Top 15, that's where we live. And I am waiting with great anticipation for Jan 6th when Anthony Davis maybe, just maybe, makes us even more legit by taking a block R from the bag and dons scarlet and not an oat, or whatever Ohio State thingee is. I know we are up against it because it is hard to top a little thing like a wire to wire run into the national championship game, with Heismans in the front lobby, but maybe, just maybe, this kid from the shadow of Rutgers stadium got bitten by the Scarlet bug in the shadow of the biggest media town in the world. But even if he goes his own way, like a Brian Toal (how's that working out Toalie...), we are ready for great things in the near future.
I always hear about teams not wanting to mortgage their future for short term success, giving up too much to a chance at success now, only to have the cubboard bare for the next generation. (See Barry Switzer's Oklahoma, national prominence, followed by probation, etc.) But all I keep reading is how young this team is, and how all they have known is winning, yet the players themselves have a sense of ownership of what they have accomplished, and even with the disappoinment of a non-BCS bowl, they were able to find the silver lining and smack the heck out of K State and realize it is a step on the road to accomplishment.
The National Title game isn't a complete joke anymore, I'm not saying they will be a lock for the top-ten, but they will be ranked going into next season...but let's remember to savor this year, an amazing run, an amazing team, an amazing feeling of going on the way up.
Need a little recap of the year? The Home Tribune has a great photo montage of the year in review, makes your heart swell to see the pictures flow through...
Still in Scarlet heaven...Go RU!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
37-10
And it wasn't even that close. Announcers talking about calling off the dogs early in the 4th quarter...in a bowl game? Have you ever heard that kind of talk about Rutgers?
Welcome to a place never visited before. We're talking footsteps on the moon, finding those blind fish that shouldn't be able to exist on the bottom of the ocean, places they have only talked about, and then one day, bam you are there. A play or two away from a conference championship and a BCS bowl bid, double digit wins, respect.
Like many people, I was dreaming of tasting the oranges of Miami, but let's be real, and not be too greedy, this is the first time we have ever gone to abowl in consecutive years....which of course makes sense since the Texas Bowl marks bowl number three in Rutgers history. So, as a fan, I grew into the idea of this bowl, leaving my heartbreak at the goalline of the third overtime, and moving on to the first bowl win ever, the second 11 win season ever, and the smushing of a team like a bug that in past years wasn't a reality over any squad.
But there I sat, watching in awe, as my friends told me it was in the bag, but I didn't believe it until the clock hit zeros. Then the game is over, Schaino is getting a water bath (no Gatorade in the budget?) And then a random K-State fan came over to me, shook my hand and said he thought we had a nice team. Now mind you, K-State has been to 12 bowls in the last 14 years, and they've won in six of those trips. Think about that, twelve bowl games in the last 14 years...versus three in 137. I'll be honest with you, I don't know how to react. Yes, I am savoring the victory, the season, the players, the coach (who is staying), the positive press, but I don't know what to do next.
As a longtime fan, this is two of the best years in the modern era. And yes, although I have tremendous respect for the 60's and 70's teams that played their asses off, they were basically an Ivy League team that put together a some great seasons. But today, college football is a business, and taken much more serious by many more teams. So, this type of success seems sweeter amongst tighter competition, and toss in the lumps we have taken in the past, it is like a dream that I am walking through.
I am in Scarlet Heaven.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Fostering Greatness
The defense finally has a face. All-American Eric Foster.
Before we begin to sing his praises, it should be mentioned that just because they aren't media darlings that ESPN Gameday guys name with puppy love adoration doesn't mean these guys aren't good. If you've watched, listened or read any of the games you've heard their names called. Greene, Thompson, Frierson, Meekings, Girault, Renkart, Beckford, the McCourty twins, Collins, and the list goes on. Even a freshman like George Johnson has not only had an impact with his defensive play on the field, his emergence and opportunity aparently had an impact oon Rutgers getting a commitment from 6'4" Alex Silvestro, a bruising defensive end who liked to see the early playing time given to a first year player. And on top of that, Rutgers out-recruited teams like West Virginia, Iowa and Tennessee. Did I just write that? Tennessee out recruited by Rutgers? I might need to go get my brown paper bag to avoid hyperventilating.
But let's talk Eric Foster. His legend is well known. He blew up his knee last year in the second game of the year and he wasn't sure he would ever play again. And he is listed at 6'2" which if you know anything about the phrase "he is listed at..." in sports terms means he probably isn't 6'2", but he makes up for that with speed and that proverbial motor that doesn't stop running...check out this youtube for an example of his non-stop motor...
We got that fire...
Makes me want to strap on a block R and run through a wall.
