Is It Too Late For These Guys Reconsider

[BigEast1]

I know I know, it's only one night but talk about a great start for the ACC, AAC & Big 10 in football. As usual, the ACC showed it is no where near being in the same class as "real power football conferences" with the spanking that South Carolina gave UNC. But there is hope, I am sure Virginia Tech will walk all over Alabama

Well at least the AAC had a better showing with UCF & future member Tulane winning, but as for UConn & future member Tulsa, now those were two impressive showings

Then there is the Big 10, they must be so happy to have Rutgers. Only the Scarlet Knights can score 51 points in a game and LOSE.

Not sure who should do more 2nd guessing, the schools that left the Big East or the Conferences that took them in.

[Dew]

Too bad Uconn upgraded their stadium recently or maybe they'd consider dropping down and joining us in hoops.

[DudeAnon]

My understanding (which is not very informed) is that football programs are almost always a cash cow, winning or not.

[marquette]

My understanding (which is not very informed) is that football programs are almost always a cash cow, winning or not.

That's not what I've been hearing, but I could also be misinformed. From what I've read it seems that outside the top conferences (and even for some schools in them) there is very little profit. Many schools lose a lot of money on their football programs, but there is also the potential to make a lot if you have a winning program.

[JohnT]

At least we're not associated with such a crappy football league anymore.

[Noonzy]

My understanding (which is not very informed) is that football programs are almost always a cash cow, winning or not.

That is not my understanding at all. Somewhere I read about the schools who actually came out ahead in FB and there were only a few like Texas. Most times the FB program is a drain on the school's funds and is a losing proposition. Just think about the cost of recruiting, travel for the teams, bands cheerleaders etc-crazy money.

[dmac80]

Too bad Uconn upgraded their stadium recently or maybe they'd consider dropping down and joining us in hoops.

What a waste that football program is. They will NEVER be big, Northeast College FB is NEVER going to be able to play with the big boys of midwest and south.

[Friarfan2]

Most of these football programs lose tons of money. They have huge expense budgets, which are covered by direct institutional support (university funds). Schools like temple, uconn and Rutgers lose up to ten million per yr on football. Rutgers will be able to balance their accounts while in the big 10 (although that will make them by far the lowest operating budget in the league), but those AAC schools are in a ton of trouble financially if they keep chasing the football dream.

[JOPO]

Most of these football programs lose tons of money. They have huge expense budgets, which are covered by direct institutional support (university funds). Schools like temple, uconn and Rutgers lose up to ten million per yr on football. Rutgers will be able to balance their accounts while in the big 10 (although that will make them by far the lowest operating budget in the league), but those AAC schools are in a ton of trouble financially if they keep chasing the football dream.

Rutgers loses about $28 million a year, if not the worst they are second in the country in the amount of money they lose. Even the Big Ten money won't cover all of that.

[Bill Marsh]

Most of these football programs lose tons of money. They have huge expense budgets, which are covered by direct institutional support (university funds). Schools like temple, uconn and Rutgers lose up to ten million per yr on football. Rutgers will be able to balance their accounts while in the big 10 (although that will make them by far the lowest operating budget in the league), but those AAC schools are in a ton of trouble financially if they keep chasing the football dream.

Rutgers loses about $28 million a year, if not the worst they are second in the country in the amount of money they lose. Even the Big Ten money won't cover all of that.

The Big Ten dollars will go a long way toward covering that loss. But there are benefits to being in the Big Ten that go beyond dollars. First is the academic prestige of being associated with some of the finest research universities in the country. Second is the CIC. Not only does that open opportunities for research collaboration, but there's increased research funds that are attracted via the CIC. There's no way in the world that Rutgers ever leaves the Big Te because it is an absolutely unique membership that goes way beyond athletics. There's a reason why The University of Chicago is still a member almost 70 years after itbdisasociated itself from the conference in athletics.