I came to the RT because I always felt that common sense at the free board was always checked in at the door. Rutgers has never ever been a top 25 program. That is our next goal. There is a ton of work that has to be done for us to be consistently ranked year after year. There is no quick fix. You can hire Harbaugh, Meyer or Saban, and that will not instantly get you Top 25 - sorry, won't happen. Hasn't our current experience shown this yet? Just look at what we have seen and you tell me how we stand up against those peers:
1. Administration Support - Barchi has no clue what it means to be in the B1G. He was hired for a purpose and he is leaving us. Until we have a true leader and visionary we are nowhere. Do you really think a HC personality could effectively operate in this political environment in a vacuum and without proper support. No chance.
2. Athletics Department Leadership - Julie was a good hire for us at the time. Instead of supporting her, some did everything in their power to minimize her. They lacked the influence to prevent her from being hired when they had a chance. Rather than circle the wagon's and say, we need a strong AD and we have to support her now, they have cosnitently undermined her at every chance. I seriously doubt that any AD was ever hired in any program with consensus approval. I am sure they all had serious resistance form one corner or another. However, once hired, everyone gets behind them to give support because a strong AD is critical to the success of all athletics.
3. Olympic Support - I will include basketball here even though the same is true for them as football. Being in the B1G is much much more than just football. Wrestling, rowing, soccer all need to be brought into the umbrella of Top 25 or respectable at least. Why? Because it adds political strength to the administration, expands the potential of the donor base, etc. a Porsche is not a Porshe just because of the engine.
4. Donor Support - As much as people enjoyed bashing Towers and minimizing him, he represents what is needed at Rutgers: a strong donor base that is vocal and has the pockets to accomplish their goals. There needs to be money behind the program for political strength. This does not mean they get to run the show. It means that when leadership needs political strength, the guns are ready.
5. Academic Support - We need to improve the partnership between academics and athletics. The recent events clearly show how this is sorely lacking. The relationship between the teachers/union and the rest is an adversarial one right now. Unfortunately, this is a reflection, in large part, to the current struggles in NJ as a whole. Both sides need to come together to support each other. This is where 1-4 can be so important. B1G time athletic donors are typically also B1G time academic sponsors. The guy that goes to a wrestling match because he wrestled as a kid has a perk for the dollars he spent on the science building. The scientist that made it big has a perk when the other scientists from the B1G get togther at BIG events in NYC or Chicago. Michigan, Northwestern and all the others are our brothers in arms. This will take time but there is a lot of mutual benefit here. It is definitely not about keeping teh football program in line. That attitude will doom us.
6. Political Support - If we have 1 to 5, we will be unable to keep the politicians off the band wagon. The school, the teachers, everyone will have leverage.
7. State/Fan support - Just like the politicians, fans enjoy a winning program and will support a program they admire. There will always be the haters but what can you do "we enjoy eating our young".
8. HC - The HC is a reflection of the program. Without the above, the HC will just be a puppet, a face. They can add value and help perception but can do little politically unless they win. A superstar HC can not accomplish the things they want without the above. Not in this state. Hiring a super star now would be a complete waste, we love to tear down our super stars. That initial excitement might help a little or a lot with recruiting. But even a class full of 5 star freshman is not going to make ius winners day one. It will take 3-5 years. Can the "superstar" remain so without the above 7? Will we be patient enough? Doubt it. Media will tear them down and the next one may have a better foundation to succeed. Today's superstar is tomorrow's failure.
9. Recruiting - Our recruiting has drastically improved because we are B1G and we are the up and comer. People complain about the Jersey kids and to some extent the above all factor in because it's in front of our face. We have a huge base to recruit from with a poweful network of pop warner/high school support. As that famous movie quote, "If you build it, they will come".
10 – Facilities – Our facilities are very good but not great. This is one area where Rutgers did have some good leadership and built out what was appropriate for the times. Julie did a very good job in making sure the future plans were embedded in the school’s vision. This was a good start to the partnership that is needed across the board.
