Lets cut to the chase

Jul 5, 2025
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Surely Saturday had something to do with this graphic
yes, of course. BUT.. the other games had their big plays given up too. Not at this frequency.. and we were able to take time off clock on offense in those games. And make score close making opponent more cautious. Other teams had to punt, for example.

All that said, Rutgers D traditionally plays a lot of man.. which can lead to big plays. The idea is take away the ball-control runs, demand oppoennt QBs be accurate, get TFLs, sacks, turnover to make 3rd down conversions difficult... eventually causing a punt. Doesn't work this season.. nore most of last season.. not enough talent on D.

To me, it is not a concidence that NIL is around for 2 years and now we have no defense.
 

RUDivision

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Why? With that attitude you will never do anything. You would have said the same about Dan Lanning, when he was a DC at Georgia before he took the Oregon job. Stein is considered one of the rising stars in the industry and is on the hot board for just about every open job right now. Chris Ash was not seen the same way, and Rutgers was the only school that Seriously considered him, mainly on the back of an Urban Meyer endorsement.
Exactly like Greg! NO one wanted him either. It’s not the DC it’s our HC. Time to go
 
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mugrat86

Heisman
Dec 11, 2014
8,175
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Huh ?

Last time vs BC - Rutgers beats BC at BC
Last 3 times vs Cuse - Rutgers wins all 3
You do realize that Rutgers coaches get 11.5 million per year and UConn coaches make around 3.5 million. Not to mention, Greg already had to buy out Gleeson's contract and he will soon have to buy out Smith's.

As I mentioned, Mora does a lot with less
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
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At least we are not in the lower left quadrant!




 

RU Jeep

Junior
Jul 7, 2025
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You do realize that Rutgers coaches get 11.5 million per year and UConn coaches make around 3.5 million. Not to mention, Greg already had to buy out Gleeson's contract and he will soon have to buy out Smith's.

As I mentioned, Mora does a lot with less
Well that’s actually not what you said and your supporting facts didn’t support your conclusion at all, but continue on…
 

mugrat86

Heisman
Dec 11, 2014
8,175
10,725
82
Well that’s actually not what you said and your supporting facts didn’t support your conclusion at all, but continue on…
Really? That's exactly what I said. Perhaps I need to spell it out for you. Rutgers beating BC or Syracuse is not nearly as big a deal as UConn given the fact that UConn's football resources are a small fraction of Rutgers. Additionally, UConn doesn't have the fortune of recruiting advantages of BIG1G membership
 
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knightfan2000

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Sadly, I think Tate and Zinn will find out just how difficult this task is and may regret ever hearing the name Rutgers. Saturday's abysmal performance on the very day they launched R NIL is so typical of Rutgers - who's bright idea was it to choose that game as Homecoming? We should also be very concerned about what happens next. Rutgers will have a massive target on its back by the Trump administration for too much "DEI" - we have a black president, a black female Chancellor and a female athletic director. We better hope Jack Ciattarelli doesn't get elected governor or we can kiss the whole R NIL goodbye along with grant money for academics. Jack will bend over backwards to appease Trump. If push comes to shove, major donors who really care about Rutgers will choose academics over athletics. At least Sherrill was at Homecoming - maybe she has the guts to stand up to whatever they have up their sleeves.
 

DHajekRC1984

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But he is going to coach. Plus, he has to get paid at the market rate at his next job. So oh for two.
OH you're so smart.... "No, James Franklin is not required to get paid market rate for his next job, but his Penn State buyout contract includes a clause that requires him to actively seek new employment in coaching or broadcasting. If he accepts a job that pays less than what Penn State owes him, Penn State is only obligated to pay him the difference. If he doesn't actively seek a new job in good faith, he could void the contract and lose out on the buyout payments. "

 
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DHajekRC1984

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Sadly, I think Tate and Zinn will find out just how difficult this task is and may regret ever hearing the name Rutgers. Saturday's abysmal performance on the very day they launched R NIL is so typical of Rutgers - who's bright idea was it to choose that game as Homecoming? We should also be very concerned about what happens next. Rutgers will have a massive target on its back by the Trump administration for too much "DEI" - we have a black president, a black female Chancellor and a female athletic director. We better hope Jack Ciattarelli doesn't get elected governor or we can kiss the whole R NIL goodbye along with grant money for academics. Jack will bend over backwards to appease Trump. If push comes to shove, major donors who really care about Rutgers will choose academics over athletics. At least Sherrill was at Homecoming - maybe she has the guts to stand up to whatever they have up their sleeves.
nothing like sticking all your politics into the thread.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
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On the Banks is a pro-Rutgers site. On the Banks writer nails it:

