Rutgers football: Can Greg Schiano and Pat Hobbs coexist? It's worth a shot It's time to put the pitchforks away, because this awkward marriage has potential rewards -- for everyone.

Jerry Carino | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption New Rutgers Athletic Center New Rutgers Athletic Center on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

As Rutgers basketball standout Ron Harper Jr. stepped to the free-throw line against UMass Friday, the 5,600 fans in attendance fell into a customary hush so the sophomore could concentrate.

Then, just as Harper Jr. launched into his motion, a fan yelled “Hire Schiano!” from the RAC’s upper reaches.

It was a startling breech of etiquette for a home crowd, one that neatly illustrated the Greg Schiano-or-bust ethos that made a reunion possible between the football coach and the state university. News of an eight-year deal being struck after weeks of negotiations was first reported late Saturday night by Yahoo Sports.

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For the record, Harper Jr. stayed focused and made the free throw, and now that’s what Rutgers Nation must do.

Because hiring Schiano was just the first part of this project. The second part is functioning as a cohesive athletic department. That’s going to take some work, and the guy Rutgers fans pilloried throughout much of the Schiano courtship, athletics director Pat Hobbs, should be given some room to make it happen.

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Of course, it wasn’t all Hobbs’ fault that negotiations with Schiano were so painful. Greg Brown, his board of governors and President Bob Barchi were equal partners in the initial breakdown, and Schiano and his agent played hardball, too. But Hobbs bore the brunt of criticism because he’d botched the hiring and contract extension of failed football coach Chris Ash (assist to Brown, who recommended Ash for an interview) and committed the sin of being a basketball guy at a football-first school.

Hobbs has revitalized Rutgers men’s basketball by hiring Steve Pikiell and building a $115 million practice facility, which also is enjoyed by women’s basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. And he’s championed the wrestling program, which produced two national titlists and record-setting attendance figures last season.

So it was no surprise that Pikiell and his players gave Hobbs a full-throated endorsement last week, as a not-small portion of the “Hire Schiano” mob appended “Fire Hobbs” to the slogan.

"He’s done a great job and he’s going to go down as one of the best athletic directors Rutgers has ever had,” Pikiell said, in forceful tones. “And I hope you print that and quote me on that and understand the job that he has done in the last four years.”

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That was not lip service to a boss. It was a sentiment that’s been expressed in private, too. And while Rutgers football fans understandably will beg to differ with the superlatives in that quote, the right move now is to exhale, enjoy the return of their favorite coach and let Hobbs go back to work.

Because Rutgers athletics needs money — the department is deep in debt after borrowing heavily against the full share of Big Ten income set to arrive in 2021 — and fundraising is what Hobbs does best. He potentially could be a formidable team with Schiano, but also an important counterweight. During Schiano’s first stint on the banks, it was no secret that he and then-athletics director Bob Mulcahy pillaged men’s basketball to boost football, in effect ruining a hoops program that had fared reasonably well under Gary Waters.

Although Schiano understandably is asking for a massive financial commitment to come home, the pillaging can’t be allowed to happen again (remember, Rutgers still has a huge mountain of debt to climb). Hobbs is the likeliest person to protect basketball (and throw in wresting, which also is selling plenty of tickets) while still funding what Schiano needs to field a competitive team.

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The alternative prospect of Schiano bringing in his own AD at some point, which is never out of the question, would be a tough pill for basketball, wrestling and department cohesion. Because as angry as the rank-and-file Rutgers football fan or booster might be at Hobbs right now, Pikiell’s public defense gave voice to a sentiment that is strong within Rutgers athletics — beyond the men’s basketball office.

In the midst of the Schiano revolt, a fan tweeted at me that it would be fine if Rutgers’ basketball ceased to exist if that’s what helps football succeed. That can’t be the mindset going forward. It’s time to put the pitchforks away and see if Schiano and Hobbs can make it work, because the potential rewards for everyone are great. Ron Harper Jr. made the free throw after the screaming stopped. Rutgers Nation can do the same.

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.