Took 5 yrs, but Rutgers is back to Schiano baseline. What’s the next step?

[arigoldrutgers]

Rutgers is now back to the where it was a program when Schiano left the first time: a perennial bowl team that can be competitive (not get blown out) with any team in the league.

What does the next benchmark look like - a 10 win season? What would it take to get there (NIL?). Also, what are our prospects looking like for next year?

Appreciate your thoughts on the above.

 

[Eagleton96]

It’s really hard to predict because of NIL. The days of Rutgers being a sleeping giant are basically over IMO. the idea that we have untaped potential because of our recruiting grounds and size don’t make as much sense in the NIL world. Your ability to compete depends on the capacity of your fan base to generate cash for players right now. As of now we don’t really know where the cash is gonna come from.

 

[RU-Kidding]

Rutgers is now back to the where it was a program when Schiano left the first time: a perennial bowl team that can be competitive (as in not get blown out) with any team in the league.

What does the next benchmark look like - a 10 win season? What would it take to get there (NIL?). Also, what are our prospects looking like for next year?

Under current parameters, without a competivie NIL war-chest we have little hope of consistenly over coming the overwhelming talent that OSU, PSU, Oregon, USC and Michigan, for example, have and will continue to bring in while paying them significant compensation annually.

Therefore, years in which we are scheduled to play the majority of these blue-bloods it will be a real struggle, if ever, to attain double digit wins as the playing field will not be level before we even step on it.

 

[arigoldrutgers]

Is there an effort underway by the athletic administration to fix our NIL situation?

 

[Kbee3]

Rutgers is now back to the where it was a program when Schiano left the first time: a perennial bowl team that can be competitive (not get blown out) with any team in the league.

What does the next benchmark look like - a 10 win season? What would it take to get there (NIL?). Also, what are our prospects looking like for next year?

Appreciate your thoughts on the above.

First off, with Oregon, Ohio State, and Pedd State on the 2025 schedule I wouldn't expect a 10 win season.

 

[Eagleton96]

Is there an effort underway by the athletic administration to fix our NIL situation?

That’s the problem. It’s not something the school itself can fix. Only the fanbase can address it and our core fan base isn't that big and we don’t have an angel.

 

[arigoldrutgers]

Can’t the school initiate a capital raising effort for NIL the way PE firms do? Or is that a dumb proposition

 

[Kbee3]

"our core fan base isn't that big....."

And that's the insurmountable problem.

 

[RU-Kidding]

Can’t the school initiate a capital raising effort for NIL the way PE firms do? Or is that a dumb proposition

When TV revenue can be used for NIL, we (all RU sports) presumably will be more active in the portal than before but that's yet to be determined.

 

[read option]

Winning the B1G and making the playoff must always be the goal. However, 7-5/8-4 regular seasons in the NIL world we’re up against is something I think we can realistically be proud of. Especially if those seasons end in Nashville, Tampa, Orlando, etc.

 

[Eagleton96]

And that's the insurmountable problem.

I'm not going to say insurmountable. Fanbases can grow. It's just harder now. Pre-NIL I thought all we needed was a few lucky breaks and one beakout season and we would roll. Now it's going to be gradual improvement over time IMO.

 

[rutobs]

Is there an effort underway by the athletic administration to fix our NIL situation?

Think we need a President and an Athletic Director to move forward in any of this; that’s the key

 

[jaydogsmooth1]

Is there an effort underway by the athletic administration to fix our NIL situation?

Yes
Hobbs hired an outside firm to help w/NIL on the corporate side of things
It's needed as unless a large donor steps up, we just don't have the resources to compete on that type of $$$ level

 

[Morrischiano]

It’s really hard to predict because of NIL. The days of Rutgers being a sleeping giant are basically over IMO. the idea that we have untaped potential because of our recruiting grounds and size don’t make as much sense in the NIL world. Your ability to compete depends on the capacity of your fan base to generate cash for players right now. As of now we don’t really know where the cash is gonna come from.

If everyone who visits this forum donates $100 a month for 4 years we’d have enough.

 

[RUich]

Looking at all of the different obstacles already mentioned. I think it would be reasonable to assume that this program get bowl eligible on a yearly basis with occasional better years/records.
Cannot imagine us ever breaking into the top level of this league since we just don't have the money or rabid fan base to support that kind of jump.
The good news is that we landed in a premier league that will get more money and prestige than one could have ever imagined when we were floundering in the collapsing Big East and the AAC.
I know to many that this will not sit well, but I consider myself a realist and I just don't see a lot of our obstacles evaporating.

 

[365Poster24Seven]

That’s the problem. It’s not something the school itself can fix. Only the fanbase can address it and our core fan base isn't that big and we don’t have an angel.

It’s not that big and most are not getting involved in donating to NIL. If a poll was done on this website it would be 75% no and 25% yes and that’s being generous. Profit sharing has to happen or we simply won’t be able to compete.

 

[rurichdog]

Uhh, let's beat a ranked team with some regularity before calling ourselves perennial anything.

 

[Pils86]

Rutgers is now back to the where it was a program when Schiano left the first time: a perennial bowl team that can be competitive (not get blown out) with any team in the league.

What does the next benchmark look like - a 10 win season? What would it take to get there (NIL?). Also, what are our prospects looking like for next year?

Appreciate your thoughts on the above.

It does seem we are back to being ranked in the fifties, give or take, but this season was a fluke missing the big boys. Making a bowl next year is not guaranteed, nor is it any year in the B10. Recruiting and coaching need to improve to raise the ceiling from 7 regular season wins.

 

[arigoldrutgers]

Would note that while everyone here is saying NIL and fan base are the biggest blockers, there are still teams like Tulane who are ranked and I doubt they have more NIL money and fans than us?

 

[Lerxst72]

That’s the problem. It’s not something the school itself can fix. Only the fanbase can address it and our core fan base isn't that big and we don’t have an angel.

This isn't true at all... is the fanbase funding Ace Bailey's and Harper's NIL deals with Nike?

 

[Plum Street]

If everyone who visits this forum donates $100 a month for 4 years we’d have enough.

Can we start a go fund me or something like that here ?

 

[AdventureHasAName]

The next step is to get back to where we were in 2006-07 and that means improving every position across the offensive line and getting NFL players at defensive back and wide receiver. That's what we had during the Teel and Nova years.

 

[vkj91]

The next step is not getting blown out against blue bloods.

 

[Shelby65]

It’s not complicated. Winning draws fans and sponsorships. That’s why the same big boys are at the top in the NIL era. They’ve long been winners. Fans don’t breed winning, winning breeds fans.

It’s on the coaches to win, increasingly over time. Being mediocre at best isn’t going to change the pecking order.

Either you’re in it to win it with good coaching, or you’re a “developmental program” LOL ….

 

[arigoldrutgers]

It’s not complicated. Winning draws fans and sponsorships. That’s why the same big boys are at the top in the NIL era. They’ve long been winners. Fans don’t breed winning, winning breeds fans.

It’s on the coaches to win, increasingly over time. Being mediocre at best isn’t going to change the pecking order.

Either you’re in it to win it with good coaching, or you’re a “developmental program” LOL ….

agreed, but there is such thing as using clever marketing to fake it til you make it. Case in point, we could have done a LOT more marketing with Kyle Monangai, the top RB in the big ten, to make him a household name in Jersey. Especially in this era of NIL…

 

[Kbee3]

Looking at all of the different obstacles already mentioned. I think it would be reasonable to assume that this program get bowl eligible on a yearly basis with occasional better years/records.
Cannot imagine us ever breaking into the top level of this league since we just don't have the money or rabid fan base to support that kind of jump.
The good news is that we landed in a premier league that will get more money and prestige than one could have ever imagined when we were floundering in the collapsing Big East and the AAC.
I know to many that this will not sit well, but I consider myself a realist and I just don't see a lot of our obstacles evaporating.

That's all I was saying.
I've been following Rutgers football since the 60s. It has grown...pretty impressively actually.
But to get to the top level I just don't see as possible. Where would the money come from ? Where would the fans come from ? We still can't stop the Ohio States, Pedd States, and Georgias from every year taking the very best of New Jersey's prospects. I haven't seen any sign that it's gonna change. We do better these days.....but not to an elite level.
And I don't see a path to doing so.
Sorry.

 

[rutgersdave]

That's all I was saying.
I've been following Rutgers football since the 60s. It has grown...pretty impressively actually.
But to get to the top level I just don't see as possible. Where would the money come from ? Where would the fans come from ? We still can't stop the Ohio States, Pedd States, and Georgias from every year taking the very best of New Jersey's prospects. I haven't seen any sign that it's gonna change. We do better these days.....but not to an elite level.
And I don't see a path to doing so.
Sorry.

These other teams were winning in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s up to today even into the national championship race. There are fans still following them from each of those eras and donating.

I have five relatives that graduated Rutgers that never once saw a game in their 4 years typical of most Rutgers students. We have a good 5-8 years of football under Schiano. There might be a few that including Rutgers in their will but not like the numbers at Penn State, Nebraska, USC, Ohio State or Michigan. They have several decades of fans head start in donations.

 

[Shelby65]

That's all I was saying.
I've been following Rutgers football since the 60s. It has grown...pretty impressively actually.
But to get to the top level I just don't see as possible. Where would the money come from ? Where would the fans come from ? We still can't stop the Ohio States, Pedd States, and Georgias from every year taking the very best of New Jersey's prospects. I haven't seen any sign that it's gonna change. We do better these days.....but not to an elite level.
And I don't see a path to doing so.
Sorry.

It would take time, but the road to getting there starts with higher expectations and HC accountability, and not by 8 yr first contracts, raises and extensions for mediocre results. What Rutgers has done with Schiano has only solidified and ensured long-term mediocre status, not aiming higher. it is in the conference for the paycheck, not to compete for titles.

 

[RU-Kidding]

It would take time, but the road to getting there starts with higher expectations and HC accountability, and not by 8 yr first contracts, raises and extensions for mediocre results. What Rutgers has done with Schiano has only solidified and ensured long-term mediocre status, not aiming higher. it is in the conference for the paycheck, not to compete for titles.

SOS cut and paste from Shelby. Different thread, same diarrhea of the mouth.

 

[Plum Street]

It would take time, but the road to getting there starts with higher expectations and HC accountability, and not by 8 yr first contracts, raises and extensions for mediocre results. What Rutgers has done with Schiano has only solidified and ensured long-term mediocre status, not aiming higher. it is in the conference for the paycheck, not to compete for titles.

Cmon! Our best season ever in the BIG and you are here complaining ???? Why

 

[Plum Street]

Schedule is hard next year . The season goal
Will be to get to the Pinstripe Bowl.
The hope is for a bigger and better season by 2027

 

[Eagleton96]

This isn't true at all... is the fanbase funding Ace Bailey's and Harper's NIL deals with Nike?

Those are deals worked out by the players themselves not the school. If a player is so good they’re hot commodity that they’re going to get offered deals, they’ll get offered those deals anywhere. That accounts for most of the money with Ace and Dylan. Beyond those rare occurrences, it’s up to the NL collective of the individual schools, which is basically pooling money from the fans and the local corporations that care about the team. The university can’t just decide to allocate more money to it like they could to a coaches salary or to build a building.

 

[Shelby65]

Cmon! Our best season ever in the BIG and you are here complaining ??? Why

Addressing Kbee’s point. Our ‘forever’ status isn’t because of NIL. It’s because of the university’s objective.

 

[William J. Leggett]

Under current parameters, without a competivie NIL war-chest we have little hope of consistenly over coming the overwhelming talent that OSU, PSU, Oregon, USC and Michigan, for example, have and will continue to bring in while paying them significant compensation annually.

Therefore, years in which we are scheduled to play the majority of these blue-bloods it will be a real struggle, if ever, to attain double digit wins as the playing field will not be level before we even step on it.

Disagree. Why? Because they are basically already doing that. They will certainly get a little more, but it won’t be a significant JUMP for them.

But there are a TON of B1G level players that are in the ACC, Big 12 and G5 that can currently move up and elevate the middle to lower B1G teams to close the gap with those upper programs. Overall more talent will be acquired by the B1G as a whole making it more competitive and one of the biggest beneficiaries will be Rutgers. We are already seeing it this year with how many of the middle of the pack teams have become competitive. Slowly the the distance between the top will be even closer.

The ACC, Big 12 and G5 schools are the one to worry.. They will struggle to keep top talent much more NOW. Shoot even the SEC that has hoarded talent for years because they were bending/breaking the rules much more (then other leagues) has somewhat been neutralized, as their depth has been cut because players leaving and going to other programs in their league and around the country.

 

[thegock]

Schiano took a 10 year rebuilding job and got it to bowls in years 2, 4, and 5. This last one was with a bizarre number of injuries.

Based on the committed recruiting class with six 4 star players, progress is continuing for one of the lowest paid B1G coaches. He puts kids into the NFL as men and player and their families respect that.

RUTGERS football is a clean program with minimal behavior distractions.

Fans around the B1G respect him and respect RUTGERS. Up in Siberiacuse, they jelly.

 

[Eagleton96]

Would note that while everyone here is saying NIL and fan base are the biggest blockers, there are still teams like Tulane who are ranked and I doubt they have more NIL money and fans than us?

We were a few breaks away from being ranked this year and obviously we don’t have a biggerNIL budget and fanbase than ourselves. Any given year you’re gonna see a few of those.

 

[RUGuitarMan]

How does Iowa do it? Sure, they are not a realistic NC contender but I wouldn’t be shocked if they make the playoff in the next few years. They are consistently in the 8 or 9 win range. Win 10 and they could qualify. They don’t delve deeply into the portal, not many transfers and don’t imagine they have a big NIL program. There are different ways to win pretty big. RU is never going to be one of the big $$$ schools. They need to figure out another way to be a factor.

 

[RU at the shore]

How does Iowa do it? Sure, they are not a realistic NC contender but I wouldn’t be shocked if they make the playoff in the next few years. They are consistently in the 8 or 9 win range. Win 10 and they could qualify. They don’t delve deeply into the portal, not many transfers and don’t imagine they have a big NIL program. There are different ways to win pretty big. RU is never going to be one of the big $$$ schools. They need to figure out another way to be a factor.

The Iowa model - stability at the top with a strong HC. Killer defense. Excellent special teams. A rabid and devoted fan base that creates a true home field advantage. And just enough offense…

Sounds like what Rutgers is shooting for, and is on the way to achieving.

 

[RUGuitarMan]

The Iowa model - stability at the top with a strong HC. Killer defense. Excellent special teams. A rabid and devoted fan base that creates a true home field advantage. And just enough offense…

Sounds like what Rutgers is shooting for, and is on the way to achieving.

The problem with that is that the experienced, senior laden defense was pretty bad for RU this year. I know there were a lot injuries but that isn’t the first time that has happened. The offense in many ways carried the defense in Nov. Iowa could be a type of model but I think RU will have to be different in some ways.

 

[rutger80]

How does Iowa do it? Sure, they are not a realistic NC contender but I wouldn’t be shocked if they make the playoff in the next few years. They are consistently in the 8 or 9 win range. Win 10 and they could qualify. They don’t delve deeply into the portal, not many transfers and don’t imagine they have a big NIL program. There are different ways to win pretty big. RU is never going to be one of the big $$$ schools. They need to figure out another way to be a factor.

I've always thought that there's no reason we can't be like Iowa and Wisconsin. Some of you who have been around a while will probably recall the poor teams those schools rolled out through most of the 70's and into the 80's before Hayden Fry and Barry Alvarez arrived at each school. Neither of those schools have the inherent advantages of OSU, UM or state penn.