Will Generate a Debate Poll

[Upstream]

I'm not sure that I care about Rutgers having the "best athletic department", versus being the best in the sports I care about. I'm okay with being the best in football and being the worst in swimming. But that is only because I watch football, and it is a hell of a lot more entertaining to watch a winning football team than to watch a losing team.

So having the best football program in the B1G would mean a lot better entertainment than what we have now.

As far as being recognized as the best academic program in the B1G, that would mean Rutgers was viewed at above the level of Northwestern. If that happens now, that is a benefit to anyone with a Rutgers diploma because it increases the value of your diploma. If Rutgers is recognized as a top school, you would be seen as going to a top school. Almost no one is going to say, "Rutgers is a top school today, but was just mediocre when you graduated in 1997."

If you didn't go to Rutgers, but live in NJ, having Rutgers recognized as a top academic school is also good for you. Top universities are an economic engine that drive jobs and opportunities. You see that in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. And you see that in the Route One corridor of New Jersey between Princeton and Rutgers.

But that point also supports the observation that Rutgers is already a strong academic institution. I don't know if the movement from where Rutgers is today to Northwestern-level "best in the B1G" is enough movement to significantly move any economic needles.

Conversely, the alternative from the poll, dropping to Nebraska-level worst in the B1G, would probably also not create any significant depression of economic activity. Nebraska might be worst in the B1G, but it is still a pretty good university.

But I think I'd rather take the chance on the better economic benefits that would come with better academic reputation.

I'd also want the better entertainment that comes with winning athletic programs. But if I can't have both, the economic benefits allow me to buy other entertainment options.

 

[Caliknight]

I'm not sure that I care about Rutgers having the "best athletic department", versus being the best in the sports I care about. I'm okay with being the best in football and being the worst in swimming. But that is only because I watch football, and it is a hell of a lot more entertaining to watch a winning football team than to watch a losing team.

So having the best football program in the B1G would mean a lot better entertainment than what we have now.

As far as being recognized as the best academic program in the B1G, that would mean Rutgers was viewed at above the level of Northwestern. If that happens now, that is a benefit to anyone with a Rutgers diploma because it increases the value of your diploma. If Rutgers is recognized as a top school, you would be seen as going to a top school. Almost no one is going to say, "Rutgers is a top school today, but was just mediocre when you graduated in 1997."

If you didn't go to Rutgers, but live in NJ, having Rutgers recognized as a top academic school is also good for you. Top universities are an economic engine that drive jobs and opportunities. You see that in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. And you see that in the Route One corridor of New Jersey between Princeton and Rutgers.

But that point also supports the observation that Rutgers is already a strong academic institution. I don't know if the movement from where Rutgers is today to Northwestern-level "best in the B1G" is enough movement to significantly move any economic needles.

Conversely, the alternative from the poll, dropping to Nebraska-level worst in the B1G, would probably also not create any significant depression of economic activity. Nebraska might be worst in the B1G, but it is still a pretty good university.

But I think I'd rather take the chance on the better economic benefits that would come with better academic reputation.

I'd also want the better entertainment that comes with winning athletic programs. But if I can't have both, the economic benefits allow me to buy other entertainment options.

No school with a great football team isn’t great in many other sports. It’s a winning mindset. It doesn’t stop at football. Schools that win at football want to win at anything that has their name on it. You can’t be great at one thing and not others. The schools that win championships in football also win them in other sports. Winners win.

 

[Upstream]

I'm not sure that I care about Rutgers having the "best athletic department", versus being the best in the sports I care about. I'm okay with being the best in football and being the worst in swimming. But that is only because I watch football, and it is a hell of a lot more entertaining to watch a winning football team than to watch a losing team.

So having the best football program in the B1G would mean a lot better entertainment than what we have now.

As far as being recognized as the best academic program in the B1G, that would mean Rutgers was viewed at above the level of Northwestern. If that happens now, that is a benefit to anyone with a Rutgers diploma because it increases the value of your diploma. If Rutgers is recognized as a top school, you would be seen as going to a top school. Almost no one is going to say, "Rutgers is a top school today, but was just mediocre when you graduated in 1997."

If you didn't go to Rutgers, but live in NJ, having Rutgers recognized as a top academic school is also good for you. Top universities are an economic engine that drive jobs and opportunities. You see that in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. And you see that in the Route One corridor of New Jersey between Princeton and Rutgers.

But that point also supports the observation that Rutgers is already a strong academic institution. I don't know if the movement from where Rutgers is today to Northwestern-level "best in the B1G" is enough movement to significantly move any economic needles.

Conversely, the alternative from the poll, dropping to Nebraska-level worst in the B1G, would probably also not create any significant depression of economic activity. Nebraska might be worst in the B1G, but it is still a pretty good university.

But I think I'd rather take the chance on the better economic benefits that would come with better academic reputation.