"For weeks, cracks have shown in Rutgers’ defensive communication, tackling fundamentals, and schematic adjustments. Against Oregon’s speed and precision, those cracks split wide open. Poor angles, missed assignments, and questionable play-calling turned manageable downs into explosive plays. NIL dollars won’t teach gap discipline or improve third-down schemes — that’s on the coaching staff."

"Robb Smith’s scheme is both confusing the players and not suiting their strengths, because there is no reason that defensive players at this level of college football should struggle even to get set and line up correctly. In addition, Abram Wright and Kaj Sanders were seen arguing on the field, seemingly in confusion, before a play that ended up being a 65+ touchdown run. As bad as last year’s defense ended up (in large part due to injuries), Rutgers fans would do anything to have it back rather than watch Robb Smith’s teams struggle to stop a nosebleed week in and week out.'

Yet our message board geniuses and Chief Defenders of Greg plead otherwise. NIL is not going to fix the issues this year.
#CoachingMatters

 

Fat Koko

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Rutgers versus UConn staff spending.

Rutgers spends 4x on football staff. UConn spends slightly more on men's basketball staff than Rutgers.

Not sure why schools like UConn, UMass, and Delaware want to be FBS football teams. The programs generate little revenue, lose tons of money, and few people care about college football in Connecticut and Massachusetts, while Delaware is a tiny state surrounded by Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, which all feature B1G football teams.

1761046701565.png
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
89,223
87,176
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Rutgers versus UConn staff spending.

Rutgers spends 4x on football staff. UConn spends slightly more on men's basketball staff than Rutgers.

Not sure why schools like UConn, UMass, and Delaware want to be FBS football teams. The programs generate little revenue, lose tons of money, and few people care about college football in Connecticut and Massachusetts, while Delaware is a tiny state surrounded by Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, which all feature B1G football teams.

View attachment 964867
Where did you find this information?

Funny that UConn MBB spends more on coaching than UConn FB.
Sad that Rutgers Support Staff spend is greater than UConn MBB.

Think you have reported year over year spending, and in the last few years the Rutgers FB support staff spending has ballooned.
 

Fat Koko

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Where did you find this information?

Funny that UConn MBB spends more on coaching than UConn FB.
Sad that Rutgers Support Staff spend is greater than UConn MBB.

Think you have reported year over year spending, and in the last few years the Rutgers FB support staff spending has ballooned.
Every year, Division 1 colleges must submit an audited financial report certified by the the university's leader to the NCAA. Numerous media companies do freedom of information requests and make the reports or the figures in the reports available.

Rutgers football staff spending blasted 26% higher in 2024 compared to 2023. Spend more, perform worse - the NJ way. I used to work at NJ Transit and witnessed this attitude.

Time will tell if Tate, Keli, and the board of governors impose spending discipline on Greg. The program lost $10 million last year and will lose more than that in 2025.
 
Last edited:

rutgersguy2

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OH you're so smart.... "No, James Franklin is not required to get paid market rate for his next job, but his Penn State buyout contract includes a clause that requires him to actively seek new employment in coaching or broadcasting. If he accepts a job that pays less than what Penn State owes him, Penn State is only obligated to pay him the difference. If he doesn't actively seek a new job in good faith, he could void the contract and lose out on the buyout payments. "

I think it just has to be a reasonable salary not like some abnormally low one for whatever position he may take.

Like UCLA can’t pay him minimum wage to get him lol. Say for a HC in the P4 maybe 3M or so give or take. I tend to think a school that hires him will probably pay him more than that but not as much as PSU did.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
89,223
87,176
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I think it just has to be a reasonable salary not like some abnormally low one for whatever position he may take.

Like UCLA can’t pay him minimum wage to get him lol. Say for a HC in the P4 maybe 3M or so give or take. I tend to think a school that hires him will probably pay him more than that but not as much as PSU did.
B1G floor seems to be about $6M according to USA Today database. So minimum wage as a B1G head coach is $3,000/hour, if head coaches work only 40 hours per week.
 

rutgersguy2

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Every year, Division 1 colleges must submit an audited financial report certified by the the university's leader to the NCAA. Numerous media companies do freedom of information requests and make the reports or the figures in the reports available.

