Reports filed by the NCAA have some Rutgers University students and New Jersey residents worried the school has prioritized its athletic reputation over academics.
According to the reports, Rutgers received more than $1 million to take part in the Papa John?s Bowl, but the university spent all of that, plus an additional $184,000 in taxpayer money. The reports break down Rutgers? expenses, which include travel for football players, coaches, band members, cheerleaders and faculty members. Rutgers was also required to purchase tickets, and the coaching staff received bonuses for making it into a bowl game.
The NCAA estimates most schools lose money on bowl games, unless the school participates in one of the ten biggest bowls. Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington universities all lost money on trips to the Rose Bowl, despite the $2 million cash they were paid for participating.
?I don't think it?s worth it that they're doing all this for football and they're getting paid this amount of money when it could be spent on our educations,? Mabel Mayorga, a Rutgers student, says. ?That?s what it?s supposed to be about, right? Our educations??
The interim athletic director says the school acted in a ?fiscally responsible manner? and it could have made a small profit, but chose to send the band and cheerleaders so more students could have a good experience.
Rutgers is also currently in the process of a $102 million stadium expansion.