(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Rutgers' entry to the Big Ten on July 1 won't only involve a celebration to cap the day at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Athletic Director Julie Hermann will meet earlier with Big Ten officials, including Commissioner Jim Delany, and Big Ten network personnel. Delany will eventually address the crowd, along with Hermann and University President Robert L. Barchi.

"Not only the high watermark is impressive to me, but the level of collaboration is best in class in the Big Ten," Hermann told The Trentonian. "The fact that they’re all going to be here to celebrate with us is pretty special.”

Hermann, part of her ninth conference, inherited an athletic department that should improve its overall quality with consistent TV visibility. 

She said local games won't be blacked out, thanks to an area TV deal between the Big Ten Network and local providers.

"Now they’ll have a chance to see them (on) live television, in particular because the BTN Network has been accepted so beautifully into the New York television market and the New Jersey television market," Hermann said. "We won’t even be going to black. We’re going to have eyes on sets right away.”

Listen to the full audio recording: