Locksley on the hot seat.

[MADHAT1]

I have a question for this board. What has Rutgers done to deserve a winner?
Our fan base is solid but small. We can’t even fill our 54k stadium.
Other schools have a long history of success and a huge fan base. Nebraska has been mediocre at best since they entered the BIG. Yet they sell out a 91 k stadium for every home game.
My point is: Even after 40 plus years as a season ticket holder I have no sense of entitlement. I go to the games hoping we catch lightning in a bottle again like 2006 and the program takes the next step to being a program the state of NJ takes pride in and stands behind.
Until then I ask, what makes RU fans think that we will ever be anything more than a middle of the pack Big Ten Team?
What factor is going to help us turn the corner?
I

Winning will be the factor and a great sales pitch for money to buy a roster and pay for facility upgrades .
If Rutgers can win enough to make a major bowl game instead of fighting for minor bowl spots , there's a good chance unattached NYC college fans might start going to Rutgers games, NJ residents not looking down on the program as never will be anything but a little league program , maybe even get more positive press from the local media that would make people think positively about the program like the negative articles have made some shy away from supporting RU FB.
Just winning enough for minor bowls won't bring on big boosters, but showing Rutgers is the type of progranm that can earn major bowl invites might help bring in the type of boosters that bring about being a playoff contender and have constant sellouts .
Might even get some deep pocket Alumni decide being associated with the football program would be good for their image and/or the company they run
Or a major corporation located in the NYC area feel a Rutgers connection can be used to enhance their image.

Right now that looks like an impossible dream, but I feel if the 2006 wasn't just a one hit wonder and Rutgers continued to play that way ( without the Cincy choke ) , we might be considered an elite program by now, because the bandwagon would be full, capable of making the playoffs most years because RU could compete on the field have a roster and facilities that was the best money could buy .

 

[50 yd line RR]

I'm going to start with #4. No you are absolutely wrong when it comes to me. Hate? Personal? You have really crossed a line here and are reaching. I can't hate somebody I don't know. I have interacted with Greg a few times, and I have found that is extremely likable. Ash was a different story, but hate- nah, just thought the guy was a coarse jerk who alienated people. That's not Greg. He's a very nice man and carries himself very professionally and positively. How dare you!

I'm not going to go through every single example, but I can tell your numbers are off for Indiana.
Indiana: 12 coaches and 35 support staff.

2026 Football Coaches - Indiana University Athletics

The official Football Coach List for the Indiana University Hoosiers

iuhoosiers.com

You said- "I'm sure Indiana, IL, Minnesota, will be ahead of RU by the end of this year which puts RU basically towards the bottom of the pack.)"
Really- sounds like you don't have a leg to stand on and you are reaching again. How can you be so sure?
I can tell you one thing for sure- Kirk C is making a LOT more money this year Kirk Ciarrocca's salary for the 2025 season is $1.9 million, and he will make $2M in 2027. So, please save your "I'm sure...... .other teams will pay more, leaving Rutgers at the bottom of the pack. " That's a bunch of malarkey.

So Rutger is paying more than Minnesota, Illinois, UCLA, and Wisconsin, and we have been beaten by all four of those teams. Sounds like we are paying more for less results


Rutgers: 13 coaches and 88 support staff
That's an additional 53 support staff. Let's just assume, aiming low, the total compensation package for each assistant (salary, bonus, benefits, etc) is $100,000. That's $5,300,000 in additional money spent on support staff. Seems your argument has fallen apart on just coaches salaries alone.

And please, do us a favor- don't intimate any bad intentions or feelings that you "think" are there. This is a business, and when executives get paid enormous sums of money, it is fair for the shareholders (in this case fans) to expect results.

How do you equate being a fan with being a shareholder?
If you are a fan that donates maybe. Season ticket holder maybe?
You can be a fan and just listen to the games on the radio how do you equate that with being a shareholder?
Hell we have trolls on this board all the time.
They can say they are fans but they’re not.

Valid points.
Nebraska is the only game in town in the Omaha-Lincoln market. This market has over 1.4 million in population and is growing.
In our NY/NJ Metropolitan market there are something like 17 Professional Sports teams in addition to RU Sports. A lot more competition for the Fan’s spending. Also winning 5 National Championships in the 70’s and 90’s certainly helped build Nebraska’s fanbase.