Before we begin to sing his praises, it should be mentioned that just because they aren't media darlings that ESPN Gameday guys name with puppy love adoration doesn't mean these guys aren't good. If you've watched, listened or read any of the games you've heard their names called. Greene, Thompson, Frierson, Meekings, Girault, Renkart, Beckford, the McCourty twins, Collins, and the list goes on. Even a freshman like George Johnson has not only had an impact with his defensive play on the field, his emergence and opportunity aparently had an impact oon Rutgers getting a commitment from 6'4" Alex Silvestro, a bruising defensive end who liked to see the early playing time given to a first year player. And on top of that, Rutgers out-recruited teams like West Virginia, Iowa and Tennessee. Did I just write that? Tennessee out recruited by Rutgers? I might need to go get my brown paper bag to avoid hyperventilating.
But let's talk Eric Foster. His legend is well known. He blew up his knee last year in the second game of the year and he wasn't sure he would ever play again. And he is listed at 6'2" which if you know anything about the phrase "he is listed at..." in sports terms means he probably isn't 6'2", but he makes up for that with speed and that proverbial motor that doesn't stop running...check out this youtube for an example of his non-stop motor...
We got that fire...
Makes me want to strap on a block R and run through a wall.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
A Reason to Stay
There are two familiar refrains why head coaches leave their current jobs in most sports.
Number one: They are at a small time program and they are looking for a bigger program and a bigger challenge. (For example, Urban Meyer, Bowling Green to Utah to Florida) This makes sense, of course, because not only do you get more prestige and apply your coaching skills in a more difficult and perhaps more satifsfying way, you also get more pub and coin.
Number two: A coach will pine away to go back to his alma mater or team he/she played on. They do this I assume, to continue the tradition started by a former coach or players, and they wish to be included in that teams' lexicon of greatness. (Roy Williams going back to UNC, for your example here).
So it made a lot of sense to have Schiano going back to Miami to take over the Canes because it would in theory fulfill both of those commonly cited reasons for a coach to leave. But I offer that the grass is not greener in other pastures, rather, Rutgers is the best place for him to continue on as a coach. And in Rutgers, Schiano has a unique opportunity that not many coaches are afforded. Before I get to that, letr me toss out a couple of questions...
Who coached Penn State before Paterno, Florida State before Bobby Bowden, or who took over for Vince Lombardi, or Woody Hayes?
Answers: Charles A. "Rip" Engle at PSU, Darrel Mudra at FSU, Phil Bengston with the Packers, and Earle Bruce at OSU.
The point is, with the exception of Penn State which had a bit of success before Paterno got there, each of those legends made their respective organizations the legendary entities that they were. Rutgers has a nice little footnote of playing in the first college football game, birthplace of college football, and I admit I like the ring of that, but guess what, Delaware was the first state...exactly.
Schiano's legend is still being written. If he like Penn State so much, it is because Joe Pa is a walking legend, and not just with the X's and O'x of football. Great coaches, especially college coaches, are not simply able to win, they are able to win in an atmosphere of young men growing into adulthood. I am not naive to think that money and the business of it all isn't a factor, but go take a poll about the differences between the NFL and NCAA Div 1, and although there is tons of revenue being generated, the difference is the family atmosphere of college programs, alumni, boosters, fans, all connected by a love of an educational institution. And Schiano is doing his best to avoid the academic pitfalls that make his players athletes mainly and students by name alone.
Rutgers is his chance to make his legend from scratch and perhaps give us another cool slogan below the birthplace of college football on a t-shirt.
I am beyond happy that he is with Rutgers for the long haul.
Go RU
Random thought: When people cover Chicago's professional team, they should not put the teams nickname in front of a common word for making shots or you wind up with a sentence that begins like this:
"The Bulls hit..." unless it is going to be something like "The Bulls hit the fan and boy was it messy..."
Like I said, random thought.
Number one: They are at a small time program and they are looking for a bigger program and a bigger challenge. (For example, Urban Meyer, Bowling Green to Utah to Florida) This makes sense, of course, because not only do you get more prestige and apply your coaching skills in a more difficult and perhaps more satifsfying way, you also get more pub and coin.
Number two: A coach will pine away to go back to his alma mater or team he/she played on. They do this I assume, to continue the tradition started by a former coach or players, and they wish to be included in that teams' lexicon of greatness. (Roy Williams going back to UNC, for your example here).
So it made a lot of sense to have Schiano going back to Miami to take over the Canes because it would in theory fulfill both of those commonly cited reasons for a coach to leave. But I offer that the grass is not greener in other pastures, rather, Rutgers is the best place for him to continue on as a coach. And in Rutgers, Schiano has a unique opportunity that not many coaches are afforded. Before I get to that, letr me toss out a couple of questions...
