OT: Reducing sports?

[RUich]

With the school's athletic budget so far in the red, would eliminating some of the minor sports be a possible answer? There seem to be a lot of schools that simply do not offer certain sports.
I remember when we were brought into the BIG, thinking that the significant jump in income would be a real blessing, but it looks like just the opposite. Especially, with the much longer travel costs with the addition of the west coast schools.

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Absorbing the PAC schools was colossal blunder for everything except football. You can see how much the west coast basketball coaches hate being in the Big Ten. It's brutal for non revenue sports. It also ruined a great conference and helped to make college sports a little less fun overall.

 

[ImBadRU]

Yes long overdue.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

With the school's athletic budget so far in the red, would eliminating some of the minor sports be a possible answer? There seem to be a lot of schools that simply do not offer certain sports.
I remember when we were brought into the BIG, thinking that the significant jump in income would be a real blessing, but it looks like just the opposite. Especially, with the much longer travel costs with the addition of the west coast schools.

We are a post on Truth Social or whatever it is called to eliminate all sports.

No federal funding to any school that is losing money on athletics. RU wouldn't need $500,000,000 per year in federal funding if it didn't lose money is sports. They would only need $450,000,000.

A lot of federal money could be saved. Now I know that more tax revenue probably gets generated than the $50,000,000 extra expenses, but that doesn't seem to be part of the math.

 

[BigEastPhil]

St Francis PA just announced they’re going DIv 3 in fall of 2026.

Wonder of many smaller schools follow the same route !

Hey Pike : poach their players !

 

[RUskoolie]

I have been saying this for a year now. We need to cut sports and focus efforts on making the remaining sports actually competitive and competing for championships. This school goes through the motions with most sports. It's a joke.

 

[RUDivision]

I have been saying this for a year now. We need to cut sports and focus efforts on making the remaining sports actually competitive and competing for championships. This school goes through the motions with most sports. It's a joke.

Cutting the minor sports won’t move the needle but if needs to be done then ok .

 

[ruman]

With the school's athletic budget so far in the red, would eliminating some of the minor sports be a possible answer? There seem to be a lot of schools that simply do not offer certain sports.
I remember when we were brought into the BIG, thinking that the significant jump in income would be a real blessing, but it looks like just the opposite. Especially, with the much longer travel costs with the addition of the west coast schools

It’s been an issue for 40 years. But cutting minor sports stirs up incredible controversy. Never understood why

 

[Plum Street]

I have been saying this for a year now. We need to cut sports and focus efforts on making the remaining sports actually competitive and competing for championships. This school goes through the motions with most sports. It's a joke.

Does there ever come a time Rutgers should throw in the towel on competing in professional sports ?

 

[ancienthooper]

In 2 days 1,200 players entered the portal. Lathan Somerville may get $1,000,000. Meanwhile, St Francis has to drop to DIII fresh off making the tournament. What’s the problem?

 

[wheezer]

It’s been an issue for 40 years. But cutting minor sports stirs up incredible controversy. Never understood why

What was it, about 10 years ago RU was cutting rowing, I think it was
The news outlets tied that decision to any increased expenditures made for the football program

Even if decisions of both sports were not related, the optics were made to look.as bad as possible

 

[LETSGORU91_]

In 2 days 1,200 players entered the portal. Lathan Somerville may get $1,000,000. Meanwhile, St Francis has to drop to DIII fresh off making the tournament. What’s the problem?

Collegiate sports got ruined by greed.

 

[RUskoolie]

Does there ever come a time Rutgers should throw in the towel on competing in professional sports ?

No that's suicide and not a discussion but we should throw in the towel on a few fringe olympic sports that offer no upside.

 

[ru66]

Geez, why don't you join the ru 1000. What a dumb suggestion, do you really think the RU sport haters would stop there? Get rid of all d1 sports then you'll really save bucks. What's wrong with some people-- all those that constantly *****,and we know who they are around here , just open the door for our demise. Ever been asked to rate anyone, lets say your car dealership service department? They'll tell you give the max rating or don't rate us,why cause the dumb HR people take a 4 out of 5 as a negative.Similiar concept, if you can't say everything positive, say nothing. You're not helping otherwise.

