In 1998, the team went 5-6, but only two of the wins came against Big East opponents. A week later, Rutgers reverted to form, losing to Miami 55-0. Coach Terry Shea, who has presided over the past three years of futility, will be back for the fourth and final year of his contract. Nevertheless there are no signs that Rutgers plans to abandon its quest to become a big-time football school. Good college programs can benefit a university.
Some schools use the revenue derived from football to help fund other intercollegiate sports.
When the teams are winning, it gives alumni something to brag about and another reason to reach into their wallets during the annual giving campaigns. It also can give students and those affiliated with the university a sense of pride in being associated with a winner. But there is a flip side to big-time football as well, to which Rutgers can attest. When the football team loses, every one and everything associated with the university loses. At Rutgers, the football program continues to drain resources from academic programs.