I'd also want the better entertainment that comes with winning athletic programs. But if I can't have both, the economic benefits allow me to buy other entertainment options.

I misinterpreted the poll. I falsely assumed the choice was between (a) best in athletics and worst in academics, versus (b) best in academics and worst in athletics.

But the poll only asks what you want best in, without suggesting a degradation of the other. So the choice is really (a) best in athletics and academics stays where it is, versus (b) best in academics and athletics stays where it is.

Right now academics is pretty good. An improvement to best in the B1G would only be marginal. On the other hand, and improvement of athletics to best would be huge.

So my selection would be best in athletics, with academics maintaining the status quo.

 

[RUChet]

I'm not sure that I care about Rutgers having the "best athletic department", versus being the best in the sports I care about. I'm okay with being the best in football and being the worst in swimming. But that is only because I watch football, and it is a hell of a lot more entertaining to watch a winning football team than to watch a losing team.

So having the best football program in the B1G would mean a lot better entertainment than what we have now.

As far as being recognized as the best academic program in the B1G, that would mean Rutgers was viewed at above the level of Northwestern. If that happens now, that is a benefit to anyone with a Rutgers diploma because it increases the value of your diploma. If Rutgers is recognized as a top school, you would be seen as going to a top school. Almost no one is going to say, "Rutgers is a top school today, but was just mediocre when you graduated in 1997."

If you didn't go to Rutgers, but live in NJ, having Rutgers recognized as a top academic school is also good for you. Top universities are an economic engine that drive jobs and opportunities. You see that in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. And you see that in the Route One corridor of New Jersey between Princeton and Rutgers.

But that point also supports the observation that Rutgers is already a strong academic institution. I don't know if the movement from where Rutgers is today to Northwestern-level "best in the B1G" is enough movement to significantly move any economic needles.

Conversely, the alternative from the poll, dropping to Nebraska-level worst in the B1G, would probably also not create any significant depression of economic activity. Nebraska might be worst in the B1G, but it is still a pretty good university.

But I think I'd rather take the chance on the better economic benefits that would come with better academic reputation.

I'd also want the better entertainment that comes with winning athletic programs. But if I can't have both, the economic benefits allow me to buy other entertainment options.

100%!false that RU notching above NW helps every RU grad. This is utter nonsense. Once you have a job (except in education) it doesn’t matter AT ALL what school you went to or if they get better. It only matters to those RU grads looking for their first job and even there, the school you went to is less important than most think. Do well wherever you are, get a good internship or two or three, interview well- those things matter more than the name on the diploma

of course some exceptions where some companies/firms only recruit from the “elite”

 

[CollegeSenior]

I’m no Cardale Jones and I didn’t go to Rutgers to study football.

 

[RUChet]

I’m no Cardale Jones and I didn’t go to Rutgers to study football.

my poll here isn't asking for which we'd prefer if we were enrolling now. for that question, i'd bet 90% of us would want academics to be better.

but i'm asking how we feel NOW. i'm long removed from my RU degree and at this point I want to win games much more than I care if RU climbs up or down the academic rankings. I just don't care that much either way.

 

[RUDivision]

It’s sports all day! We act like the dominant sports colleges are not considered good academic schools.
This poll explains why we are so bad in athletics or why Schiano is still here

 

[UMRU]

Rutgers is a university with a football team.

It sounds like many want Rutgers to provide the name and resources to be a football team, with the university being irrelevant. If the 756 athletes are more important than the 46K+ students, you are missing the point of college and college athletics.

 

[RUChet]

Rutgers is a university with a football team.

It sounds like many want Rutgers to provide the name and resources to be a football team, with the university being irrelevant. If the 756 athletes are more important than the 46K+ students, you are missing the point of college and college athletics.

No I am not. When I was a student I certainly wanted a food education. I’m decades past that now and I really don’t care if RU is 5th, 15th, 25th or 35th tabled academically. Sorry. But I follow RU sports and want to win games.

plus many of these college athletes are really paid pros now making a lot of money

 

[scarletbergen]

Votes now closer to what I expected as OP which was around 2/3rds would rather win then rise up the academic rankings.

That says a lot! Rutgers is a school, not a football team.

 

[RUChet]

That says a lot! Rutgers is a school, not a football team.

Not really. I graduated decades ago. What do I care if Rutgers goes up or down in the rankings? None of my kids went there- I live far away- still root for football and basketball though as I can’t help myself

 

[DJ Spanky]

Says someone with no real pride in their school.

 

[UMRU]

Not really. I graduated decades ago. What do I care if Rutgers goes up or down in the rankings? None of my kids went there- I live far away- still root for football and basketball though as I can’t help myself

You posted a poll about academics vs football on a football chat site to collect "data" on this. Even with this heavily skewed pool of voters, you are not getting the response you wanted. Why not give it up and admit you are the exception? Even among the most fanatic RU football fans that populate this site, people that are at RU or went to RU want RU to be a great university - not just a football school.