Nebraska was really just one example.
You could insert Florida,Florida St, LSU,
Michigan St,Wisconsin, Clemson,Auburn,the list could go on.
Schools that had pretty good programs at one point in time now on the outside looking in.
What is going to separate us, the team with umpteen different Pro teams in our area along with broadway shows and multitude of other options for our entertainment dollars?
I believe it will happen just seems pretty daughting right now.

Winning will be the factor and a great sales pitch for money to buy a roster and pay for facility upgrades .
If Rutgers can win enough to make a major bowl game instead of fighting for minor bowl spots , there's a good chance unattached NYC college fans might start going to Rutgers games, NJ residents not looking down on the program as never will be anything but a little league program , maybe even get more positive press from the local media that would make people think positively about the program like the negative articles have made some shy away from supporting RU FB.
Just winning enough for minor bowls won't bring on big boosters, but showing Rutgers is the type of progranm that can earn major bowl invites might help bring in the type of boosters that bring about being a playoff contender and have constant sellouts .
Might even get some deep pocket Alumni decide being associated with the football program would be good for their image and/or the company they run
Or a major corporation located in the NYC area feel a Rutgers connection can be used to enhance their image.

Right now that looks like an impossible dream, but I feel if the 2006 wasn't just a one hit wonder and Rutgers continued to play that way ( without the Cincy choke ) , we might be considered an elite program by now, because the bandwagon would be full, capable of making the playoffs most years because RU could compete on the field have a roster and facilities that was the best money could buy .

Nailed it!

 

[yesrutgers01]

With the way this guy has coached a dirty team- am I the only one who sort of wished we didn’t kneel down at the end of the game and ran it us on them. Almost wish Maryland had their timeouts so we couldn’t kneel…

 

[mdk02]

With the way this guy has coached a dirty team- am I the only one who sort of wished we didn’t kneel down at the end of the game and ran it us on them. Almost wish Maryland had their timeouts so we couldn’t kneel…

Only if the starters were all on the sidelines.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

The seat is cooling off, for now…

 

[Anon1754923206]

The seat is cooling off, for now…

… Because Maryland can’t win or compete in that high stakes coaching carousel

 

[mdk02]

The seat is cooling off, for now…

Be nice if Keli could make a similar announcement about funding for RU football. Bump up the NIL's.

 

[RU#1fan]

Be nice if Keli could make a similar announcement about funding for RU football. Bump up the NIL's.

She is probably looking to solve the Coaching issue first.

 

[RUGuitarMan1]

She is probably looking to solve the Coaching issue first.

Don’t think so. They will invest in players first. There is no way they will spend 25 M+ to jettison the staff and then another 25 M+ to hire a new staff. It’s more logical to invest in trying to upgrade the roster.

 

[Knight Shift]

Don’t think so. They will invest in players first. There is no way they will spend 25 M+ to jettison the staff and then another 25 M+ to hire a new staff. It’s more logical to invest in trying to upgrade the roster.

IIRC, Keli said she was big on metrics. She may want to look at the size of the assistant coaching staff compared to other B1G teams. It Run has more assistants and is getting less results, there is an opportunity to save money and use it for NIL. It seems the staff grew quite a bit when Hobbs left.

 

[rutgersguy2]

IIRC, Keli said she was big on metrics. She may want to look at the size of the assistant coaching staff compared to other B1G teams. It Run has more assistants and is getting less results, there is an opportunity to save money and use it for NIL. It seems the staff grew quite a bit when Hobbs left.

I posted the numbers for B10 schools (excluding NW and USC) for football coaching staff salaries and football operating budgets in 2024.

Zinn's post-mortem meeting with Schiano - Page 3 - Forums

When the season is complete and Zinn sits down with Schiano to discuss the 2025 campaign, please post one question you want her to ask Schiano. Please... no silly replies. Only questions you would honestly like her to ask the RU head coach. My question: Greg, as humans, we are constantly...

www.on3.com

 

[tru2ru1]

IIRC, Keli said she was big on metrics. She may want to look at the size of the assistant coaching staff compared to other B1G teams. It Run has more assistants and is getting less results, there is an opportunity to save money and use it for NIL. It seems the staff grew quite a bit when Hobbs left.

Schools cannot directly fund NIL, savings can go to revenue sharing but not NIL

 

[Knight Shift]

I posted the numbers for B10 schools (excluding NW and USC) for football coaching staff salaries and football operating budgets in 2024.