 

[RUskoolie]

Geez, why don't you join the ru 1000. What a dumb suggestion, do you really think the RU sport haters would stop there? Get rid of all d1 sports then you'll really save bucks. What's wrong with some people-- all those that constantly *****,and we know who they are around here , just open the door for our demise. Ever been asked to rate anyone, lets say your car dealership service department? They'll tell you give the max rating or don't rate us,why cause the dumb HR people take a 4 out of 5 as a negative.Similiar concept, if you can't say everything positive, say nothing. You're not helping otherwise.

I don't care what the dorks in academia think. It's a very logical response. If the sport sucks historically, if they have little to no donor support, no letter winner support, no facilities, never on TV and its not a growing sport with upside we need to take it out back and shoot it. NIL will only compound that problem and expose it more.

It's annoying when I see our sports constantly in the bottom of the conference and the facilities are total ****.

 

[NickRU714]

What was it, about 10 years ago RU was cutting rowing, I think it was
The news outlets tied that decision to any increased expenditures made for the football program

Even if decisions of both sports were not related, the optics were made to look.as bad as possible

The optics are easily fixed.
The problem is Rutgers leadership.

"Rutgers Rowing loses $1m a year. Rutgers University wants to continue supporting these student athletes. But its the public and the NJ taxpayers funding it. If they don't want to fund athletics anymore, so be it. We'll be cutting Rowing at the request of making the Atheltic Department self-sufficient. We will focus on revenue generating sports that have potential to be self-sufficient."

The only reason to cut sports is literally because the public wants to stop funding it.
If they want a smaller subsidy then show them the consequences of their decisions.

 

[NickRU714]

I don't care what the dorks in academia think. It's a very logical response. If the sport sucks historically, if they have little to no donor support, no letter winner support, no facilities, never on TV and its not a growing sport with upside we need to take it out back and shoot it. NIL will only compound that problem and expose it more.

It's annoying when I see our sports constantly in the bottom of the conference and the facilities are total ****.

Maybe not a good analogy, but should we also cut underperforming academic departments?
Not sure how to major that.

Same as sports.
It all public/taxpayer money.
If the public doesn't want to pay then cut sports and departments.
But make sure it's framed as a taxpayer decision and not a Rutgers decision.

 

[RUJMM78]

Rutgers problem is that most teams are under performing.Football and men's basketball are the biggest revenue generating sports and they are mediocre B1G Ten programs.Eliminating rowing isn't going to improve other teams performance.The lack of funding and the need to upgrade facilities,change coaching staffs and improve talent levels are the obstacles to overcome.

 

[Plum Street]

No that's suicide and not a discussion but we should throw in the towel on a few fringe olympic sports that offer no upside.

Why would it be suicide ? If the programs are losers all-around , why continue to do it ? There is nothing in the university’s mission statement about playing professional sports .

 

[seansherm]

Unless you reduce the total by half, does it really make much of a difference to the department? The athletic department is going to be known for how the two major sports do, unless all your olympic sports are very successful and winning titles.

 

[RUich]

The bottom line IS the bottom line! This is no longer a pie in the sky athletic program with Mickey Rooney playing QB. It is a business!
Non selling products are simply dropped to support the ones that make money. I don't know if we can ever put the genie back in the lantern, but what is happening right now is certainly going nowhere fast and sending us toward the abyss.

 

[ru66]

I don't care what the dorks in academia think. It's a very logical response. If the sport sucks historically, if they have little to no donor support, no letter winner support, no facilities, never on TV and its not a growing sport with upside we need to take it out back and shoot it. NIL will only compound that problem and expose it more.

It's annoying when I see our sports constantly in the bottom of the conference and the facilities are total ****.

