Ready to overload on Savage-related puns?

Ok. I’ve been meaning to give CoveritLive (web applet for liveblogging/chatting) a shot for a while ago. The problem is, though, that you can’t embed them in a free WordPress blog. I’m not sure whether 500 or so hits a day will translate to any traffic, especially when it can’t be embedded in the page.

I’m giving things a test shot though. At 1 pm, turn on NBC, and Click Here if you want to talk TOM SAVAGE, or anything else that’s on your mind. I’m going to see if I can bring in a few fans from other schools to liven things up a bit.

File this away for now

On a conference call yesterday, Jon Corzine announced that, due to the foundering economy, the projected 2009 state budget deficit will increase by $900 million. That number, perhaps optimistically, includes hundreds of millions in federal aid as part of a stimulus package, and large concessions from powerful state labor unions.

It’s important to be cognizant of RU’s extremely precarious financial state. Due the market, the school’s endowment has fallen by 20% over the past to a measly $410 million (universities such as Harvard and UVA have lost billions). New Jersey has drastically cut state aid to Rutgers during the past decade. Rutgers has responded in a variety of ways. They have jacked up tuition and enrollment in order to squeeze as much as possible (which causes a host of other problems), and have had to put off needed faculty hirings and infrastructure improvements.

Rutgers was in a precarious situation during the relative “boom” times; state aid to higher education around the country was increasing by a fair amount, while it was falling in New Jersey. Rutgers received $309 million in state aid (25% of its budget) last year, a cut from $374 million (34.5%) a decade ago. Now that things are much worse, the school could be in for more cuts. This budget process won’t begin in earnest until March. I am not advocating any specific course of action; only that Rutgers alumni, and fans of its athletic teams, remain active and engaged.

Goodbye, my sweet prince

You don’t call a press conference to announce that you’re staying. At least Kenny Britt had the courtesy and not pull a Shonn Greene and announce his departure immediately following the game.

Jeremy Zuttah is my favorite Scarlet Knight of the past few years, followed closely by Eric Foster. However, I’d further argue that Kenny Britt was the best. Yes, better than Rice and Leonard. His sheer talent was such a force to be reckoned with, his star shone so brightly, that you knew that, sooner or later, he would be moving on to the pro ranks.

Great for him. Britt has a right to make a living, and has absolutely nothing left to prove in college. The best possible outcome at this point is that Britt goes in the first round of the draft and excels, proving that Rutgers can prepare blue chippers for NFL success.

His impact at Rutgers was immeasurable; he was the entire offense in 2008. Tim Brown is ready to start, and Rutgers has some younger players ready for a larger role next year. Make no mistake though; not having Britt creates a gigantic void on next year’s squad that will be difficult to fill.