November 17, 2006
Often overlooked benefits of winning
With its new found success on the field, Rutgers is finding that a winning football team pays off the field, as well.
The Scarlet Knights football have raised the school's profile off the field. For example, the New York City NBC affiliate will send a crew to travel with the Rutgers football team for the first time in school history. Hits on the undergraduate admissions Web site are up nearly 34 percent from last year.
Last week, scores of high schoolers showed up for tours of the New Brunswick campus wearing Rutgers red, something members of the admissions staff said they had never seen before. In the last two weeks, 3,600 seats were added to campus bus tours for prospective students, and they've all been filled....
And last week, at a college fair in Florida, a Rutgers recruitment officer reported that students charged the university's table as soon as the doors opened, gobbling up all visible campus literature in just 20 minutes - worth noting because only about 10 percent of Rutgers students come from outside New Jersey. Rutgers officials say they're getting more requests from high schools both out and in state for visits by recruitment officers.
And more money is coming in to the school than when Rutgers wasn't winning. The number of Rutgers donor pledges is up 9 percent from this time last year, while merchandise sales are up 20 percent in online and game day sales.
For those schools that facing cutbacks, let Rutgers be a case study. How you perform on the field can have a direct impact on how successful the school can be off the field.
Comments:
Gatorpilot said:
posted on November 17, 2006 12:13 PM — 71.42.27.135 — link — abuse?
Right again, gatorhippy. You're right yet again.
gatorhippy said:
posted on November 18, 2006 10:11 AM — 72.40.35.247 — link — abuse?
That's the way it works, VT Bobb...
Athletics can be as big of a draw as academic and party environment...
The more popular a school gets athletically the more kids wanna go there...
Which is why as a program that has been successful plummets, all that have an interest in the institution as a whole will put the pressure on the administration to improve and/or make changes...
Now if we can just get Joe to understand this...
GatorMatt said:
posted on November 19, 2006 1:42 AM — 65.213.191.153 — link — abuse?
Luke,
I couldn't agree more. Since I've read the stuff this a$$hole has been saying, I've actually cared about seeing the Big Least fail. Instead of watching the end of the USC game (which Florida had a vested interest in), I wanted to watch Rutgers get destroyed. He'll never realize that with no competition, and fairly decent running game will flourish
Chris Jackson said:
posted on November 19, 2006 10:11 AM — 199.31.3.195 — link — abuse?
How can you say the WVU rushing game is fairly decent?? I'd say it's tops in the country, especially since our quarterback has shown in the last few weeks that he can throw the ball, opening up our offense. I grew up a Gator fan since I'm from Orlando, but I went to school at WVU. I would love for these schools to meet each other, so that the Big East can put another ass-whipping on your SEC champion. There were 3 teams from the Big East ranked in the top 10. How can someone say that WVU is overrated when their only loss came to a team ranked number 5 at the time. USC lost to an unranked team and didn't fall as far as WVU in the rankings and are still discussed in the National title race. How is that fair? Why does everyone think that Big East football is overrated?? Do you remember the teams that left us and how they are struggling this year? Apparrently even if those teams were still in our league we would be going through the same tired lines of bull we've always gone through. Finally, all I want to say is that if it only takes ONE LOSS for you to stop backing your team, you are a pussy. GO WVU!!
VTBobb said:
posted on November 19, 2006 12:55 PM — 70.22.107.79 — link — abuse?
Actually, Miami is the only former Big East team struggling this year (VT and BC both 9-2). That being said, I think the Big East is a fairly strong conference that tends to get too little respect. Of course, stronger OOC schedules would help with that.
OK, so Big East fans tend to be a little vocal in their claims of lack of respect, but SEC fans seem to think their league champ should get an automatic bid to the NTC each year (apparently a birth right), and IrishJT has been ranting for weeks about an institutional and historic media bias AGAINST Notre Dame (I guess they should be ranked number 1 every week)!!!
What will we actually talk about if we ever do get a playoff?
TBaker said:
posted on November 19, 2006 1:15 PM — 71.1.29.141 — link — abuse?
right on Chris. Hey Gatorheads, a lot has happened since the 93 Sugar Bowl. I'd love a rematch of that...see how you can hold off our "decent" WV offense. BTW most BE fans are not trying to say our conference is any better than the SEC, ACC (though that's debatable this year), etc...we would just like HALF of the respect that those other confs get...hence the vocalness of the BE fans.
Jarred said:
posted on November 19, 2006 2:30 PM — 12.178.138.65 — link — abuse?
It's probably not so much that they are overrated. as it is unproven. The Be lost 3 of their best programs and added some CUSA schools. Until Cincy beat Rutgers it looked like a 3 team league. Looks like they got their QB situation figured out. Beating Georgia was the only bowl win last year. It takes more than just a few games to prove your strength. The Big East has six bowl eligible teams. Depending on the mathups, these could be the statement games for the Big East. This blog needs more objective people. Just saying "your conference is a joke" and "you guys suck" just looks stupid. Give some evidence people. Tommy Trojan shows "evidence" but most of the time nobody gets what he's talking about.
Chris Jackson said:
posted on November 19, 2006 3:40 PM — 199.31.3.196 — link — abuse?
Honestly, I miss the good old days when BC, VT and UM were in the Big East. I'm glad that they are doing well in their new league, and I really want to play VT again for the Black Diamond trophy. However, just because they are doing well doesn't mean that the ACC is the better league. We beat the only ACC team we played this year in the Terrapins, and I would like to see how our team would do in the ACC. But the Big East may not be the best conference in the nation, but they certainly are one of the most competitive, having our top teams beaten in each of the last 3 weeks by other conference opponnents. I believe next year the Big East will get better from top to bottom...well maybe not Syracuse, which is quickly becoming the new Temple of our conference. I'm a realist, and I know that ALOT must happen for my Mountaineers to make it to Glendale, but I'm not going to worry about it. I'll worry about USF and Rutgers for the time being...and maybe pray for a couple miracles. I aggree with the "unproven" moniker attributed by Jarred to the Big East. I hope that come bowl season the league can put up a great show by all its representatives and fight for league-wide respectability. I'm not forcing people to respect my league, but I would like for people to acknowledge that the league is improving, and save those "my SEC team will kick your teams ass" statements for children. I want WVU to beat an SEC team for the 2nd time in two years, only to shut up the mindless jackasses that fill this blog up until at least next season. GOOOOOO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!!!!! I believe in miracles.
Zac said:
posted on November 19, 2006 8:14 PM — 65.31.228.13 — link — abuse?
Hi, Luke!!! What HO?, all you "Gator Mates", or should I say mating gators? Guess who's not shutting up. What? You think, or expect, because a good team beats an arguably better team in the same conference, fans of that conference should shut-up?
You expect us Big East types to be in awe of the SEC or something? You bash our schedules and how we've played our games. Yet, you expect us to be impressed with a FL team which made its living beating the likes of S MS (lost to East Carolina), 3-8 C FL, 4-8 Vandy (every year - that must be gratifying), perennial power W Carolina, and soon FSU who just went over .500 by whooping up on W MI by a TD. Let's not forget; FL escaped from S Carolina by 1 & TN by 1, and were lucky to do it; just as TN was lucky to escape at home to Air Force, and LSU was lucky to escape at home to Ole MS. Auburn exposed FL (Auburn at least agreed to a home and home with WVU.), and AK exposed Auburn. So, now that we've all been exposed, who's going to shut up? Not me, at least not until the bowl results are in. Till then, Go Mountaineers!! And, while we're at it, GO RAZORBACKS!!!!!!!
Jarred said:
posted on November 19, 2006 9:45 PM — 12.178.138.65 — link — abuse?
When did Alaska play Auburn? yeah I know. I rather my hogs play a Big 12, CUSA, and BE team instead of ULM, or pac team. Geographic rivalries would make more sense, though it could diminish bowls, not lilely. Memphis doesn't consider us a worthy opponent anymore. They are 1-10 we're, 10-1. ULM always brings our numbers down. Somebody down there used to work up here, so that's probably not going to change. We let them keep the numbers so they can stay D-1A. When Rich took over at WV I thought a home and home with them would be cool, considering we used to play similar styles. My mom used to live up there, Michigan too, and still has some friends that way.
Luke said:
posted on November 19, 2006 11:02 PM — 24.250.217.142 — link — abuse?
I don't care who "escapes" who. We won, winning is what matters, no one is saying that Ohio State sucks cuz they only beat Michigan by 3 points. Just because a team barely beats another team does not mean that they suck, it means that they are the better team and did what they had to do to win.
