The Real Test for Pat Hobbs

[Scarlet Blind]

I agree with few here. He is a Northeast guy, and the only job he would go to would be UConn but it would have to be a rebuilding UConn not taking over after Hurley, can't see epic failing maybe wearing out his welcome. Syracuse, No. BC, No. Providence, No. What other good Northeast jobs are there? I can't see Pike leaving anytime soon for another job. He stayed 4 years asst. Coach C.Conn St., 4 years asst. Coach GWU, and 12 years with Stony Brook, not a job jumper.

 

[ScarletNut]

Pike has an out clause in his contract tied to Hobbs. Those that want Hobbs gone need to consider that.

 

[ruman]

He's going to be the most sought after coach this off season. I would not take it for granted.

We now have money. It would have to be a big job. Don’t see it. We he go to Syracuse? Have my doubts. They will hire Hopkins anyway. Texas?? Bad fit.

don’t see a match. And we can pay him now

 

[ruman]

As long as Schiano and Hobbs have a working relationship, Hobbs is going nowhere. That’s why Kmac is here

 

[BigLou]

Pike is here to stay.

His real test is getting 118 back to the freaking fans and moving the student section closer.

Sadly, Hobbs strikes me as the type of guy that it going to try to build a new arena and make it all shiny and fancy and totally kill the atmosphere at our basketball games.

Don't agree with this and wonder what it is about Hobbs that makes you think it.
Hobbs is well aware of our home court advantage. I have seen him many times trying to pump up the fans, including Sunday when he was interacting with the student section.
What I see Hobbs being interested in is an expansion of the front of the arena to add some amenities and space. His fundraising priorities are Rodkin, football, & baseball. Not having to fund a new arena is a huge load off his shoulders.

As far as Pikell, lets face it, the rebuilding job is almost complete. Now its about elevating the program. For a guy who spent 10 years building at SB and now over 3 at Rutgers, he probably won't be interested in another rebuilding job. Sky's the limit at RU.
Also, Willard probably is a better candidate for a top program. He has done a great job and is 7 years younger than Pike. Let the blue chips go after Seton Hall's coach and leave ours alone.

 

[Eagleton96]

We now have money. It would have to be a big job. Don’t see it. We he go to Syracuse? Have my doubts. They will hire Hopkins anyway. Texas?? Bad fit.

don’t see a match. And we can pay him now

I don't think he'd go to Cuse. That's a parallel move. I think we are safe for now looking at his contract and also the fact that no top programs (Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, etc.) have coaches on the hot seat.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Pike has an out clause in his contract tied to Hobbs. Those that want Hobbs gone need to consider that.

It's not an out clause, it's just a reduction in an agreed upon buyout. In any event, anyone that is actually thinking about Hobbs since Schiano has been hired, is just a follower taking inventory based on what didn't happen during a negotiation.

No one is thinking about Pat Hobbs since we blitzed Wisconsin and Seton Hall. He is an afterthought right now, which is where he should be in the Rutgers landscape. The focus should always be on the student athletes, coaches and fans, not the AD.

 

[Arizona Knight]

I’m sure the love affair between Rutgers and Coach’s Schiano has to have made an impression on Coach Pikiell. You show the Rutgers faithful some success and you are adored and revered in NJ for life. No hyperbole.

 

[herdof3]

No one thought Greg Schiano would leave...

not true. we were in a dying conference with Big 10 invite still a pipe dream. shouldn't have surprised anyone that he listened to offers and decided to leave

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

If posters looked at their own situation and wrote down the factors that would influence them in their job careers I'd bet 70%+ of what they wrote would as factors would be about other people.

EXAMPLES
where there kids were at and potentially may go
parents and their health
career of spouse
friends and families they have made

 

[RUBOB72]

Hobbs is a BB guy first and foremost. The donors are in love with Pike. RU; Hobbs and the Donors will do what it takes to secure Pike at RU.

I can see Brandin Knight however getting offers to become a HC next year.

I think Rutgers has shown they will be very competitive with coaches salaries and contracts. What better stage than here in the metro nj/ny area...B1G conference...Rutgers is in a good place as we proceed forward.

 

[RUBOB72]

We now have money. It would have to be a big job. Don’t see it. We he go to Syracuse? Have my doubts. They will hire Hopkins anyway. Texas?? Bad fit.

don’t see a match. And we can pay him now

Leave for Saralose in the frozen tundra on the Canadian border. Is Steve a skier perhaps?

