Rutgers football

[isutrevman]

Rutgers is a perfect example of how hard it is for smaller programs to stay at the top of the college football world. Such a big deal was made about how they had built their program under Schiano and they experienced about 2 years of pretty good success.

Right now, they are being destroyed by North Carolina, who, I don't believe is supposed to be THAT good.

Bottom line is, its been shown that programs like Rutgers can make good runs for a few years when things go perfectly, but to sustain that success, you really need more money and fan support. I think Kansas is in a stretch where they'll be good for a few years, then likely fall off again much like ISU around the year 2000. It will be interesting to see where Kansas, Wake Forest, Illinois and Missouri are in a couple of years

[ISUAlum2002]

Louisville is another good example. And you're right.

[mwitt]

Louisville lost their coach, though. Wasn't Schiano the top candidate for the Miami job?

[Steve]

Tonight makes the upcoming Wisconsin/Fresno State game a little harder to pick. FS probably isn't as good as I thought after last week. At the same time, Wisconsin's history of lousy play on the road is hard to ignore.

[kingcy]

I think its hard for anyone to stay on top except a select few teams. Every program has there are ups and downs, there are great hires and not so good ones. The big difference when school like Rutgers, Kansas, MU, Iowa, and ISU have a down year they are 6-6 or worse and schools like USC, Texas, OU, and OSU go 9-3 or 8-4. The not power program schools walk a fine line in talent, if they mess up on one class or one player it shows a lot on the field. The power programs have so much talent they can get by with a bad class. After 2002 ISU and Iowa messed up on some classes they thought were going to be good and they had a mess on thier hands.

[Tornado man]

Rutgers may be looking bad, but I doubt they are going away. Schiano is attracting some big-time talent there, he already has four 4-star oral commits for next year, and in the running for other 4 and even 5-star prospects. In the recruiting wars, Rutgers is up with the big boys.

[mplscyclone]

Rutgers has played some tough teams. I know they've had 2 home games and an elite program needs to win them, but Fresno St and UNC are no push-overs.

[cycloneworld]

Louisville lost their coach, though. Wasn't Schiano the top candidate for the Miami job?

I'm pretty sure he turned down the Miami job (and others).

[cycloneryan]

I think it is harder and harder for everyone now. Even the power schools are having a tought time maintaining what they had. There is so much parody now that I think coaching is becoming the biggest part of football. Look at Nebraska under Callahan. He had all the talent a team could want and still sucked.

[superman_101680]

I'm pretty sure he turned down the Miami job (and others).

Isn't he waiting for the Penn State job to open?

[tejasclone]

I think it is harder and harder for everyone now. Even the power schools are having a tought time maintaining what they had. There is so much parody now that I think coaching is becoming the biggest part of football. Look at Nebraska under Callahan. He had all the talent a team could want and still sucked.

I don't like to play the grammar police, but I think you meant parity. "Parody" implies something else entirely.

Anyway, I think it's good for the sport that different programs get their chances to shine now and again. It's refreshing to see teams like Kansas and Missouri take some of the spotlight away from Texas and Nebraska, and teams like Rutgers to steal some from, say, Miami. (Yes, I know they're not in the same conference.) It would sure be fun to see ISU up there in a couple years.

[The_Architect]

Rutgers is a perfect example of how hard it is for smaller programs to stay at the top of the college football world. Such a big deal was made about how they had built their program under Schiano and they experienced about 2 years of pretty good success.

Right now, they are being destroyed by North Carolina, who, I don't believe is supposed to be THAT good.

Bottom line is, its been shown that programs like Rutgers can make good runs for a few years when things go perfectly, but to sustain that success, you really need more money and fan support. I think Kansas is in a stretch where they'll be good for a few years, then likely fall off again much like ISU around the year 2000. It will be interesting to see where Kansas, Wake Forest, Illinois and Missouri are in a couple of years

I agree for the most part except for the fact that Missouri and Illinois both have staying power. Mizzou is the only D-1 team in a state with a lot of talent.

[Wesley]

And look at Michigan. wait, they are a big school going thru tough times. Oh, BTN big...

[bmuff]

Bottom line is, its been shown that programs like Rutgers can make good runs for a few years when things go perfectly, but to sustain that success, you really need more money and fan support. I think Kansas is in a stretch where they'll be good for a few years, then likely fall off again much like ISU around the year 2000. It will be interesting to see where Kansas, Wake Forest, Illinois and Missouri are in a couple of years

I'm still waiting for our "few years" of success!

I will say that it is impressive that Rutgers has sold out its whole season already. They have pretty much no tradition, yet the fans are buying in. And they have a bunch of construction lined up.

[cybsball20]

Schiano should have gotten out of there when he could.

Don't discount the effort by Butch Davis and North Carolina. He will have them contending for the ACC very soon...