The point is, our best team does not lose to a team that's 5-5. I know my posts are biased but after reading comments daily from people like Diggs and you Zac, I hope that the Big East loses every out of conference game they ever play. Bring on the BowlsGatorMatt said:
posted on November 19, 2006 11:24 PM — 65.213.191.153 — link — abuse?
Zac,
I will say this as I have said many times before. WVU is 0-1 vs. ranked opponents. Louisville is 1-1. Rutgers is 1-0. That's not too impressive. The big teams in the SEC play several ranked teams every year, it just so happens they come from the same conference. Florida is 3-1 vs. ranked opponents (Georgia was ranked 25th at the time they played). Auburn is 2-0 and Arkansas is 2-1. The Big East might be a good conference, but they don't play any good teams to prove that. You can consider yourself a great team when you beat up on wimpy teams
Zac said:
posted on November 20, 2006 12:46 PM — 209.36.193.14 — link — abuse?
Luke & GatorMatt: While we're clarifying things, I never said FL "sucked". I never even said they were a bad team. For that matter, I never said WVU was a great team. (I think what you meant to say was, "You *can't* consider yourself a great team...") I've never even said the Big East is better than the SEC. All I pointed out was I don't see where FL's schedule is that much different than WVU's or Louisville's, especially Louisville's. And, I agree, whether or not FL deserved to win the close ones is moot. As you pointed out, Luke, they found a way to win, and that's ultimately what counts. As for ranked teams, WVU is 0-1 Vs. the top 10. MD is ranked in the Top-25; they weren't at the time WVU played them, but MD was undefeated (3-0). There are a couple of other teams WVU played, which turned out to be a little beter than originally advertised. The point I've been trying to make all along is this: It's not so much that the SEC is better or not than the Big East. It's that teams in the SEC do one thing, and that's OK. But, when teams in the Big East do about the same thing, it's not. Consider WVU at Louisville: 1008 yards in total offense, 78 pts scored between them. All I heard from you guys, not to mention a number of others was, "Terrible Game!!! Neither team has a defense. You can't win championships that way." Now consider MI at OSU: 900 yards & 81 points. I have yet to see anyone bitch about either team's defense, and they're still ranked 1 & 2. (Seems to me a couple of you Gator Mates might have something to say about MI being ranked 2nd.) As for loosing to a 5-5 team, neither WVU nor Louisville have, but TX did. So, where’s the uproar?
One last thing, and I’ll get out of the road. “I know my posts are biased but after reading comments daily from people like Diggs and you Zac…” I know; I’ve said some things; sometimes the right button gets pushed, just as with yourself. But, I’d say I have every bit the right to take issue with comments, such as yours within this blog page as you seem to think you have with mine. And, that’s fine. That’s what this is for. Talk trash; talk smack; talk reasonable; it’s all about the game. If you can’t take the heat, leave the kitchen. Sometimes, I can’t take it either. I’m just not ready to leave the kitchen. If for know other reason, that’s where the beer is. On this, I’m sure we can all agree.
VTBobb said:
posted on November 21, 2006 10:00 AM — 208.229.147.26 — link — abuse?
Zac,
I agree. A renewed series would strengthen both of our OOC schedules. For the next 3 years we have one good OOC game in LSU and then Nebraska twice, with East Carolina being the second toughest in each year; '10 and '11 are just pitiful, unless Syracuse can rebuild.Unfortunately, the schedules are booked until '12. It would be nice to renew the rivalry, the kind that you can ususally throw the records out the window. Plus, I miss the good ole Inbred/castrated Turkey insults getting tossed back and forth. (You Mountaineers are so easy to get riled up.)
Zac said:
posted on November 28, 2006 8:59 PM — 65.31.228.13 — link — abuse?
VTBobb: You wanna see riled? You should have seen me after WVU lost to S FL. That's the bad news. The good news: If they can win at home against Rutgers, what with our respective teams' records being the same, Tech & WVU could meet in the Gator Bowl. How's that for an earlier than expected reunion? Do ya think our fans can fill up the stadium? We might need the Big House for this one, if it were to happen.
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gatorhippy said:
posted on November 17, 2006 11:59 AM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?See, Joe...
All the grumbling alumni and boosters of FSU had a valid point...
Success in athletics equals a higher profile not just to athletics but to an institution's enrollment and overall perception in the public eye...
Therefore any person that has a PERSONAL and/or FINANCIAL investment or interest in the school as a whole has every right to question and pressure school officials into making changes that are affecting the entire school...
Of course you wouldn't understand that since you're just a FAN...