Wrong. Sorry you're thinking ,shave some expense by eliminating a team or two whose expenses by the way pale in regards to football or basketball, what will happen inevitably is forces in this state that are not Ru friendly will demand ending it all. By the way why would the BIG even sanction us cutting teams and in any event the savings would be miniscule compared to football and basketball and by the way some of our more successful BIG teams are in the lesser sports.

 

[NightKnight]

In the days before the flood I arrived at Rutgers with the help of scholarships and aid. It covered room board and tuition but nothing else. I had $1,000 in the world. I had no idea if that was enough to cover general living expenses or not. It was my first time out on my own and I was greatly focused on money. There was a knock on my door. It's a very cute, girl in riding boots and jodhpurs. Apparently the university did not fully fund the Rutgers Equestrian team and they were going door to door looking for donations. I didn't give it a second's thought: A poor student underwriting rich students hobbies. Ridiculous. And yet, isn't that essentially what happens with all non-revenue sports?

 

[NickRU714]

Wrong. Sorry you're thinking ,shave some expense by eliminating a team or two whose expenses by the way pale in regards to football or basketball, what will happen inevitably is forces in this state that are not Ru friendly will demand ending it all. By the way why would the BIG even sanction us cutting teams and in any event the savings would be miniscule compared to football and basketball and by the way some of our more successful BIG teams are in the lesser sports.

The entire idea makes little sense.
Cutting sports doesn't suddenly free up money for Football/Basketball.

We are already "over the cap" (i.e. receive a subsidy).
If we cut sports to reduce the subsidy, that isn't more money for Basketball. It's just less money the university/state pay.

It's like in the NBA.
If a team is $15m over the cap. When a $10m player contract expires, you don't get $10m to spend on a new player.
It's just less money the owner has to pay.

 

[ru66]

In the days before the flood I arrived at Rutgers with the help of scholarships and aid. It covered room board and tuition but nothing else. I had $1,000 in the world. I had no idea if that was enough to cover general living expenses or not. It was my first time out on my own and I was greatly focused on money. There was a knock on my door. It's a very cute, girl in riding boots and jodhpurs. Apparently the university did not fully fund the Rutgers Equestrian team and they were going door to door looking for donations. I didn't give it a second's thought: A poor student underwriting rich students hobbies. Ridiculous. And yet, isn't that essentially what happens with all non-revenue sports?

Rich students at Ru?? I'm betting I started at RU long before you, tuition was like $ 200 a semester-- equestrian team, news to me??? RU was never a playground for anyone ruch.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Does there ever come a time Rutgers should throw in the towel on competing in professional sports ?

If things don't change...YES

 

[NickRU714]

In the days before the flood I arrived at Rutgers with the help of scholarships and aid. It covered room board and tuition but nothing else. I had $1,000 in the world. I had no idea if that was enough to cover general living expenses or not. It was my first time out on my own and I was greatly focused on money. There was a knock on my door. It's a very cute, girl in riding boots and jodhpurs. Apparently the university did not fully fund the Rutgers Equestrian team and they were going door to door looking for donations. I didn't give it a second's thought: A poor student underwriting rich students hobbies. Ridiculous. And yet, isn't that essentially what happens with all non-revenue sports?

Do you think the non-revenue sports have some secret money that is going towards Football/Basketball?

NJ/Students fund Rutgers
Rutgers funds non-revenue sports

If non-revenue sports are going to be cut, it's because NJ/Students aren't paying anymore.

Football/Basketball have nothing to do with the equation.

 

[NickRU714]

The problem is that NJ/Students want Football/Basketball to fund non-revenue sports.

They want to pass the responsibility.

 

[ru66]

Before you know it the idiots at nj. Com will be reading these nonesene posts. interviewing some dopey fan and advocating we give up basketball and football. Isn't that special. Imagine guys like Bac having nothing to ***** about -- these forums would be shut down.

