TheKnightReport - Rutgers Men's Lax fights back, holds on vs. Penn in NCAA Tourney quarters
Rutgers men's lacrosse used a fourth quarter run to beat the Penn Quakers in the NCAA Tournament

I’m hoping someone takes them out before the final.This would be a great moment to finally beat Maryland.
I get what you are saying, but football will always be king and until we are no longer considered a B1G football bottom feeder the perception of Rutgers sports will not improve to the casual fans who aren't into the minor sports.It’s a shame there is so much emphasis on football (for obvious reasons $$$) because RU athletics is having an insane year. We will never be able to compete in football with the likes of Texas A&M and Alabama. Focus on the real collegiate sports instead of the semi-pro.
Agree about over-emphasis on football, and RU athletics having a great year.It’s a shame there is so much emphasis on football (for obvious reasons $$$) because RU athletics is having an insane year. We will never be able to compete in football with the likes of Texas A&M and Alabama. Focus on the real collegiate sports instead of the semi-pro.
Agree, and see above. I think if we have a football track record like Minnesota (or even Northwestern) over the last 20 years, most fans will be happy, and the stadium will be sold out on most home games and the revenue from football as basketball will provide the money to support the non-revenue sports, which should continue to be successful.I get what you are saying, but football will always be king and until we are no longer considered a B1G football bottom feeder the perception of Rutgers sports will not improve to the casual fans who aren't into the minor sports.
I'd be fine emulating schools like Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc...make a bowl game every year with something bigger every 4-5 years or so, dancing in March Madness in basketball most years and dominating in the Olympic sports(soccer, lax, field hockey, wrestling, baseball, etc). We most likely will never be an OSU or Michigan where it's CFB playoffs/Rose Bowl or bust. Root for divisions to be dissolved as that will make that objective easier for RU in the coming years.Agree about over-emphasis on football, and RU athletics having a great year.
But who said RU has to "compete" with Texas A&M and Alabama? Few teams (maybe Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame) have such delusions. What is wrong with simply competing within the B1G, going 7-5, 8-4, 6-6 most years with a couple/few great (9-3 or 10-2) and bad (sub 6-6) years thrown in? RU has established itself as competitor in the other major money sport- men's basketball.
A problem, however, is there will be a contingent of fans who want and demand more every year. In theory, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a perennial top team, but in practice that is very difficult except for the few schools that focus as much (or more) on football and/or basketball success over academics. More below.
Agree, and see above. I think if we have a football track record like Minnesota (or even Northwestern) over the last 20 years, most fans will be happy, and the stadium will be sold out on most home games and the revenue from football as basketball will provide the money to support the non-revenue sports, which should continue to be successful.
If the divisions are abandoned, this should make things in football a bit easier. But teams that have been historically not great at football (Northwestern for example) and teams that are doing better than past history (Indiana, for example) and newcomers like Rutgers and Maryland will succeed at the expense of other teams (Nebraska, for example). Nebraska is a good example--in the last 18 years, their W-L record is 128-97 , and in the last 7 years, it has been 34-48. That's a far cry from the Tom Osborne glory years through 1997 of 255-49. But Nebraska's move into the Big 10 eleven years ago is a cautionary tale for those expecting big things for Rutgers football in the Big 10.
Fans can't realistically expect there to be 10 or 12 Ohio State/Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin level teams in a 14 team conference. Competing most years with a W-L record as detailed above would be fine for many fans.
Hopefully, the new media rights deal will provide a big enough windfall and fundraising continues on pace so that the Lax teams, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, gymnastics, swimming, track, rowing and other teams have their needs met financially, and these non-revenue sports will continue to thrive with enhanced revenue.
![]()
Northwestern Wildcats Football Record By Year | College Football at Sports-Reference.com
Northwestern Wildcats Football Record By Yearwww.sports-reference.com
![]()
Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Record By Year | College Football at Sports-Reference.com
Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Record By Yearwww.sports-reference.com
![]()
Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Record By Year | College Football at Sports-Reference.com
Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Record By Yearwww.sports-reference.com
Wisconsin and Iowa (at least for football) are a notch above Minnesota and Northwestern. Note that there does not seem to be a Minnesota-type or Northwestern-type team in the B1G East (unless you count Indiana the last several years), which is why the current divisions need to be scrapped. Hard to ascend anywhere in the B1G East when it seems there is always Ohio State/Michigan/Penn State (and maybe, Michigan State) again to deal with, while the remaining teams in the division battle to stay out of the basement.I'd be fine emulating schools like Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc...make a bowl game every year with something bigger every 4-5 years or so, dancing in March Madness in basketball most years and dominating in the Olympic sports(soccer, lax, field hockey, wrestling, baseball, etc). We most likely will never be an OSU or Michigan where it's CFB playoffs/Rose Bowl or bust. Root for divisions to be dissolved as that will make that objective easier for RU in the coming years.
It’s a shame there is so much emphasis on football (for obvious reasons $$$) because RU athletics is having an insane year. We will never be able to compete in football with the likes of Texas A&M and Alabama. Focus on the real collegiate sports instead of the semi-pro.
It’s pretty simple - people in Tuscaloosa/AL and College Station/TX care WAY MORE about college football than people in NJ. It’s woven into their local culture and alumni feel a deep sense of pride in helping their football team succeed. Ain’t gonna happen in NJ.Why always the negativity here. I get so tired of the……..”we will never be this………we will never be that”. Must be a Jersey thing. No reason why we can’t turn football around just like we have with basketball and other sports.
Not only alumni in those places. Billy bob that never had an affiliation with the school is willing to do what it takes for the team to winIt’s pretty simple - people in Tuscaloosa/AL and College Station/TX care WAY MORE about college football than people in NJ. It’s woven into their local culture and alumni feel a deep sense of pride in helping their football team succeed. Ain’t gonna happen in NJ.
I hired 2 Cornell grads but they don’t seem like they care about sports.Looks like we'll be playing Cornell next week!
I hired 2 Cornell grads but they don’t seem like they care about sports.
As an alumnus of each Rutgers and Cornell, I won't be conflicted for a second next weekend. I'm going with the alma mater that was celebrating its centennial while the other was within months of first being chartered. This Loyal Son is looking forward to a good old fashioned Big Red beatdown. Go RU!
"Nebraska didn't add a giant media market to the Big Ten. It added a giant program. It added a marquee opponent on the gridiron."
Take the train from Penn to Hartford.LOOKING FOR A RIDE FROM HUDSON COUNTY (or I can meet you somewhere) for Saturday's game!!!!
Brutal trip and awful schedule. 1st train (AMTRAK) at 10:27AM and doesn't arrive until 2:08PM!!! YIKES!!! It's only 125 miles!!Take the train from Penn to Hartford.
If we started winning………that would change. Slowly but surely.It’s pretty simple - people in Tuscaloosa/AL and College Station/TX care WAY MORE about college football than people in NJ. It’s woven into their local culture and alumni feel a deep sense of pride in helping their football team succeed. Ain’t gonna happen in NJ.