News broke yesterday that Rutgers University is expected to accept an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference. While this sounds like great news, I'm a little hesitant to jump for joy.Let me preface this post by saying this... I didn't go to Rutgers (my sister did!), but I have been a long time fan and follower of all things Scarlet Knights since my youth. I remember watching SNY Commentator Ray Lucas when he was QB and when games were on NJN. I remember when Bob Wenzel was coach of the men's basketball team and watching them get trounced by John Calipari and Marcus Camby UMass teams when they played in the A10. I like most New Jeseryans have reveled in the success of women's basketball program the the resurgence of the football program over the last decade.
Joining the Big Ten would certainly raise the profile of the school and would have a definite financial benefit. But I think the Big Ten is a bit stretch for Rutgers. The level of competition is much higher than the Big East. The Big East was once a power house in football with teams like Miami, Va Tech, and Boston College. But when they moved onto the greener pastures of the ACC – the steady decline of the Big East football has allowed RU to look better by comparison. I'm not just talking about on the field. The Big Ten and it schools have made a killing in college sports as a "business". I can't see Rutgers competing with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State and their billion dollar endowments to update facilities, provide staffing, coaching, recruiting, marketing, etc. in order to run their athletic programs effectively.
It's also a stretch regionally. The Big Ten is a midwestern conference plain and simple. With Maryland joining the Big Ten as well, Rutgers wouldn't be the only east coast team, but they'd be spending more time traveling with the exception of the occasion trip out State College, PA or College Park, MD.
Rutgers joining the ACC makes better sense if the option were available. You'd be able to keep traditional rivalries with Pitt and Syracuse going to the ACC and renewal old ones with BC, Miami, Va Tech. Not mention you add Clemson, Florida State, UNC, which provides you with stronger competition and schedule not just in football, but basketball as well with Duke.
But it always comes down to $$$. The Big Ten provides better security in the long run, and the fact they want expand their brand to the NY market makes them and Rutgers perfect partners.