 

[RAC’emUp]

I would cut football. I strongly suspect with proper accounting methods that’s where most of our losses come from. Join the Big East or go D3 or club. This has gotten ludicrous.

 

[ruman]

What was it, about 10 years ago RU was cutting rowing, I think it was
The news outlets tied that decision to any increased expenditures made for the football program

Even if decisions of both sports were not related, the optics were made to look.as bad as possible

Don’t care. It’s a kill what you eat world

Being in the Big Ten makes it a bit harder. Title IX is also an issue. But we have always had too many sports with our lack of infrastructure and support. We should have a much smaller footprint

 

[ruman]

If things don't change...YES

No. The Big Ten changed the trajectory of the school. Only if you are thrown out would that change

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

No. The Big Ten changed the trajectory of the school. Only if you are thrown out would that change

Do you realize how much money the athletic department losses before we need to lose an addition $20,500,000 to keep up with all the others?

If the path to being competitive is gone either we make the decision to stop or we get kicked out of the B1G.

 

[ruman]

The school is number 40 in US News. Leave the Big Ten we fall off a cliff

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Do you think the non-revenue sports have some secret money that is going towards Football/Basketball?

NJ/Students fund Rutgers
Rutgers funds non-revenue sports

If non-revenue sports are going to be cut, it's because NJ/Students aren't paying anymore.

Football/Basketball have nothing to do with the equation.

How much is the cost of non revenue sports inflated because of the revenue sports. I would think a lot.

 

[wheezer]

Don’t care. It’s a kill what you eat world

Being in the Big Ten makes it a bit harder. Title IX is also an issue. But we have always had too many sports with our lack of infrastructure and support. We should have a much smaller footprint

I have a fellow RU friend who read all the reports of this and thought RU was being terrible for cutting rowing, and he blamed the football program

As was put in the newspapers

So, it is, or was, out there, whether. we like it or not, or care or not

Interestingly enough, he is now a seasons football ticket holder with a better understanding of the situation and a supporter of the team

 

[wheezer]

The optics are easily fixed.
The problem is Rutgers leadership.

"Rutgers Rowing loses $1m a year. Rutgers University wants to continue supporting these student athletes. But its the public and the NJ taxpayers funding it. If they don't want to fund athletics anymore, so be it. We'll be cutting Rowing at the request of making the Atheltic Department self-sufficient. We will focus on revenue generating sports that have potential to be self-sufficient."

The only reason to cut sports is literally because the public wants to stop funding it.
If they want a smaller subsidy then show them the consequences of their decisions.

The optics are not easily fixed if there is press out there with an agenda

If the general public reads one source of news only, they get a very slanted and bad point of view

You and I know better

I have tried to educate two people in the past who believe only the negatively

 

[ru66]

The school is number 40 in US News. Leave the Big Ten we fall off a cliff

Yup. People have absolutely no credibility even discussing this. I'm now wondering if half these guys actually graduated RU. Maybe it's a good thing RU is pushing for out of state students. Wait ,here's a great idea, shut down the entire school,that'll really save you $.Now I can understand why some people tell me NJ residents don't deserve RU.

 

[NickRU714]

How much is the cost of non revenue sports inflated because of the revenue sports. I would think a lot.

Perhaps. But it doesn't matter.

If the edict is "self sufficient atheltics" then every sport that loses $1 should be cut.

At what level should Rutgers University and NJ taxpayers fund collegeite sports?
Only $2m as a subsidy? Ok then cut a bunch of sports to get down to $2m.

Cutting football or basketball spending isnt going suddenly make the other sports profitable.

 

[Plum Street]

Rutgers problem is that most teams are under performing.Football and men's basketball are the biggest revenue generating sports and they are mediocre B1G Ten programs.Eliminating rowing isn't going to improve other teams performance.The lack of funding and the need to upgrade facilities,change coaching staffs and improve talent levels are the obstacles to overcome.

Football is not a mediocre BIG program . It’s been terrible