BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Whether football fans in the township will get to see what is virtually a hometown team play one of its biggest games ever remains in serious doubt.

Regular cable subscribers in East Brunswick will be unable to see Rutgers University play Kansas State in the Texas Bowl Dec. 28 if Comcast does not air the game.

After much public dispute, the NFL Network, which has exclusive rights to the game, last week decided to offer the broadcast to local cable companies, but whether they agree to show it is another matter.

A Comcast spokeswoman said Tuesday the network is “definitely exploring” its option in the matter, and may have a decision later in the week.

The situation is enough of a big deal that the Township Council on Monday got involved, passing a resolution to urge Comcast, which provides cable to East Brunswick, to broadcast the NFL Network.

Unless that happens, most local people will have to find a friend or bar with a satellite system or another cable company in another town. Comcast has offered the NFL Network as part of its digital service since 2004, but not on basic cable.

Township Business Administrator James White said the township is urging Comcast to “provide a free sample” of its upgraded plan that includes the NFL Network so that residents can watch the Rutgers game.

The issue has been widely discussed in the media. The Washington Post wrote recently that the fight between the NFL and the cable giants was really being felt in New Jersey.

“Nowhere is the level of consternation higher than in New Jersey, where Rutgers is in the midst of its best season in three decades,” the paper wrote.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking that the league allow cable stations to air the game in the New York-New Jersey market.

“It’s unacceptable that a majority of New Jerseyans may not be able to watch their state university play in a bowl game,” Lautenberg said at the time. “This is a dispute between the NFL and the cable companies, and Rutgers fans shouldn’t be used as leverage.”

The NFL subsequently announced that it would offer a free preview of its network to Cablevision and Time Warner subscribers in New Jersey and New York.

The East Brunswick Township Council strongly urged Comcast to also make the Texas Bowl available on basic cable.

“Many of the residents of East Brunswick, being avid fans of Rutgers University, have followed the Rutgers football team with great interest in the 2006 season,” according to the resolution.

The game between No. 16 Rutgers and Kansas State will be played at 8 p.m. Eastern time at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Rutgers went 10-2 this fall, its best season since 1976.