 

[The RUT]

Don't agree with this and wonder what it is about Hobbs that makes you think it.
Hobbs is well aware of our home court advantage. I have seen him many times trying to pump up the fans, including Sunday when he was interacting with the student section.
What I see Hobbs being interested in is an expansion of the front of the arena to add some amenities and space. His fundraising priorities are Rodkin, football, & baseball. Not having to fund a new arena is a huge load off his shoulders.

As far as Pikell, lets face it, the rebuilding job is almost complete. Now its about elevating the program. For a guy who spent 10 years building at SB and now over 3 at Rutgers, he probably won't be interested in another rebuilding job. Sky's the limit at RU.
Also, Willard probably is a better candidate for a top program. He has done a great job and is 7 years younger than Pike. Let the blue chips go after Seton Hall's coach and leave ours alone.

Hobbs is going to want suites for his big fish, and there’s no way you can add that to the RAC.

I don’t mind a new arena, but if that happens he should:

1. Put it in downtown New Brunswick
2. Be an exact copy of the RAC with slight improvements
3. If you’re not copying the RAC, there should be a scientific study done on how to maximize the court noise level.

Sadly I think we will get a shiny new arena that is none of the above.

 

[ru66]

funny--a couple of weeks back some were bitching about his recruiting and game plan--now he's a saint until we lose a few (hope not)--stay with the guy ,wins or losses, he's a really good coach that wants to be here

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Worth noting.....he has very open dialogue with his assistant coaches during games and they have a big role. They aren't there just to recruit. If we have an assistant leave (Knight) for a head coaching job I think Rutgers would be viewed as a very good landing spot for an up and coming assistant coach.

 

[RUBOB72]

Hobbs is going to want suites for his big fish, and there’s no way you can add that to the RAC.

I don’t mind a new arena, but if that happens he should:

1. Put it in downtown New Brunswick
2. Be an exact copy of the RAC with slight improvements
3. If you’re not copying the RAC, there should be a scientific study done on how to maximize the court noise level.

Sadly I think we will get a shiny new arena that is none of the above.

Won’t happen for 4-5 years and ONLY if the team progresses further in NCAA standings annually... the season tix sales will determine the RAC expansion down the road...still could add another 1500 and some suites before a new facility ... Does Duke still play at the old gym? Cameron used to seat about 9500...nobody seems to gripe about “ building “ a new one soon...they called it an Indoor Arena ? It’s a gym for goodness sakes...Establish winning and nobody will worry about all the other bells and whistles except the well heeled alums and the bandwagon junkies.

 

[RU848789]

The Big East didn't implode and the American Athletic Conference wasn't formed until well after Schiano left.

Also, supposedly Pernetti was in continual contact with Jim Delany since 2010 regarding Rutgers being invited to the Big Ten. Unless you are in the "all Pernetti did was answer the phone" camp, then you would assume that Pernetti knew in January 2012 that a Big Ten invite was pending by the end of the year, and would have let Schiano know about it.

From what I've been told by my Schiano source (best friends with Greg since their playing days at Bucknell) Greg had grown tired of "promises" that the invite to the B1G was coming, which combined with the Tampa offer, was why he finally jumped. Hard to blame him really. I'll always wonder if Greg would've left if we were already in the B1G...

 

[ScarletNut]

From what I've been told by my Schiano source (best friends with Greg since their playing days at Bucknell) Greg had grown tired of "promises" that the invite to the B1G was coming, which combined with the Tampa offer, was why he finally jumped. Hard to blame him really. I'll always wonder if Greg would've left if we were already in the B1G...

Good point. I think he still may have left if he didn’t get the concessions he asked for this time around. I can’t see Rutgers increasing the coaching pool and signing off on new facilities 8 years ago.

 

[StyleKnight]

1. It is silly to speculate whether or not Pikiell would leave without really knowing him or some of the external factors that are crucial (primarily family)

2. Hobbs---he gave him an extension and deferred $ and Pike has a penalty if he leaves early. I am thinking Hobbs has already taken a large portion of the test and so far looks pretty good.

Talking about him leaving is not speculation it is just a reality of college sports. When coaches are successful they move up the pecking order. That is a reality and to ignore it would be ignoring the history of college sports. So let's understand it's a possibility and do what we need to do to extend his contract and increase his buyout.

 

[Upstream]

From what I've been told by my Schiano source (best friends with Greg since their playing days at Bucknell) Greg had grown tired of "promises" that the invite to the B1G was coming, which combined with the Tampa offer, was why he finally jumped. Hard to blame him really. I'll always wonder if Greg would've left if we were already in the B1G...

Nebraska was invited to the Big Ten in June 2010. Supposedly Delaney and Pernetti had agreed that Rutgers would be in the next round of expansion. Schiano left Rutgers in January 2012, about a year and a half after Nebraska's invite.