Zinn's post-mortem meeting with Schiano - Page 3 - Forums

When the season is complete and Zinn sits down with Schiano to discuss the 2025 campaign, please post one question you want her to ask Schiano. Please... no silly replies. Only questions you would honestly like her to ask the RU head coach. My question: Greg, as humans, we are constantly...

www.on3.com

This is the post with the numbers:-Rutgers is in the top third in coach salaries and spending, but not in the top third in results.

Zinn's post-mortem meeting with Schiano - Page 3 - Forums

When the season is complete and Zinn sits down with Schiano to discuss the 2025 campaign, please post one question you want her to ask Schiano. Please... no silly replies. Only questions you would honestly like her to ask the RU head coach. My question: Greg, as humans, we are constantly...

www.on3.com

 

[Knight Shift]

The circus is back in town & all the clowns, who are keyboard coaches, want to be heard!

Schools cannot directly fund NIL, savings can go to revenue sharing but not NIL

Sure they can: "The House settlement allows colleges to directly compensate student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) up to an annual cap of $20.5 million per school."

In the post-mortem meeting thread, you made the comment above about clowns. @rutgersguy2 is no clown, and he posted detailed spending for Rutgers football for 2024. Rutgers is spending as much as top teams in the conference or teams (Washington/Nebraska) that have beat them in the past 2 years. In fact, without considering Northwestern and USC, Rutgers' football spending is in the top 1/3 of the B1G. That number has surely increased in 2025, and Rutgers is not getting top 1/3 results. Maryland spent $37M. That's really low, and they could spend more. Rutgers does not need to spend more-perhaps Keli can assist with spending to get better results.

In 2024, Rutgers received slightly less at $61.5 million from the B1G. Rutgers' football spending exceeded the total amount of the distribution from the B1G. So, rather than running a deficit of $3M for football and whatever the rest of the athletics department costs to run, perhaps by spending more wisely, the money "can be used for NIL."

Not all of that $20.5 million goes to football NIL.

Rutgers, Big Ten Winners in Landmark House v. NCAA NIL Settlement

On June 6th, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved the House V. NCAA settlement, a 2.8 billion-dollar agreement to provide ba

www.si.com

Big Ten revenue reached more than $928 million for 2024 fiscal year

The Big Ten Conference had just over $928 million in total revenue during its 2024 fiscal year, the conference’s federal tax records show.

www.usatoday.com

Washington	87.57
Nebraska	84.06
Ohio State	78.59
Michigan	72.40
Penn State	64.46
Rutgers	64.41

 

[tru2ru1]

Sure they can: "The House settlement allows colleges to directly compensate student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) up to an annual cap of $20.5 million per school."

In the post-mortem meeting thread, you made the comment above about clowns. @rutgersguy2 is no clown, and he posted detailed spending for Rutgers football for 2024. Rutgers is spending as much as top teams in the conference or teams (Washington/Nebraska) that have beat them in the past 2 years. In fact, without considering Northwestern and USC, Rutgers' football spending is in the top 1/3 of the B1G. That number has surely increased in 2025, and Rutgers is not getting top 1/3 results. Maryland spent $37M. That's really low, and they could spend more. Rutgers does not need to spend more-perhaps Keli can assist with spending to get better results.

In 2024, Rutgers received slightly less at $61.5 million from the B1G. Rutgers' football spending exceeded the total amount of the distribution from the B1G. So, rather than running a deficit of $3M for football and whatever the rest of the athletics department costs to run, perhaps by spending more wisely, the money "can be used for NIL."

Not all of that $20.5 million goes to football NIL.

Rutgers, Big Ten Winners in Landmark House v. NCAA NIL Settlement

On June 6th, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved the House V. NCAA settlement, a 2.8 billion-dollar agreement to provide ba

www.si.com

Big Ten revenue reached more than $928 million for 2024 fiscal year

The Big Ten Conference had just over $928 million in total revenue during its 2024 fiscal year, the conference’s federal tax records show.

www.usatoday.com

Washington	87.57
Nebraska	84.06
Ohio State	78.59
Michigan	72.40
Penn State	64.46
Rutgers	64.41

You don’t know the difference between revenue sharing & NIL

 

[Knight Shift]

You don’t know the difference between revenue sharing & NIL

Sure I do, semantic smarty pants. Call it what you want, it's payment to the players, that was traditionally called NIL. You try to act like you are the smart one, and you insult others. Rutgers received $61.5 Million in 2024, and football alone spent $64.5 million. Moving forward, $20.5M from the B1G distribution can be paid to athletes at each institution. While the B1G distribution is expected to be around $70-75M for each University, peeling off $20.5 million for NIL/revenue sharing, that leaves about $50-55 Million to spend, and considering football alone, Rutgers is running a $10-15 million deficit before adding in spending for other sports.

