Rutgers President Shows His Cards: Not on Board for Fall Football, Insults President Trump for Advocating for Return of B1G Football

Submitted by Indy Pete - Go Blue on September 11th, 2020 at 11:18 AM

Jonathan Holloway, President of Rutgers accuses Trump of 'cheap politics' and questions the national importance of B1G football:

"I mean, it's just cheap politics," he told NJ Advance Media. "I want that person to be paying attention to matters of national security and national importance. This does not rise to that level -- not for a half-second. And even if it was a president that I was completely in love with that was doing this, I'd still think it would be cheap politics."

"If I'm wrong because I was erring on the side of safety, I don't have a problem with that," said Holloway, who played football at Stanford, where he was teammates with Cory Booker, now a U.S. senator representing New Jersey. "I don't think I'm wrong, though. I just don't think it. And if I had to put money down, we're going to see some radical changes within a month -- no later than October. I'm really worried about what we're heading toward, on just college campuses in general, not just sports. It's deeply concerning."

Here we have a B1G university president (unfortunately Rutgers counts) insulting the President of the United States, stating a billion dollar B1G football/sports industry does not rise to national importance, not for a half-second, and cryptically speculating on 'some radical changes within a month - no later than October' without providing specifics.  Holloway sounds like he is trying his own hand at 'cheap politics'.  This guy is one of the 14 people with a vote on whether or not to allow B1G athletes to make their own choice to play or not this fall.  Meanwhile, the athletes' peers have the opportunity to play the sport they love, improve their skills, market themselves for NFL teams, and improve their chances of huge paydays in the NFL.  High school football is happening.  Youth football is happening.  Professional football is happening.  But guys like Holloway will not allow college athletes to play football; a group that the majority already believes is unfairly exploited in the current system.  The irony is truly remarkable.  Many of you openly dislike our nation's President - for valid reasons that I respect.  But, a university president arrogantly speculating with a very political stance, while accusing the President of the USA of playing cheap politics is embarrassing.  Holloway made one thing clear: he does not think he is wrong.  He just doesn't think it.  Bringing in Rutgers continues to cause embarrassment for the conference.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29855356/rutgers-president-casts-president-trump-remarks-big-ten-play-cheap-politics

Imjesayin

September 11th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^

I also wonder what October is going to be like  with all the college kids on campus getting settled in and relaxing their precautions.

And the guy is 1000% correct in every way. It’s football, folks. It’s great, but it’s not life or death. We can live without a season of college football. Priorities.

Um1994

September 11th, 2020 at 1:52 PM ^

I hate politics on this site, but the "no politics" rule was abolished sometime around 2016 so people could bash Trump.  Which is fine. I think most politicians are severely unqualified for thier positions and deserve criticism. Most politicians these days were not great athletes, nor did they serve in the military. The last pres to serve in the active duty military was Bush 1, if I recall; he also played college baseball.  Biden - did not serve and played high school sports like most people do -  is also a bully who challenges people to pushup contests and threatens with personal violence occasionally.  I just wish he would have challenged Tulsi Gabbard to one of those famous push up contests. Point being, I've said it before but we are choosing between a douche and a turd sandwich. Anyone who thinks everything is going to be great with either of these choices is totally dillusional. 

JMo

September 11th, 2020 at 2:15 PM ^

You're right. I like to equivocate one bad thing to something that subjectively one of the worst things ever.

Like that one day when I dropped my keys while I was trying to open my car door. Boy that sucked. Just like the time I tore three ligaments in my left knee in a 3rd world country and couldnt get medical attention. Both bad. Might as well call them equal, right?

But sure, keep spinning this whole "golly I don't think any of my choices are good." If that helps you feel better for pushing a button for Trump, great. But why try to drag us into your weird nonsensical equivocations for making bad choices? Just own it and stop pretending. 