Granted there was a lot of turmoil in the Big East during those 18 months: TCU accepted an invite to join the Big East, and then bailed; Pitt and Cuse left; WVU left; and there was a lot of discussion about whether Villanova would join for football. It was 18 months of disaster for the Big East. But for Schiano to doubt that a Big Ten invite was coming only 10 months before it was finalized shows a real lack of trust in Pernetti.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

NO NO NO NO NO! We DO NOT need a “new” arena. The RAC can be renovated to have everything we want, WITHOUT losing its charm let alone “noise factor,” but including suites!

Hobbs is going to want suites for his big fish, and there’s no way you can add that to the RAC.

I don’t mind a new arena, but if that happens he should:

1. Put it in downtown New Brunswick
2. Be an exact copy of the RAC with slight improvements
3. If you’re not copying the RAC, there should be a scientific study done on how to maximize the court noise level.

Sadly I think we will get a shiny new arena that is none of the above.

Won’t happen for 4-5 years and ONLY if the team progresses further in NCAA standings annually... the season tix sales will determine the RAC expansion down the road...still could add another 1500 and some suites before a new facility ... Does Duke still play at the old gym? Cameron used to seat about 9500...nobody seems to gripe about “ building “ a new one soon...they called it an Indoor Arena ? It’s a gym for goodness sakes...Establish winning and nobody will worry about all the other bells and whistles except the well heeled alums and the bandwagon junkies.

 

[Wolv RU]

Hang on to Steve Pikiell. Lose Pike and you are done.

No. All the info on Pikiell's contract is readily available and also in this thread: https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/t...to-in-jan-2018-be-genius.186060/#post-4302351

It would be basically cost prohibitive for another school to hire Pikiell given the large raise and buyout payable to Rutgers required. If it did happen, Rutgers would be well funded to hire a replacement.

 

[Wolv RU]

I don't think he'd go to Cuse. That's a parallel move. I think we are safe for now looking at his contract and also the fact that no top programs (Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, etc.) have coaches on the hot seat.

Highly unlikely Cuse would have that kind of money to spend (and/or that Rutgers wouldn't match even if they did)

 

[rucoe89]

It's not an out clause, it's just a reduction in an agreed upon buyout. In any event, anyone that is actually thinking about Hobbs since Schiano has been hired, is just a follower taking inventory based on what didn't happen during a negotiation.

No one is thinking about Pat Hobbs since we blitzed Wisconsin and Seton Hall. He is an afterthought right now, which is where he should be in the Rutgers landscape. The focus should always be on the student athletes, coaches and fans, not the AD.

Key point here is that ADs are behind the scenes folks at every school in the country until it comes time to hire a football or basketball coach. Once that is done they go back behind the scenes. Their big job is to get the money coming in along with running the place with integrity. It is not an easy job, but one that is critical to do right. For many years Rutgers did not do it right and now we are starting to do it right under Hobbs. There have been a few missteps, but overall, the trend is up and to the right.

 

[bac2therac]

can someone name the schools that Pike would leave a winning Rutgers program for..remember this isnt the A10 or Big East anymore. The Big 10 is premier conference. Here is what I came up with..if anyone thinks their are additionals please post

North Carolina
Duke
Virginia
Kansas
Kentucky
Connecticut but they have their coach for now and it would be a step down a few years down the line but could see why he might want to go there


thats its really..no dont say UCLA or Louisville.

 

[Eagleton96]

can someone name the schools that Pike would leave a winning Rutgers program for..remember this isnt the A10 or Big East anymore. The Big 10 is premier conference. Here is what I came up with..if anyone thinks their are additionals please post

North Carolina
Duke
Virginia
Kansas
Kentucky
Connecticut but they have their coach for now and it would be a step down a few years down the line but could see why he might want to go there


thats its really..no dont say UCLA or Louisville.

Yeah that's pretty much it. Looking at Pikes' salary, those are the only schools that could afford a really big bump. And I don't think UConn is in the picture. He might feel some loyalty to them, but I bet he feels more to us now.

 

[ruman]

can someone name the schools that Pike would leave a winning Rutgers program for..remember this isnt the A10 or Big East anymore. The Big 10 is premier conference. Here is what I came up with..if anyone thinks their are additionals please post

North Carolina
Duke
Virginia
Kansas
Kentucky
Connecticut but they have their coach for now and it would be a step down a few years down the line but could see why he might want to go there


thats its really..no dont say UCLA or Louisville.

maybe within the B1G - Michigan or Indiana - but those are the kind of schools we are talking about

 

[bac2therac]

how often does a coach take another job within the conference...and while I might say Michigan is a better job quite simply Indiana is really not a great to have, incredible amounts of pressure to win and they have no sense that their glory years are over. They are an afterthought at this point, just another Big 10 program.