Rutgers football staff spending blasted 26% higher in 2024 compared to 2023. Spend more, perform worse - the NJ way. I used to work at NJ Transit and witnessed this attitude.

Time will tell if Tate, Keli, and the board of governors impose spending discipline on Greg. The program lost $10 million last year and will lose more than that in 2015.
You’re always good with the financials of these schools. Thanks for those posts.

I think the football operating budget went from 49M to 64M from 2023 to 2024. I was thinking it might be in anticipation of revenue sharing this year.

I doubt there’s a line item for NIL coming from the athletic dept to the players. Could the increase in “staff” salary be in anticipation of the players getting paid starting this year?

Also I think part of it might be coming from “personnel dept” hiring. I see more GM and personnel related roles being created at schools to help with player evaluations. Sort of like a poor man’s pro team set up but not exactly the same hierarchy set up from school to school.
 

rutgersguy2

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B1G floor seems to be about $6M according to USA Today database. So minimum wage as a B1G head coach is $3,000/hour, if head coaches work only 40 hours per week.
I don’t think the conference matters maybe G5 to P4 comparison but beyond that I don’t think so.

“Reasonable” most likely has wide latitude.

I think some schools will pay more than they need to just so they don’t come off as “cheap” lol…my attitude is pay him as much as you can get away with and use the money for other things like staff and what not.
 

mdk02

Heisman
Aug 18, 2011
26,781
19,076
113
Every year, Division 1 colleges must submit an audited financial report certified by the the university's leader to the NCAA. Numerous media companies do freedom of information requests and make the reports or the figures in the reports available.

Rutgers football staff spending blasted 26% higher in 2024 compared to 2023. Spend more, perform worse - the NJ way. I used to work at NJ Transit and witnessed this attitude.

Time will tell if Tate, Keli, and the board of governors impose spending discipline on Greg. The program lost $10 million last year and will lose more than that in 2015.

I believe that is only public universities. So BC and others are not required
 

knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,027
69,854
113
Put this in perspective, Greg makes 6.5 million a year and Mora makes 2 million. If they gave Mora 4 million a year, they double his salary and we save 2.5 million a year. Not to mention, Mora's assistants make peanuts compared to ours, so more savings there
While we're throwing #s around. I'd appreciate you or anyone else explaining where cash strapped Rutgers gets the $ for the $23 million buyout.

Please be specific.
 

Fat Koko

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While we're throwing #s around. I'd appreciate you or anyone else explaining where cash strapped Rutgers gets the $ for the $23 million buyout.

Please be specific.
The Rutgers University treasury and maybe a tiny amount from donors.
 

knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,027
69,854
113
The Rutgers University treasury and maybe a tiny amount from donors.
Never happen. RU already gets roasted for the athletics dept in the red. You and I know they're not going to add tens of millions that they don't NEED to add so that's not an answer.

We all know the issue is Rutgers doesn't have the big $ donors many FBS schools have.
 
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Fat Koko

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You’re always good with the financials of these schools. Thanks for those posts.

I think the football operating budget went from 49M to 64M from 2023 to 2024. I was thinking it might be in anticipation of revenue sharing this year.

I doubt there’s a line item for NIL coming from the athletic dept to the players. Could the increase in “staff” salary be in anticipation of the players getting paid starting this year?

Also I think part of it might be coming from “personnel dept” hiring. I see more GM and personnel related roles being created at schools to help with player evaluations. Sort of like a poor man’s pro team set up but not exactly the same hierarchy set up from school to school.
$49 million to $64 million is correct. A 30% increase. The biggest driver by far was staff costs. This has nothing to do with the players. It is an explosion in headcount and raises at Rutgers football.

NIL revenue has not been reported in the financial statements submitted to the NCAA - that is changing. Here is the new accounting guideline for fiscal 2025:

"Input institutional payments to student-athletes for use of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) (including from institutional designee or contractor). Please include other direct institutional payments or additional benefits to student athletes and/or student-athletes’ families not currently permitted or permitted prior to the House settlement approval. However, do not include additional scholarships or enhanced educational benefits."