Also, it seems like the only reason you are an RU fan is because you went to school at RU. If RU was a crap school, would you really be a fan after all these years? Heck, would you even have gone there in the first place?

 

[RUChet]

You posted a poll about academics vs football on a football chat site to collect "data" on this. Even with this heavily skewed pool of voters, you are not getting the response you wanted. Why not give it up and admit you are the exception? Even among the most fanatic RU football fans that populate this site, people that are at RU or went to RU want RU to be a great university - not just a football school.

Also, it seems like the only reason you are an RU fan is because you went to school at RU. If RU was a crap school, would you really be a fan after all these years? Heck, would you even have gone there in the first place?

First I’m hardly the exception. It’s 55-45%. Plus I mislabeled the poll. Some have IMd me as they voted based on if they were going to RU now. That wasn’t my question as almost all of us would want RU to be high in academics when going there .

Many posters here are decades removed from going to RU and I was interested how people felt based on informal debate within other threads.

Yes I wanted RU to be good academically when I went there.

Do I care if it drops in US WR teaming now? Sorry, I don’t.

nor do I care of my high school drop son academic rankings. Doesn’t affect me at all, sorry.

 

[BLewis1968]

First I’m hardly the exception. It’s 55-45%. Plus I mislabeled the poll. Some have IMd me as they voted based on if they were going to RU now. That wasn’t my question as almost all of us would want RU to be high in academics when going there .

Many posters here are decades removed from going to RU and I was interested how people felt based on informal debate within other threads.

Yes I wanted RU to be good academically when I went there.

Do I care if it drops in US WR teaming now? Sorry, I don’t.

nor do I care of my high school drop son academic rankings. Doesn’t affect me at all, sorry.

With all due respect, some of us can look outside ourselves and care beyond our own interests. Some can't, or won't. To each their own.
FWIW, I graduated over 35 years ago. It's been nearly 30 since I stopped covering Rutgers as a journalist. My daughter is not enrolled there. So, like you, I am no longer directly impacted. But I still would like to see them all succeed; ie, the school I went to, the track team I ran for, the football (and basketball) teams I covered. But at the end of the day, Rutgers is a university whose primary purpose is clearly education. So, for my part, I'd rather see Rutgers be the best academic school in the Big Ten (which would make them the best public school in the country per USNWR, with all privates ahead of No. 9 Northwestern) than the best athletic department (not sure how you define that, but UCLA was third in last year's Director's Cup).

 

[Anon1753410373]

Didn’t go to Rutgers. No longer live in NJ. Don’t care about USN&WR rankings…

Just win baby.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Didn’t go to Rutgers. No longer live in NJ. Don’t care about USN&WR rankings…

Thank you for sharing these critical data points with us.

 

[ScarletDave]

UCLA arguably has both. I voted academics. To be honest I would rather play Army Lehigh Lafayette etc. and win and go like 5-2 or 6-1 at home with that schedule than continue to go 1-4 at home every year in conference. The tailgates would be just as good and the leaves would still turn yellow this time of year

 

[Anon1753410373]

Thank you for sharing these critical data points with us.

 

[DJ Spanky]

View attachment 1493982

Let us know if you find something down there.

 

[RUChet]

With all due respect, some of us can look outside ourselves and care beyond our own interests. Some can't, or won't. To each their own.
FWIW, I graduated over 35 years ago. It's been nearly 30 since I stopped covering Rutgers as a journalist. My daughter is not enrolled there. So, like you, I am no longer directly impacted. But I still would like to see them all succeed; ie, the school I went to, the track team I ran for, the football (and basketball) teams I covered. But at the end of the day, Rutgers is a university whose primary purpose is clearly education. So, for my part, I'd rather see Rutgers be the best academic school in the Big Ten (which would make them the best public school in the country per USNWR, with all privates ahead of No. 9 Northwestern) than the best athletic department (not sure how you define that, but UCLA was third in last year's Director's Cup).

More power to you.

i care about other things and whether RU is 1st, 5th, or 15th in the B1G in academic standings doesn’t matter to me.

Sure I’m pleased if they rise but if the fall I won’t blink. I’m being honest.

 

[UMRU]

First I’m hardly the exception. It’s 55-45%. Plus I mislabeled the poll. Some have IMd me as they voted based on if they were going to RU now. That wasn’t my question as almost all of us would want RU to be high in academics when going there .

Many posters here are decades removed from going to RU and I was interested how people felt based on informal debate within other threads.

Yes I wanted RU to be good academically when I went there.

Do I care if it drops in US WR teaming now? Sorry, I don’t.

nor do I care of my high school drop son academic rankings. Doesn’t affect me at all, sorry.

