The Truth

[DarthGrumpy]

No, it is true. The former AD, Bob Mulcahy, says that they were talking to the Big 10 before he left. He left in 2008, so Rutgers was talking to the Big 10 before 2008.

"We always knew as the conference alignment started to shift that if we were not in a position with a program that was competitive and with facilities that were in good shape, no one would take us," Mulcahy said. "That was what everything was about as part of the whole program. That's what we worked toward. Before I left, we were having very quiet conversations with members of the Big Ten and with the commissioner. My feeling was always that if there was a conference that we were going to have to move to, the Big Ten was the right one."

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i..._sense_of_pride_as_rutgers_joins_big_ten.html

And talk of the old Big East's demise or at least split between football and basketball schools has been around since the late 90's at least, so it would make sense for Rutgers (wait, Rutgers' making sense, wtf?) to seek shelter. Rutgers' faculty has also always seen itself as an elite university (whether that be earned or unearned) as one of the country's oldest colleges (founded as Queens college in 1766 and 1 of only 2 original Colonial Colleges not to be part of the Ivy League)and they wanted access to the B1G's CIC as another feather in their cap (and something that rival Princeton could not get) after finally getting AAU status in 1989. Athletically and student-wise, Rutgers and Penn St have been rivals for decades, too, as many Jersey high school graduates go to Happy Valley and New Brunswick. Thus, once Penn St, joined the B1G, there was interest to follow them to the B1G, especially as Rutgers views itself more as a football school (successful or not on the field) than a basketball school, which is what the Big E was.

 

[CL82]

Except that Rutgers isn't Queens College. After years of stops and starts, it closed up and did not reopen. I believe at least a year or passed after Queens College's last incarnation before Rutgers opened.

 

[Slasher]

Did anyone else have the X-files theme in his head while reading the thread title?

 

[Seaa Blue]

Best I can tell, after the "Mizzou Incident" the "truth" goes more like this:

• The Executive Committee of Grand Poobahs (of the Big Ten) gives Delany a short list of schools he can talk to.
• If not on the list, schools can contact Delany (or other dignitaries) and a polite conversation can be had, but nothing of substance.
• If you want anything of substance from the Big Ten you will enter a double-secret non-disclosure agreement. This agreement does allow for certain indirect disinformation via Twitterazzi since no one believes them anyway.
• Delany's marketing people with then look to see what sticks from the disinformation campaign and make recommendations from there (while rolling hysterically on the floor, balancing cigar and beverage in hand).
• If they think that someone is actually on to something an alarm will sound and the room will go into full electronic lock-down until Delany does his best "these aren't the droids you're looking for".
• There will be no boorish "conditions" set. If Jim likes you, you will be blessed unconditionally.
  
• If you never hear from me again, you'll know that I said too much.

 

[Doggie Style]

Wrong, this is the truth.

 

[specialisthusky]

This post is so stupid and yet hilarious for some reason

It's a day later and I still think its my best post on this board. Thanks for appreciating the stupidity