[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The Big Ten network has no hope of getting on basic cable in the NYC market without a local team. Even if they can't sell it in NYC at first, just getting on basic cable in New Jersey is big money. There are almost 9 million people in New Jersey."

I guess I'm looking long term here. I think they might be able to get on these cable company's channels initially in both the New Jersey and New York markets. However, I don't see the interest in Rutgers football increasing that much over time unless they are playing in major BCS bowl games. If they go to the Big 10 which is a huge upgrade in football I don't see them getting to another BCS bowl game in the forseeable future. In fact their program might take a step back. After a couple of years when the ratings come in and they are no good, these same cable companys will drop the Big 10 network to the second tier where they probably are currently. It took a big battle by the Big 10 to force it's way onto Comcast in my area. They didn't want them on the basic package. And there are plenty of Penn State fans in the Southwestern Pa area. Actually, I figured that through Penn State they would already be on Comcasts basic package in the New Jersey area.

If there were so many Big 10 alumni fans in the NY city markets now, those people would be forcing the Big 10 network on with or without Rutgers being in the Big 10. If cable subscribers heard from rabid Big 10 fans they would get it on their package. I think there's a reason that there is no Division I football played in and around New York city right now.

[dead]

Hey! Some little-known website ranks Rutgers 7th of 16 in a proposed Big Ten conference. We'd be middle of the pack, but obviously far behind the top teams.

The Big Ten alumni base, which is very sizable in NYC, is not sizable on its own to drive the Big Ten network, but they add a nice bit of gravy on top of the local interest Rutgers brings.

I'm counting on a continued rise in the Rutgers football program. Recruiting has been going well (even very well, some years) but it needs to step up a number of notches. A couple top twenty rankings will start moving things to the next level. I'm an optimist on the program and if it turns out that way, the Big Ten and their network will be very happy to be here.

If you're right, they'll be stuck here. Tough luck!