 

[ruman]

Yeah that's pretty much it. Looking at Pikes' salary, those are the only schools that could afford a really big bump. And I don't think UConn is in the picture. He might feel some loyalty to them, but I bet he feels more to us now.

we wouldn't lose him to UConn because of money that for damn sure

 

[ruman]

how often does a coach take another job within the conference...and while I might say Michigan is a better job quite simply Indiana is really not a great to have, incredible amounts of pressure to win and they have no sense that their glory years are over. They are an afterthought at this point, just another Big 10 program.

In football, Mullen went from MSU to Florida - but he had a history there.

Point if he ever left, its just a handful of schools - and he's a perfect fit at Rutgers.

Not really a concern now

 

[Degaz-RU]

IMO, not until they join a real conference. It's a lateral move at best, backwards most likely to leave the B1G for that

You do know that UConn will be in the Big East next year, right? The Big East is one of the top 4 conferences in the country in basketball.

If Danny ever leaves, UConn is a huge threat as Pike's alma mater. IMHO.

 

[RUich]

He is on record as saying he loves building programs.
Every program hits a peak, then what?
I do not think money will be a deciding factor if he does leave.

 

[The RUT]

NO NO NO NO NO! We DO NOT need a “new” arena. The RAC can be renovated to have everything we want, WITHOUT losing its charm let alone “noise factor,” but including suites!

You’re on another planet if you think the RAC can fit suites.

We would have to kick out the handicap people and make the suites right above 118. There is literally no other space available for it.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

You’re on another planet if you think the RAC can fit suites.

We would have to kick out the handicap people and make the suites right above 118. There is literally no other space available for it.

“On another planet”?? Hardly. Turn the office space (can be moved elsewhere) into suites (which, my guess is, could even be extended over the concourse and handicapped area so as to NOT lose those spaces). Actually I thought there were already plans drawn up to do so?

“Hardly” extraterrestrial thinking if you ask me!

 

[bac2therac]

we dont need a new RAC. We need rennovations and we can add "some"seats with changing things too much

 

[Eagleton96]

A new concourse could be built that is outside the current footprint of the RAC, and free that space up for seats.

 

[RUBOB72]

Exactly the point... blowout the concourse ... expanded concession area and bathrooms...add those suites and put a special area for the handicap... we could add about 1500 which would keep us near 10 k ... by moving the student section up towards the court and extending seating upwards from that point we more than satisfy some people’s wishes ... Why do you think Duke keeps Cameron at that size...they easily could build a 20 k arena like NC...the sad part is in this day and age too many just want it to be something new... not what really has become a distinct home court advantage that scares teams shitless.

 

[Eagleton96]

Making the concourse a decent place to be, with lots of tvs, adds to the livability of the RAC.

 

[patk89]

Nebraska was invited to the Big Ten in June 2010. Supposedly Delaney and Pernetti had agreed that Rutgers would be in the next round of expansion. Schiano left Rutgers in January 2012, about a year and a half after Nebraska's invite.

Granted there was a lot of turmoil in the Big East during those 18 months: TCU accepted an invite to join the Big East, and then bailed; Pitt and Cuse left; WVU left; and there was a lot of discussion about whether Villanova would join for football. It was 18 months of disaster for the Big East. But for Schiano to doubt that a Big Ten invite was coming only 10 months before it was finalized shows a real lack of trust in Pernetti.

Bottom line is that we were in a disintegrating Big East which had poor bowl connections and the B1G had been talked about since Penn State was invited. We were all set to be invited when the football was yanked and Nebraska joined. Eventually Cuse and Pitt bailed to the ACC which either knew RU was going to the B1G or thought they were not worth an invite. The conference situation was frightening. Trust a verbal agreement with TP? Versus the NFL? Tough.

 

[BigLou]

“On another planet”?? Hardly. Turn the office space (can be moved elsewhere) into suites (which, my guess is, could even be extended over the concourse and handicapped area so as to NOT lose those spaces). Actually I thought there were already plans drawn up to do so?

“Hardly” extraterrestrial thinking if you ask me!

Agreed. Basically you rip out the front of the RAC and rebuild it extending it out. You can leave the handicap section in the same place it is now in the new concourse. Suites can be added above it. Fact is there is not a huge demand for suites now and it will take years of success before this is actually needed. Improving the front concourse would do wonders for not making the RAC look like a dump (but remember, its our dump).