Does this thinking apply to everything in your life? If the neighborhood you grew up in became a dump, would you not care? If former friends you have bad things happen to them, would you say "doesn't affect me"? If the place you worked at for most of your life went bankrupt, but there was no financial implications for you, would say "nothing to see here"?

 

[DJ Spanky]

I love how the OP tries to justify not getting the results he wanted.

 

[CollegeSenior]

my poll here isn't asking for which we'd prefer if we were enrolling now. for that question, i'd bet 90% of us would want academics to be better.

but i'm asking how we feel NOW. i'm long removed from my RU degree and at this point I want to win games much more than I care if RU climbs up or down the academic rankings. I just don't care that much either way.

I understood the poll question.

My response is the same in 2026 as it would have been in 1976 and 2006, and will be in 2056.

 

[Anon1753410373]

Let us know if you find something down there.

You’re hilarious…when does your Netflix special release???

 

[DJ Spanky]

You’re hilarious…when does your Netflix special release???

Thank you, thank you, I'm here through Saturday night. Try the veal.

 

[RUDivision]

The poll results are embarrassing! It explains the lack of sports knowledge and acceptance of below mediocre results.

 

[RUChet]

Does this thinking apply to everything in your life? If the neighborhood you grew up in became a dump, would you not care? If former friends you have bad things happen to them, would you say "doesn't affect me"? If the place you worked at for most of your life went bankrupt, but there was no financial implications for you, would say "nothing to see here"?

lol trying to virtue signal here

So a former friend implies we aren’t friends now. Of cruise I don’t want anything bad to happen to anybody unless they truly deserve it .

do I care my hometown HS is no longer as good as it was? Not really, sorry.

do I care the block I grew up on is not as wealthy as it once was? No, not really. It’s a shame but it’s not something I will care about deeply .

I care about people not places

I understood the poll question.

My response is the same in 2026 as it would have been in 1976 and 2006, and will be in 2056.

and that’s totally fine

 

[Section124]

The poll results are embarrassing! It explains the lack of sports knowledge and acceptance of below mediocre results.

In this poll Rutgers could be the 2nd best academic school in the B1G and be the best athletic program, but fans on here still want to be the top academic institution. Make it make sense.

 

[BLewis1968]

In this poll Rutgers could be the 2nd best academic school in the B1G and be the best athletic program, but fans on here still want to be the top academic institution. Make it make sense.

The inverse is also true. They could be the second best athletic program (Top 20) along with the best academic, but some fans on here (albeit a minority) still want to be the No. 1 program. It is what it is. People want what they want.
Though the poll shows more want one thing than the other.

 

[AnonAmoose26]

Nothing better than academic smack talk on a football message board. It's proof positive we don't have what it takes as a fanbase to want to win, and win big. Let's put our freshman beanies back on and go play in the Middle Three. That's more our speed.

 

[RUChet]

In this poll Rutgers could be the 2nd best academic school in the B1G and be the best athletic program, but fans on here still want to be the top academic institution. Make it make sense.

I

The inverse is also true. They could be the second best athletic program (Top 20) along with the best academic, but some fans on here (albeit a minority) still want to be the No. 1 program. It is what it is. People want what they want.
Though the poll shows more want one thing than the other.

it indeed is 55-45 in favor of top academic vs top athletics

when I was in school I would have voted for academics but now I just want to win games since I’m old

 

[BLewis1968]

Nothing better than academic smack talk on a football message board. It's proof positive we don't have what it takes as a fanbase to want to win, and win big. Let's put our freshman beanies back on and go play in the Middle Three. That's more our speed.

I'm not sure the word 'proof' means what you think it does.
UCLA ostensibly has the top athletic program (top in the most recent director's cup), and are also second in academics (per USNWR). It's not binary. I don't speak for anybody else, but I certainly want to win. You citing my desire for my school to excel as evidence that I don't want to win implies you don't grasp what 'proof' means.
Just because Rutgers hasn't been dominant on the field and in the classroom at the same time doesn't mean it can't be done. Others have managed it. I want my alma mater to do it as well.

 

[RUChet]

I'm not sure the word 'proof' means what you think it does.
UCLA ostensibly has the top athletic program (top in the most recent director's cup), and are also second in academics (per USNWR). It's not binary. I don't speak for anybody else, but I certainly want to win. You citing my desire for my school to excel as evidence that I don't want to win implies you don't grasp what 'proof' means.
Just because Rutgers hasn't been dominant on the field and in the classroom at the same time doesn't mean it can't be done. Others have managed it. I want my alma mater to do it as well.

I agree with you

there are so many examples of very good to elite schools with much better sports success than RU and most of these are better schools than RU too:

UCLA, USC, Michigan, Tx, FL, GA, UNC, UVA, Duke, OSU, Wisky , and son and on

it surely can be done