Rutgers, Camden...

I think they are D3...and I think they play at Campbell's Field right by the river across from Philly and underneath the big bridge. Very scenic.


I would sure check out the overall AREA and crime rate, though.

The pictures of the field do look nice, as do the pics. I've seen of the campus... I'm reading that the school is in the downtown, riverfront area, which is being revitalized~ museums, aquarium, etc... I do know that Camden County, overall, is extremely impoverished and the crime rate is high... However, I try not to judge TOO harshly, as I've learned that bad things can happen anywhere...

My eldest son is on academic scholarship, at Virginia Wesleyan, which is a campus I considered very safe... The first few weeks he was away at school, as a freshman, a security guard was murdered right in the student center... It was awful... ... I realize that Norfolk/VA Beach has its own issues with poverty and crime, but I really never thought something like that would happen on a campus like VWC...

They do play at Campbell field which is real nice. The Camden River Sharks Minor league team plays there also. They are a D-3 school. My son played against them with his JUCO team the last 2 years. They lost their coach year before last to St. Andrews in N.C. Big loss. Don't know anything about new guy. The school has a great reputation accademically but don't venture to far from campus.

Thanks for the info... Did the coach pass away or just move on to another position? My son will be touring the school with the baseball coach, and meeting a few players while he's there... Academically, the school is very appealing and it offers what my son is looking for, degree-wise... It's too bad the surrounding area seems so scary... Is it just pockets of bad areas, in Camden County, or is it the county as a whole?

SC'sM,
Don't get Camden County confused with the city of Camden. The county is large and suburban with many very nice and some upscale communities. Camden City, where the Rutgers campus is located, is impoverished and not a very nice area. The campus and stadium are on the river, which is trying to be revitalized, has some nice tourist attractions (aquarium, concert hall, stadium).

Like others stated don't go too far off of campus into the neighborhood. You can drive and be in a nice area in 5 minutes but don't venture too far on foot. Philadelphia is just across the river over the Ben Franklin bridge. The bridge does give the stadium a nice look.

Don't know much about the BB team other than they stayed in house for the new coach. I do think the program needs an upgrade that a new energized coach could do. There is alot of talent in the area and many of them could use a good local program.

Thanks, fillsfan~ since you're in NJ, I trust that you know the area! Well, all of this will be something to consider when my son makes his 'short list' of colleges... My older son never does venture off campus, on foot~ he drives about 5-10 miles to get to the areas he frequents, in Norfolk/VA Beach, so really, it could be the same for son #2... I did read that the Camden police dept. actually patrols Rutgers, Camden, on foot, bike and by car, and there is a secondary security force on campus, as well... The on-campus crime stats are very low, so it looks like all of the protection is effective...

This reminds me of when my oldest was looking at schools and had Johns Hopkins on his list~ amazing school but questionable area...

It may be a plus for my son to be a part of a ball team with new coaches... When he meets with the Rutgers coach next month, I'll try to remember to post again and let you all know what he thought (my husband is going, too, so his input will be valuable, as well!)...

Good Luck to your son.
You can PM me with any questions you might have. My son works out at a baseball academy 10 minutes from the campus. One of the coaches there applied and interviewed for the head coach job and lost to the in house guy. I can possibly get some info about the program if needed.

Ranked the most dangerous city in USA in 04 and 05. still in the top 3 or 4. Population 79,000+. 43 homicides this year There are also lots of rapes and drug trafficing heck the mayor may still be in prison.... Population is the poorest in the country in 06.
I would never go there after dark and most parts of the city I would not go to in the day time.

SignCallers'Mom, the old coach (Williams) took the head coaching job at St. Andrews College in N.C.

Ditto on NJBB`s post,very depressed city,mirrors East St. Louis.Camden county is a nice area.

I once did some consulting work with the Camden City Schools. Parts of the city look like bombed out Beruit. The school district headquarters had razor wire around the parking lot with an armed guard. The building entrance had metal detectors and an armed guard. When I traveled from the district office to schools I would check into my office by cell so they would know I wasn't MIA.

The Waterfront is nice. We go to concerts. I've been to the ballpark once to see it. Indy ball doesn't do much for me. I wouldn't walk one block from the Waterfront.

Thanks for even more info on the city of Camden... I do know their crime stats, which are certainly daunting... But, Baltimore and DC are right up there, too, and there are some excellent schools in those cities... It's tough... My concern lies mainly in the 'what if' factor~ what if my son loves the school, the faculty he may meet, the students, the baseball coach, the ball field, etc., etc.?

It's good to hear that the old coach just MOVED on, not PASSED on...

RJM~ I hear the waterfront is really nice and I've actually requested some tourist brochures from the area... So, just around the Rutgers campus, can the students find what they need in the SAFE 'zones', like the waterfront area? With 5000+ students at this campus and only about 500-600 being resident students, where do the rest commute from?

If you google Ballpark Digest look under The Atlantic League. There is a real good picture of Campbells Field where The Camden Riversharks play.(Rutgers Too)

quote:

Originally posted by SignCaller'sMa:
Thanks for even more info on the city of Camden... I do know their crime stats, which are certainly daunting... But, Baltimore and DC are right up there, too, and there are some excellent schools in those cities... It's tough... My concern lies mainly in the 'what if' factor~ what if my son loves the school, the faculty he may meet, the students, the baseball coach, the ball field, etc., etc.?

It's good to hear that the old coach just MOVED on, not PASSED on...

RJM~ I hear the waterfront is really nice and I've actually requested some tourist brochures from the area... So, just around the Rutgers campus, can the students find what they need in the SAFE 'zones', like the waterfront area? With 5000+ students at this campus and only about 500-600 being resident students, where do the rest commute from?

I haven't traveled Camden since the consulting job. I live on the PA side of the river. When we go to concerts we take the ferry or drive right to the parking lot.