Finally, It goes without saying. Win - just win baby.
wow...10 points before 9 a.m. that damn coffee was good. LOL After all this typing I decided that it might make for a good topic.
p.s. I love the Round Table and the conversations - worth the money.
One question: If you could raid Michigan for three of the 10 things they have. Which would they be?
1. Administration Support - Barchi has no clue what it means to be in the B1G. He was hired for a purpose and he is leaving us. Until we have a true leader and visionary we are nowhere. Do you really think a HC personality could effectively operate in this political environment in a vacuum and without proper support. No chance.
2. Athletics Department Leadership - Julie was a good hire for us at the time. Instead of supporting her, some did everything in their power to minimize her. They lacked the influence to prevent her from being hired when they had a chance. Rather than circle the wagon's and say, we need a strong AD and we have to support her now, they have cosnitently undermined her at every chance. I seriously doubt that any AD was ever hired in any program with consensus approval. I am sure they all had serious resistance form one corner or another. However, once hired, everyone gets behind them to give support because a strong AD is critical to the success of all athletics.
3. Olympic Support - I will include basketball here even though the same is true for them as football. Being in the B1G is much much more than just football. Wrestling, rowing, soccer all need to be brought into the umbrella of Top 25 or respectable at least. Why? Because it adds political strength to the administration, expands the potential of the donor base, etc. a Porsche is not a Porshe just because of the engine.
4. Donor Support - As much as people enjoyed bashing Towers and minimizing him, he represents what is needed at Rutgers: a strong donor base that is vocal and has the pockets to accomplish their goals. There needs to be money behind the program for political strength. This does not mean they get to run the show. It means that when leadership needs political strength, the guns are ready.
5. Academic Support - We need to improve the partnership between academics and athletics. The recent events clearly show how this is sorely lacking. The relationship between the teachers/union and the rest is an adversarial one right now. Unfortunately, this is a reflection, in large part, to the current struggles in NJ as a whole. Both sides need to come together to support each other. This is where 1-4 can be so important. B1G time athletic donors are typically also B1G time academic sponsors. The guy that goes to a wrestling match because he wrestled as a kid has a perk for the dollars he spent on the science building. The scientist that made it big has a perk when the other scientists from the B1G get togther at BIG events in NYC or Chicago. Michigan, Northwestern and all the others are our brothers in arms. This will take time but there is a lot of mutual benefit here. It is definitely not about keeping teh football program in line. That attitude will doom us.
6. Political Support - If we have 1 to 5, we will be unable to keep the politicians off the band wagon. The school, the teachers, everyone will have leverage.
7. State/Fan support - Just like the politicians, fans enjoy a winning program and will support a program they admire. There will always be the haters but what can you do "we enjoy eating our young".
8. HC - The HC is a reflection of the program. Without the above, the HC will just be a puppet, a face. They can add value and help perception but can do little politically unless they win. A superstar HC can not accomplish the things they want without the above. Not in this state. Hiring a super star now would be a complete waste, we love to tear down our super stars. That initial excitement might help a little or a lot with recruiting. But even a class full of 5 star freshman is not going to make ius winners day one. It will take 3-5 years. Can the "superstar" remain so without the above 7? Will we be patient enough? Doubt it. Media will tear them down and the next one may have a better foundation to succeed. Today's superstar is tomorrow's failure.
9. Recruiting - Our recruiting has drastically improved because we are B1G and we are the up and comer. People complain about the Jersey kids and to some extent the above all factor in because it's in front of our face. We have a huge base to recruit from with a poweful network of pop warner/high school support. As that famous movie quote, "If you build it, they will come".
10 – Facilities – Our facilities are very good but not great. This is one area where Rutgers did have some good leadership and built out what was appropriate for the times. Julie did a very good job in making sure the future plans were embedded in the school’s vision. This was a good start to the partnership that is needed across the board.
Finally, It goes without saying. Win - just win baby.
wow...10 points before 9 a.m. that damn coffee was good. LOL After all this typing I decided that it might make for a good topic.
p.s. I love the Round Table and the conversations - worth the money.
One question: If you could raid Michigan for three of the 10 things they have. Which would they be?