NIL reporting will be a headache for universities and the auditors. A Bloomberg article highlights why. It is behind a paywall. Here is the key quote. Lawrence is Blake Lawrence, a former Nebraska football player who co-founded Opendorse.

"Schools are counting on athletes to report their deals. Not all will. While the NCAA has a rule requiring disclosure, many players have decided it’s toothless and have opted to ignore it. Lawrence estimates that 80% of NIL transactions go undisclosed, a rate he expects to stay the same once the settlement is in effect. This leaves the NCAA in the familiar position of having to decide what to do when a star recruit from a low-income family shows up to school in a Lamborghini."
 
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Fat Koko

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Never happen. RU already gets roasted for the athletics dept in the red. You and I know they're not going to add tens of millions that they don't NEED to add so that's not an answer.

We all know the issue is Rutgers doesn't have the big $ donors many FBS schools have.
Agree. Greg and Pike will be around for years even if fans want them replaced. But maybe, just maybe, Tate can convince the board to approve an emergency high-8-figure special payment to the athletic department to replace underperforming staffs.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
89,223
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113
While we're throwing #s around. Please explain where cash strapped Rutgers gets the $ for the $23 million buyout.

Please be specific.
Throwing #s around? This is not a weather thread! ;)

mugrat's example is not a bad one.

Greg's buyout as of Dec 1, 2025 is: $23,318,750. Over 5 years that is $4,553,750/year.

Should we keep him, Rutgers will have to pay him (based on $250,000K raises each year) through 2030: $36.75M :

2026- $6,75M
2027- $7.0M
2028-$7.25M
2029- $7.75M
2030-$8.0 M

Firing him on Dec. 1, 2025 saves $13.5 Million over 5 years -$2.7 Million per year.

Pay Mora (or some up and comer) $4M/year would be another $20M over 5 years.

Firing him on Dec. 1, 2025 and finding a coach who would work for "only" $4M/year would "cost" Rutgers $43,3381,750
Keeping Greg through the end of his contract costs Rutgers $36.75M, not taking into account lost revenue do to diminished fan interest, declining ticket sales and donations.

That 5 year difference is "only" $6,31,750 over 5 years or $1,325,350/year.

All that work, and doubt we find a coach willing to work for $4M/year.
 

DHajekRC1984

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I think it just has to be a reasonable salary not like some abnormally low one for whatever position he may take.

Like UCLA can’t pay him minimum wage to get him lol. Say for a HC in the P4 maybe 3M or so give or take. I tend to think a school that hires him will probably pay him more than that but not as much as PSU did.
yes of course. I don't know the exact language of the contract but with anything in life it sounds like it has plenty of wiggle room. Of course nobody is getting him nor would it work for him to work for peanuts. It was an exaggerated post about getting some great value due to the situation.
 
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knightfan7

Heisman
Jul 30, 2003
96,027
69,854
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Throwing #s around? This is not a weather thread! ;)

mugrat's example is not a bad one.

Greg's buyout as of Dec 1, 2025 is: $23,318,750. Over 5 years that is $4,553,750/year.

Should we keep him, Rutgers will have to pay him (based on $250,000K raises each year) through 2030: $36.75M :

2026- $6,75M
2027- $7.0M
2028-$7.25M
2029- $7.75M
2030-$8.0 M

Firing him on Dec. 1, 2025 saves $13.5 Million over 5 years -$2.7 Million per year.

Pay Mora (or some up and comer) $4M/year would be another $20M over 5 years.

Firing him on Dec. 1, 2025 and finding a coach who would work for "only" $4M/year would "cost" Rutgers $43,3381,750
Keeping Greg through the end of his contract costs Rutgers $36.75M, not taking into account lost revenue do to diminished fan interest, declining ticket sales and donations.

That 5 year difference is "only" $6,31,750 over 5 years or $1,325,350/year.

All that work, and doubt we find a coach willing to work for $4M/year.
But where does RU find that $23 million now? And what if the new HC is a bust. No coach is going to come here without a significant salary and buyout. You going to pay 2 buyouts if the newbie fails?

Rutgers isn't PSU, UF, VT, OKie St, or any number of teams that fire HC with large buyouts. There appears to be no "whales" that other schools, B1G and nationally, have.
 

