On the Banks, a Rutgers Scarlet Knights community

We're told that a future Big East football television package is a bit more valuable with Villanova in it than any of the other obvious current options, schools such as Central Florida or Houston. (Not sure if Villanova vs. Temple was included in the projections.)

Do not expect a decision this month from the Big East about whether to allow Villanova to upgrade its football program. Do not be surprised if this drags into the summer. If Villanova makes the move up, the timetable probably will be moved back by a year.

On April 12, after a regularly scheduled meeting, the university's Board of Trustees is scheduled to announce its decision on whether the school will accept an invitation to join the Big East for football, the conference it has competed in for all other sports for the last 3 decades, and move up to Division I-A.

Q: What are the more significant costs/investments involved in a move to FBS?
A: Some of the more significant costs/investments involved in a move to FBS would include:
• Improvements to our on-campus football practice/training facilities. The cost of upgrading
practice facilities is preliminarily estimated at $35 million (for physical improvements only).
• Operational costs involved in an FBS move (above our current net expenditures), such as
additional salaries, marketing, and ongoing facility maintenance.
Because of competing institutional priorities, many of these investments would need to be fully funded through private gift support from donors. We are conducting financial analyses as well as a feasibility study to assess the implications of such private gift support–especially in terms of opportunity costs. That is, we are seeking to understand if donor support for football initiatives could preclude support for other initiatives at the university; and if so, how and to what extent.