding UConn, I wonder how the answer changes if the stipulation is "you join the Big Ten but are unlikely to ever win another championship or compete at a high level due to money issues."

Similar to my feelings, it's easy to say "join the Big Ten at all costs" if you think you'll be competitive regardless of money discrepancy.

 

[365Poster24Seven]

I'm bitching about those that give little or nothing and guys like you who advocate not giving. Make me happy be in the top 1% in real dollars. And if you think RU has only 5000 fans you're got dementia or just want to continue your disparaging RU routine.

He is a Rutgers sports maniac his entire life is spent posting here BUT that’s not enough to help get better players. Makes zero sense to anyone with a brain IMO.

 

[ru66]

So then why the push for fan donations?
All those things you mentioned are doing great.

Why bother pestering fans for money and seat fees and donations and NIL?
If winning isn't the #1 priority and it's more a collective with a bunch of other stuff then we're already "winning".


Regarding UConn, I wonder how the answer changes if the stipulation is "you join the Big Ten but are unlikely to ever win another championship or compete at a high level due to money issues."

Similar to my feelings, it's easy to say "join the Big Ten at all costs" if you think you'll be competitive regardless of money discrepancy.Try

Because who said they wish RU fails in athletics,??? Only some idiots hoping it will speed up firing a coach, any coach. And as for your Uconn comment every team wants to win
-- noone said otherwise and Uconn still,as they say, would die for admission.
I guess you don't understand the value of a Big membership or just want to argue about why not to give. Try other excuses. Winning, NIL and academic success are not mutually exclusive.

 

[fluoxetine]

We are #70 in kenpom, that's not an (at-large) tournament team in any conference. Sure, we'd have a better record in the ACC but we'd be in exactly the same place regarding the NCAA tournament.

 

[NickRU714]

Because who said they wish RU fails in athletics,??? Only some idiots hoping it will speed up firing a coach, any coach. And as for your Uconn comment every team wants to win
-- noone said otherwise and Uconn still,as they say, would die for admission.
I guess you don't understand the value of a Big membership or just want to argue about why not to give. Try other excuses. Winning, NIL and academic success are not mutually exclusive.

Certainly not arguing why not to give.
I didn't say there were non winning benefits.
But if there are all these non "winning" benefits - and all those benefits are being met? It makes sense to ask what's the value of winning. 9 out of 10 benefits isn't too bad.

I just think the "we need more money" is a waste of time.
I'm still waiting for anyone to answer:
What if we don't get the money from fans?
What's the alternative path?

Do we close up shop?
Many (perhaps not you) seem to think the ONLY way to improve and be competitive is more money.
Well guess what? That's not happening.
It'll never happen. We're never having OSU/UM money.
As long as college athletics demands fans supplement and fund everything, we'll be behind most conference peers.

So then what?
Hence my earlier posts - Rutgers needs to make do and operate smarter.

Some (like Al) think that's not possible. We are already at 100% optimization with our current funding level.
HC Schiano and HC Pike are perfect and only more money will improve anything.

 

[socaldave]

Needs to be reallocated to the fire pike fund!

 

[ru66]

Certainly not arguing why not to give.
I didn't say there were non winning benefits.
But if there are all these non "winning" benefits - and all those benefits are being met? It makes sense to ask what's the value of winning. 9 out of 10 benefits isn't too bad.

I just think the "we need more money" is a waste of time.
I'm still waiting for anyone to answer:
What if we don't get the money from fans?
What's the alternative path?

Do we close up shop?
Many (perhaps not you) seem to think the ONLY way to improve and be competitive is more money.
Well guess what? That's not happening.
It'll never happen. We're never having OSU/UM money.
As long as college athletics demands fans supplement and fund everything, we'll be behind most conference peers.

So then what?
Hence my earlier posts - Rutgers needs to make do and operate smarter.

Some (like Al) think that's not possible. We are already at 100% optimization with our current funding level.
HC Schiano and HC Pike are perfect and only more money will improve anything.

Many seem to forget we have won many big baskeball lgames in the past in the big.Acting like we haven't over the last 6 - 7 years and wonn't ever do it again is irrational. No one kones

 

[NickRU714]

Many seem to forget we have won many big baskeball lgames in the past in the big.Acting like we haven't over the last 6 - 7 years and wonn't ever do it again is irrational. No one kones

Not sure I said we haven't won big games.
I was a student at the Rutgers-Syracuse/Melo game in 2003
Was at the Louisville football game in 2006.
The wins over #1 Purdue recently were great.

But nearly every major team wins a big game from time to time.
Especially in CBB where top teams get beat multiple times a year.

You are the one pretty adamant we need to fix the program and raise all this money to improve. That would imply the current state of the program is lacking (despite all the big wins).

 

[bac2therac]

Miami went from final 4 to 4-23 in 2 years so the idea that what you did a few years ago matter in this new age is out of touch

Villanova went from dominant Big East program with 2 national championships in a decade to mediocre afterthought the past 3 years coached by a guy in over his head missing the NCAA WITH SOLID NIL money

 

[RexMantlepiece]

Everyone gets revenue sharing that $ does nothing to give us an edge

The schools that don’t need it are getting it too

Wrong there are good players who go to schools in much poorer conferences that the big ten rev share will dwarf so will it help close the gap on great sec and big ten players prob not but it will help for sure.

 

[ancienthooper]

He is a Rutgers sports maniac his entire life is spent posting here BUT that’s not enough to help get better players. Makes zero sense to anyone with a brain IMO.

His thousand word post game recaps, prediction threads, and bacatology don’t cost him a dime.

 

[Virginiarufan]

I ventured over to the sadexcuse board against my better judgement and find they just started a $50M campaign fund "to create championship level sports teams". That's $50M, not the $1M, matching campaign fund we started. I didn’t see a single sorrycuse poster arguing about giving what they could. WTF is with this board? This thread is beyond pathetic.
We better fund our athletic dept or we’ll be playing second fiddle to more northeast schools than just PSU. And SU would give up ACC membership in a minute for a seat in the BIG. $40M ( soon to be less because of unequal revenue sharing) for $80 M, are you kidding me?

 

[Loyal_2RU]

The VAST majority of the money that Rutgers gets from the State is to pay for the health benefits & fringe benefits that Rutgers State employees are entitled to under their contract. Taxpayers are not paying for the Athletic department they are paying for State Employees.

That is false. Fringe benefits are 81% of salary, which is still crazy and most of that is paying for the legacy pension expenses that are underfunded for old time state employees of all ilk.