Shockingly, papajohns.com Bowl not a massive financial decision

For Rutgers, I mean. Not me.

Rutgers University collected $1.2 million for its trip to the PapaJohns.com Bowl last December. But by the time expenses were paid and the coaching staff given its performance bonuses, the school lost more than $184,000, according to reports filed with the NCAA.

While the football team's expenses were more than covered through the Big East Conference -- which pools playoff money -- the university spent more than $200,000 to send faculty, staff and 187 members of the band and cheerleader squads to the game.

Athletics officials said they kept a tight rein on expenses. Had the band and cheerleaders stayed home, they said they would have made $16,456.

"I am especially pleased that we could achieve our seventh straight victory and our third consecutive bowl championship and do so in a fiscally responsible manner," said interim athletic director Carl Kirschner.

The Papajohns.com Bowl is part of a long list of post-season games that are not part of the Bowl Championship Series. While they play a major role in college football, they have no impact on determining the sport's national champion.

Rutgers had downplayed the revenue impact of the game -- which it won in a come-from-behind victory -- long before it played out before a crowd of 38,582 at Legion Field on Dec. 29. While the big bowl games can generate millions in ticket sales, television contracts and other earnings, the Papajohns.com Bowl paid only $300,000 into the pool. Athletics officials had said they expected to break-even.

Via a college football site for winners.