OT: Rutgers

[catsattackfor3]

With all the trouble this athletic program is having I still am dumbfounded as before why they were a good fit for expansion. It made zero sense to me then and even less now. The craziness boarder line scandals involved with their hoops and football program, their lack of success over the years, the apathy of their fan base, and their decrepit facilities that make ours look like state of the art. The TV programming could not possibily have been that attractive. I venture to say if we did not take them they would be like UCONN and be in the American Conference or whatever they call it. I forever thought any of the following realistic possibilities such as Syracuse, Pitt, Virginia, or Georgia Tech would have made so much more sense.

There has to be alot of B1G presidents and AD's scratching their heads as to how Jim Delaney could be so off on that one

 

[nycat33]

Unless you really are hoping to get in this discussion again see the link for all the board discussion about Rutgers and replacements

http://northwestern.forums.rivals.com/threads/ok-so-if-rutgers-is-out-they-wont-be-whos-in.8312/

 

[shakes3858]

With all the trouble this athletic program is having I still am dumbfounded as before why they were a good fit for expansion. It made zero sense to me then and even less now. The craziness boarder line scandals involved with their hoops and football program, their lack of success over the years, the apathy of their fan base, and their decrepit facilities that make ours look like state of the art. The TV programming could not possibily have been that attractive. I venture to say if we did not take them they would be like UCONN and be in the American Conference or whatever they call it. I forever thought any of the following realistic possibilities such as Syracuse, Pitt, Virginia, or Georgia Tech would have made so much more sense.

There has to be alot of B1G presidents and AD's scratching their heads as to how Jim Delaney could be so off on that one

I believe the Big Ten was only looking at flagship schools. UConn is, Virginia is. The rest you stated are not. Delaney wanted the New York market. I don't think Uconn gives that to you. Virginia doesn't give us the DC presence as well as Maryland.

 

[catsattackfor3]

Thanks i had not read that thread from before

 

[catsattackfor3]

I believe the Big Ten was only looking at flagship schools. UConn is, Virginia is. The rest you stated are not. Delaney wanted the New York market. I don't think Uconn gives that to you. Virginia doesn't give us the DC presence as well as Maryland.

I know all about the NY market but my point being from the get go Rutgers drawbacks still in my opinion do not bring the TV numbers unless they somehow turned into a powerhouse. They have always had an apathetic fan base and get little to no coverage in NYC. Its common knowledge that Texas, ND, and N. Carolina were always tops on Delaney's wish list with those other schools I mentioned as possibilities. Georgia Tech was for the Atlanta market, Virginia made sense too both academically and athletically. Pitt made zero sense other than geographically fitting. And Syracuse some could argue would bring more interest from the NYC market than Rutgers could ever dream of doing. would have been nice to also have another Private Academic school int he B1G as well