Um1994

September 11th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^

Who is making "nonsensical equivocations"?  I don't think you are representing what I said accurately, but OK.  I get your comparison.  Can there be people who think that Joe Biden is just as horrible a person as Trump?  Possibly; the evidence is there is you care to look.  Throughout his career, even recently, he has made racist statements; he has sponsored crime bills that hurt African Americans; he, like Trump, has been accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment; etc, etc.  Maybe it's more of I tore my ligaments in a 3rd world country (do we still say that?) and couldn't get medical care vs. I tore my ligaments in the northern woods of Canada and couldn't get medical care.  But go ahead and ignore everything negative about Biden if that helps you feel better for pushing a button for him.  Just own it and stop pretending that one is the devil and one is "the light."

JMo

September 11th, 2020 at 4:00 PM ^

I mean, I'm not sure how far down this path I want to go. Ultimately you're either trying to fool us, or you're fooling yourself. Both? I'm not sure which is worse, but I'm also pretty confident I don't care. I guess where I'm curious is if this is something you notice yourself talking about to people in the "real world" or just on random sports related message boards. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but all of us out here aren't 'buying' it. 

I do feel like your secondary post does actually start to shine a little more light on the truth. As Bo was noting, what you're doing is a false equivalency. It's a logical fallacy that's been around since at least the time of Aristotle. All bad things aren't equal. But I get it,  it's difficult in these times to honestly look people in the face and say "I support Trump." Because you have to own so many of his errors, problems, foibles, flaws, mishaps, personality defects, etc along with it. People wonder about you. You don't want to tie yourself to the "bad" stuff. (ha implying there's good stuff?)  So, the only thing you're left to do (which is again what you're trying to shovel here) is to try to say "him too!" I'm sure it was easier when you were all "what about the emails" four years ago. Or "the Clintons are so awful" too. I don't know what nonsense you were saying four years ago.  Maybe something genius like "I just like that he says what is on his mind." As if speaking whatever dumbass thing you think is somehow a virtue.

So yeah, I guess fool yourself. Just as a heads up though, no one else is really buying it. We get it. You want to make a bad choice, but you have to somehow make the pieces connect in your head. But while you're thinking outloud about this, we're not buying it. And I hope you're not either, it would feel probably a little more intellectually honest that way. 

That said, I'm happy to piss on your head. You can call it rain if you like. Everyone kinda knows the truth.

PS good point on "3rd world" thing, I guess people don't use that phrase anymore. It connotes some kind of ranked superiority. I'm not super 'woke' about things like that. My apologies to all I offended.

BoFan

September 11th, 2020 at 2:41 PM ^

UM1994, you are reading right from the Trump get out the vote playbook which says Trump is a shit so try to make Joe look like one too and that way they can suppress any voters that are not Trump hardliners.  

So, the only question for you is, are you reading from the playbook because you’ve heard it too many times or are you reading from it because you are actually in the cult?

And you are wrong about the comparison:

Joe > average joe > shitty human > blood sucking parasite > Trump

MAGA was just another lie.  In 3 short years look at everything he’s destroyed.  

Bluesince89

September 11th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^

That's why he said "proto."  Trump can't even play dictator right.  Make no mistake about it:  Trump wishes he had the type of power people like Putin and Kim Jung Un have.  He's openly retweeted Mussolini quotes.  It's no secret where his sympathy lies.  What should make you really sick is Trump using federal agents to clear peaceful protestors so he could have a photo-op and the Orwellian displays by his administration.  "What you just heard the President say on taped audio is not what you think it is."  

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35682844

 

1VaBlue1

September 11th, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^

If he’s re-elected and the Senate remains a Rep majority, he’ll have that kind of power.  I cringe in terror at the further erosion and outright dismantling of Constituional protections and safeguards that will happen in that event.  You think DoJ is out of control now?  Look at what Hungary and Belarus are doing...

Bluesince89

September 11th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^

Yep.  Like I said, Trump is a fucking idiot.  He's too stupid and erratic to accurately execute.  Bill Barr? He's evil and really smart.  Been that way for years.  People seem to have forgotten his time in the DOJ in 1980s and early 90s.  Consider that they've packed the Courts with numerous unqualified and young ideologues, we're fucked for a generation or two.  

