SOR Staff Writer Michael J. Redden: Examining Rutgers' Alleged Big Ten Offer

May 10, 2010 | By: Random Blogger

In the wake of today’s news about that the Big 10 conference may have extended an invitation to Rutgers University to join it's conference, StateOfRutgers.com tackles some of the most prominent questions regarding this opportunity for the state university of New Jersey.

Will Rutgers accept?

One can say with almost absolute certainty that Rutgers will indeed accept the offer once the details are ironed out. The benefits far outweigh any potential drawbacks, and also guarantee the prolonged financial security of the entire athletic department.

What are the benefits of joining?

The benefits have been discussed at length both here at StateOfRutgers.com and on other media outlets. The most important benefit would firstly be financial. In a political climate where funding has been slashed to higher education in the state of New Jersey, this invitation serves as an opportunity for Rutgers to recover a good portion, if not all of the funds that have been withdrawn from its athletic department. It also serves as a boost to the prestige of Rutgers, giving it a platform to represent itself to a broader audience than perhaps the Big East provided. This could lead to increased out-of-state student applications which in-turn could also provide Rutgers with a more talented student population and yes, an increase in revenue.

What are the potential drawbacks?

More than likely, should Rutgers join the Big 10, there would be a lawsuit from the remaining schools in the Big East. If not a lawsuit, other forms of public slandering could follow, similar to when Virginia Tech, Boston College, and the University of Miami left to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. In addition, there is a financial penalty for departing from the Big East prematurely. However, it is unclear how much Rutgers individually could and would be held accountable for.

Will Rutgers be able to compete in the Big Ten in Football and in other sports?

Football: While most fans of current Big 10 programs would likely say no, it is very possible that Rutgers could fare well in the conference. Coming off four straight bowl victories, the Rutgers football program has been very successful as of late and joining the Big 10 could take this success to even greater heights. Previous to this invitation, one of the biggest knocks on Rutgers was that it was enjoying success in a league that was not very competitive nationally. Going forward, recruits will now know that going to Rutgers means playing the game on some of its biggest stages, and knowing that a Big 10 championship will not only result in the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl, but also potentially a birth in the national championship game. Fans of the Scarlet Knights can expect to see Rutgers make strides in its football recruiting from the momentum that joining the Big 10 will provide.

Other Sports: For the rest of the athletic department, the invitation also provides an opportunity. For non-revenue sports, it provides an opportunity to become fully funded scholarship-wise. For years, programs such as the Men’s Track team have enjoyed success on the Big East level, despite not having the full allotment of scholarships that their competitors have had. For the basketball program, it provides the opportunity to play perhaps an easier schedule, yet still play in what is considered a major conference.

What can be made of the other schools invited?

It seems strange that Missouri and Nebraska were invited. Both have always seemed to be natural fits for their current conference - the Big 12. Nebraska in particular, has always enjoyed long storied rivalries with the likes of Oklahoma and Texas. That being said, both schools will likely join in the interest of increasing television revenue. Whether or not Notre Dame will accept the invitation is unclear. While the Fighting Irish football program has always traditionally remained independent, in this day and age, it would be more profitable to join a mega-conference such as the Big 10. Notre Dame is also in the undesirable position of having to worry about the state of the Big East. Should they decline a Big 10 offer, they may be forced to reconsider their relationship with the Big East, which would be facing some tough decisions on its future.

What are some issues that Rutgers will face?

Football-wise, Rutgers will have to step it up as far as game-day atmosphere is concerned. The football team will be playing on the road in some of the toughest places to play. Ohio St., Michigan, Penn St., Iowa, and Wisconsin have always been tough places to play on the road. Plus, adding programs such as Nebraska and Notre Dame only add to that list. In addition, fans of opponents will also have an increased presence at Rutgers Stadium, which could possibly take away from any home-field advantage that could be gained from playing in Piscataway. Another issue that Rutgers could face would be a drastic increase in traveling expenses for the athletic department as a whole. With over twenty varsity sports programs, the difference between between sending teams to Iowa, and Indiana as opposed to Villanova and Syracuse could add up financially, as well as be exhausting for many student-athletes. That being said, the increased revenue from resulting in a move to the Big 10 could ultimately dispell any concerns over this issue.

Personal Thoughts-

As a Rutgers fan, former Rutgers athlete, and loyal son to Rutgers, this is a proud day to be a Scarlet Knight. I think as a whole, this is a tremendous opportunity and accomplishment. I cannot wait to square off against the likes of the Penn St. Nittany Lions and Michigan Wolverines as opposed to some of the teams that Rutgers was forced to face in the Big East. I have to believe that Tim Pernetti has done a lot of backdoor lobbying for this. While many have said that his legacy could largely revolve around the hiring of Mike Rice, I think his legacy will largely be based around how well the athletic department handles the transition to its new conference. This transition will be felt by every student-athlete and perhaps every student and faculty member at Rutgers, and will be felt long after Pernetti is done serving our increasingly prestigious university

Updated On: May 12, 2010 02:23 AM

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