You failed to amount Rutgers is spending compared to peers, particularly Maryland. Do you really think Rutgers needs to spend more money?

 

[HeavenUniversity]

I’d get rid of Locksley and see if they can get Chesney or Huff. Give them a shot at the P4 level and see if they can do something.

Jim Mora might be a decent option as well.




He can recruit but recruiting is just a means to an end not the actual end, if you can’t achieve anything particularly notable then it doesn’t mean much.

UConn football and People’s Express Stadium. Wasn’t there a famous play that happened there. Hmmm. Oh, now I remember.

 

[RUTGERS95]

UConn football and People’s Express Stadium. Wasn’t there a famous play that happened there. Hmmm. Oh, now I remember.

one of the all time moments for Rutgers. glorious

 

[tru2ru1]

Sure I do, semantic smarty pants. Call it what you want, it's payment to the players, that was traditionally called NIL. You try to act like you are the smart one, and you insult others. Rutgers received $61.5 Million in 2024, and football alone spent $64.5 million. Moving forward, $20.5M from the B1G distribution can be paid to athletes at each institution. While the B1G distribution is expected to be around $70-75M for each University, peeling off $20.5 million for NIL/revenue sharing, that leaves about $50-55 Million to spend, and considering football alone, Rutgers is running a $10-15 million deficit before adding in spending for other sports.

You failed to amount Rutgers is spending compared to peers, particularly Maryland. Do you really think Rutgers needs to spend more money?

You still don’t know the difference between NIL & revenue sharing, they are two totally different sources of income to athletes & the University is only allowed to spend for revenue sharing, NIL must come from outside sources

 

[rutgersguy2]

You still don’t know the difference between NIL & revenue sharing, they are two totally different sources of income to athletes & the University is only allowed to spend for revenue sharing, NIL must come from outside sources

When these front loaded deals wear off in the next couple years, 3rd party NIL isn't expected to be as big a source of income as the revenue sharing part from the schools for most athletes. "Legitimate" NIL is harder to come by, although I'm sure some will work outside the lines.

I did hear on a pod though that one workaround that schools are using is to redirect some of their corporate sponsor money to athletes as workaround to get "legitimate" 3rd party NIL to players. So it might not be a 3rd party NIL deal they'd be able to get on their own but by the school redirecting corporate sponsor money, it becomes accessible.

 

[Knight Shift]

You still don’t know the difference between NIL & revenue sharing, they are two totally different sources of income to athletes & the University is only allowed to spend for revenue sharing, NIL must come from outside sources

Yes I do, and keep deflecting. No sense in responding to you.

 

[Knight Shift]

Ha, ha, Terps fans not thrilled.



Other than Under Armour, SEC Terp's post could apply to Rutgers, except we were homeless and got a liferaft. Maryland left what was then a decent conference:

 

[yesrutgers01]

It is weird with Maryland- a couple of years ago it seemed they had a sugar daddy with Under Armor- but now, no money. What happened with UA?

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

It is weird with Maryland- a couple of years ago it seemed they had a sugar daddy with Under Armor- but now, no money. What happened with UA?

Kevin Durant called Steph Curry's signature shoes ugly a few years ago. It's been downhill ever since. Now Curry is leaving UA.

 

[Knight Shift]

Kevin Durant called Steph Curry's signature shoes ugly a few years ago. It's been downhill ever since. Now Curry is leaving UA.

UA could no longer curry Steph's favor?

 

[yesrutgers01]

OK - so- UA is still a huge company and Kevin Plank a UM Alumni who was stepping up big a couple of years ago as one of their sugar daddy alumni. What does Steph Curry have to do why his money never panned out for the University?

 

[MADHAT1]

Under Armor signed a deal with Maryland that extends through 2036 that totals $98 million (cash and product)
I expect Maryland will get more in the way of cash then the deal calls for if Under Armor's fortunes rise.