The Mayor

September 11th, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^

No obsession with it. In my basement I have  free weights, dumbbells, a weight bench, treadmill, living room, full bedroom and storage. I certainly don’t spend time down there hiding out. Only when I workout or watch a football game.  Libs aren’t the only ones working from home. But I guess us conservatives are just dumb, working class people that can barely read and write... We aren’t worthy...

The Mad Hatter

September 11th, 2020 at 12:57 PM ^

I never said any such thing.  You were the one painting liberals with a broad brush.

However, I absolutely do question the intellectual horsepower of anyone that continues to support the current President.  His term has been a complete failure, on all fronts, and I just cannot imagine anyone wanting four more years of this shit.  Unless you are super wealthy and don't want to pay a dime more in taxes, or are fairly racist or xenophobic, I can't think of a single reason to vote for him again.

Low energy.  Sad.

 

The Mayor

September 11th, 2020 at 1:09 PM ^

I didn’t paint liberals with any brush. Didn’t even say the word. I called out the one poster that was over dramatizing Trumps re-election. You, on the other hand brought up the “all the liberals I know have a job...” nonsense. Supporting the president doesn’t mean you are supporting everything he has done. I’ve actually, been pretty critical of many things he’s done. However, if you think HRC or JB is the answer, I question your mental capacity just like you question my intellectual horsepower. HRC and her Husband were ensconced in scandal after scandal and JB has flip flopped on every issue as well as been in Washington for my whole life (I’m 49). What has he done except ride 44’s coattails? I’ll hang up and listen to your answer.

mGrowOld

September 11th, 2020 at 1:11 PM ^

I can think of one reason Hatter.

The alternative candidate clearly has early onset dimensia and the prospect of voting for a candidate with diminished mental capacity which is likely to further erode is also scary.

Fwiw I agree with everything you wrote about Trump.  You forgot to add narcissistic, unintelligent sociopath to his resume.

I cannot believe these are the two candidates we have to choose from.  They are both terrible IMO.  For different reasons but both suck.

Shop Smart Sho…

September 11th, 2020 at 1:19 PM ^

I'm sorry, but what is this clear evidence of dementia? And if you believe that, would you care to comment on the difference in speech and vocabulary Trump has displayed between his time as the bigoted birther in chief and now?

Even if they were both mentally deficient, doesn't it matter that one is clearly an amoral idiot while the other at least appears to be empathetic and willing to listen to 

4th phase

September 11th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^

Yeah anyone who says “he has dementia” is just repeating a Fox News talking point. There is no evidence of that. And yes he has/had a stutter, which he’s mostly overcome but can also cause him to sound a little odd in public speeches.

Making up a mental disorder and accusing Biden of having it is pretty rich coming from the people who support trump considering his constant non sensical rambling, frequent misunderstanding of HS level concepts, inability to recall important information given to him in briefings and all around lack of mental fortitude. 
 

If you like Trump that’s one thing, but to act like he has any mental advantage over Biden means you’re just part of a cult who believes everything you’re told and supports the leader at all costs.

TIMMMAAY

September 11th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^

One of them would continue eroding our institutions, norms, rule of law (which he likes to pretend to support), and taking "the swamp" to new lows, the likes of which we have never seen (to use his vernacular). One of them is the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen in my life, and lies about anthing and everything. One of them is willing to court absolute disaster by getting cozy with dictators, fascists, and promote extreme racism. One of them has cheated on all of his wives, and likes to pretend to be religious yet can't quote a single verse. One of them will install cronies and political donors to positions they are absolutely unsuited for, and will pardon his friends when they're inevitably busted for conspiring against our country. One of them will continue to rape the environment in the name of the almighty dollar. 

One is a good human being, and the other one is Donald Trump. He doesn't care to educate himself on anything at all, yet 40% of our country thinks it's a good idea to re-elect him. As The President of the United States. WTF. 

I'm not wild about Biden myself, but given the choice... there is no choice. A vote for DT is a vote against the future of your children, period.