Rutgers' first year in the Big Ten "was a hit" for the school, as its football program earned $8M in FY '14-15, according to Keith Sargeant of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. It "marks the second straight year that Rutgers earned a profit from its football program," and the $8,099,876 revenue figure "is believed to be a record-high for the program." While spending $18.6M in football operating expenses, Rutgers received $26.7M in revenue from July 1-June 30. The Rutgers football program "was in the black on its athletics ledger one other time" since '00 -- in '11, when the school "reported a profit of $61,161" on its NCAA FY '12 report. The surplus on football "does not take in account debt for the 2008-09 expansion of High Point Solutions Stadium" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/27). A Newark STAR-LEDGER editorial stated it "looks like the Big Ten may be starting to pay off: Already, it's putting some much-needed spit and polish on the Rutgers brand." The annual subsidy "needed to sustain Rutgers' money-losing athletics program has dropped" to $23.8M. After several seasons "of cringe-worthy scandals, including player arrests for armed robbery, it's just good to see Rutgers get positive headlines for a change." Being in the Big Ten "pays off in TV contracts, and could ultimately help Rutgers athletics pay for itself" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/28).