NBKnight

Heisman
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OH you're so smart.... "No, James Franklin is not required to get paid market rate for his next job, but his Penn State buyout contract includes a clause that requires him to actively seek new employment in coaching or broadcasting. If he accepts a job that pays less than what Penn State owes him, Penn State is only obligated to pay him the difference. If he doesn't actively seek a new job in good faith, he could void the contract and lose out on the buyout payments. "


OH you're so smart.... "No, James Franklin is not required to get paid market rate for his next job, but his Penn State buyout contract includes a clause that requires him to actively seek new employment in coaching or broadcasting. If he accepts a job that pays less than what Penn State owes him, Penn State is only obligated to pay him the difference. If he doesn't actively seek a new job in good faith, he could void the contract and lose out on the buyout payments. "

Wrong. He and his new school would be sued by PSU if he signed for under market value.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
89,223
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But where does RU find that $23 million now? And what if the new HC is a bust. No coach is going to come here without a significant salary and buyout. You going to pay 2 buyouts if the newbie fails?

Rutgers isn't PSU, UF, VT, OKie St, or any number of teams that fire HC with large buyouts. There appears to be no "whales" that other schools, B1G and nationally, have.
Thought the $23M was not payable immediately. IIRC, RU paid off Ash each year until his contract expired. Don't have the contract available to know how Greg's contract is structured.

IMO, this is more about living in fear of life without Greg, the polar opposite of FOMO or fear of missing out.
New coach gets a 4 year deal. He gets 4 years to right the ship.

Curt Cignetti's original contract with Indiana was a six-year deal worth $27 million when he was hired in December 2023. That was $4.5M per year.

This fearful thinking and not looking at the cost of keeping Greg will hold Rutgers back. (assuming the $23M is not due immediately). This is totally doable.
 

rutgersguy2

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Thought the $23M was not payable immediately. IIRC, RU paid off Ash each year until his contract expired. Don't have the contract available to know how Greg's contract is structured.

IMO, this is more about living in fear of life without Greg, the polar opposite of FOMO or fear of missing out.
New coach gets a 4 year deal. He gets 4 years to right the ship.

Curt Cignetti's original contract with Indiana was a six-year deal worth $27 million when he was hired in December 2023. That was $4.5M per year.

This fearful thinking and not looking at the cost of keeping Greg will hold Rutgers back. (assuming the $23M is not due immediately). This is totally doable.
I'm pretty sure it's not due immediately.
 
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NotInRHouse

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Thought the $23M was not payable immediately. IIRC, RU paid off Ash each year until his contract expired. Don't have the contract available to know how Greg's contract is structured.

IMO, this is more about living in fear of life without Greg, the polar opposite of FOMO or fear of missing out.
New coach gets a 4 year deal. He gets 4 years to right the ship.

Curt Cignetti's original contract with Indiana was a six-year deal worth $27 million when he was hired in December 2023. That was $4.5M per year.

This fearful thinking and not looking at the cost of keeping Greg will hold Rutgers back. (assuming the $23M is not due immediately). This is totally doable.

Remember football is not the only program.

WBB may need a new coach after this year. MBB, knives will be out if we don't make NIT and maybe even then.

This is the school that didn't want to fire Ash after three abysmal seasons....and they're going to fire the one good coach we've had after one maybe bad one?

OK Tate and Zinn aren't NJ old hands but 1) they can't devine money out of thin air and 2) they have both made supportive statements repeatedly about GS.
 

Knight Shift

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In an Athletic article, there is a story about most tortured fanbases. It's more about teams that should be winning big but are not, but Rutgers got a mention!!

Angry fan bases drive college football’s coach carousel. Which are the most desperate?​



"• Expectations. Rutgers hasn’t been very good in football, but no one expects it to be. You can’t be that tortured if you consider the Pinstripe Bowl an achievement."

So, status quo stands for Rutgers!!! :D
 
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Smols

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In an Athletic article, there is a story about most tortured fanbases. It's more about teams that should be winning big but are not, but Rutgers got a mention!!

Angry fan bases drive college football’s coach carousel. Which are the most desperate?​



"• Expectations. Rutgers hasn’t been very good in football, but no one expects it to be. You can’t be that tortured if you consider the Pinstripe Bowl an achievement."

So, status quo stands for Rutgers!!! :D
Sad but true.