Who coached Penn State before Paterno, Florida State before Bobby Bowden, or who took over for Vince Lombardi, or Woody Hayes?
Answers: Charles A. "Rip" Engle at PSU, Darrel Mudra at FSU, Phil Bengston with the Packers, and Earle Bruce at OSU.
The point is, with the exception of Penn State which had a bit of success before Paterno got there, each of those legends made their respective organizations the legendary entities that they were. Rutgers has a nice little footnote of playing in the first college football game, birthplace of college football, and I admit I like the ring of that, but guess what, Delaware was the first state...exactly.
Schiano's legend is still being written. If he like Penn State so much, it is because Joe Pa is a walking legend, and not just with the X's and O'x of football. Great coaches, especially college coaches, are not simply able to win, they are able to win in an atmosphere of young men growing into adulthood. I am not naive to think that money and the business of it all isn't a factor, but go take a poll about the differences between the NFL and NCAA Div 1, and although there is tons of revenue being generated, the difference is the family atmosphere of college programs, alumni, boosters, fans, all connected by a love of an educational institution. And Schiano is doing his best to avoid the academic pitfalls that make his players athletes mainly and students by name alone.
Rutgers is his chance to make his legend from scratch and perhaps give us another cool slogan below the birthplace of college football on a t-shirt.
I am beyond happy that he is with Rutgers for the long haul.
Go RU
Random thought: When people cover Chicago's professional team, they should not put the teams nickname in front of a common word for making shots or you wind up with a sentence that begins like this:
"The Bulls hit..." unless it is going to be something like "The Bulls hit the fan and boy was it messy..."
Like I said, random thought.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
One word....
WHEW!
Take that Sha La La, and cue Bowser to sing, "Goodnight sweetheart, now it's time to go..." Keep your hands off our coach Mr. Dee and Company. How great is it that Miami, the former class of the Big East, who was going to ruin everything by leaving, couldn't entice someone from lowly little Rutgers to take the money and 'prestige' of Shalala University. Everyone with a good coaching position raise your hand....Miami, not so fast, put that hand down, and go bother Bernie or Barry. Or my recommendations would be for Ms. Donna to find a corrections officer who coached in the state pen, that is the type of discipline that teams needs, not a fine upstanding and honorable man as Mr. Schiano.
In my idle thoughts, I wonder what would happen if Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Ms. Donna made it...with apologies to Conan...Sha Na Na plus Sha La La...hmmm...
Anyways, now that I got that out of my system, thank the football gods that Schiano had a vision of things to come on the banks...he is the salesman that can bring the goods to market, and sell the new era of Rutgers to young men who aren't so into going all over America. I was braced for either decision he made, although I don't know where I would have gone to cry by myself if he left.
And can we stop linking the football teams success to the so called Olympic sports demise. Of course they spent money on the program, because if they didn't spend to upgrade and bring all the elements up to at least sniffing distance of big time programs, what is the point of being in D1. Let's cash in and go to 1AA and be like Nova...are they crazy? Are these academic types not realizing the ancilary benefits of the program? You would think they would be able to see the subtle benefits of recognition, revenue streams, as well as campus and state pride the football team brings. As much as I like and respect the award winning opera singers, debate team, and calc breakthroughs, they simply aren't the type of thing that appeals and calls to a wide student body. It creates an environment of fun and energy that can overlap into other areas of campus life. Involved students and alumni helop a university grow and succeed. Enrollment grows, endowments grow, recognition grows, the university as a whole grows. So please stop tallying up the price of paying a good coach and flying the team and staff to a bowl without at least trying to guess at the economic impact beyond the gridiron. And if anything, the success of the football team can create revenue to SAVE the Olympic sports, not shove them out of the way because of the football budget. How much revenue does the swimming team generate? Ok, so it is not all about the benjamins, but part of the big picture is. Feel free to have all the bake sales you want and see if you get close to a Texas Bowl payout, and gasp, if they had only made that two point conversion, and maybe held on defense one more time...Orange Bowl, BCS, millions...(breathing heavy, feeling woozy...), ok, ok, I'm back, just had a little moment there...back to muttering a little, until I realize, at least we ain't Temple and I fall to the ground and thank the football gods again.
Go G.E., he can still being good things to life...(see earlier post for more on this line of thinking, and some of my finest photoshop work to date) We are glad you'll be staying. Where else would you want to grow old and win National Titles than the good old Garden State?
Go RU!
Take that Sha La La, and cue Bowser to sing, "Goodnight sweetheart, now it's time to go..." Keep your hands off our coach Mr. Dee and Company. How great is it that Miami, the former class of the Big East, who was going to ruin everything by leaving, couldn't entice someone from lowly little Rutgers to take the money and 'prestige' of Shalala University. Everyone with a good coaching position raise your hand....Miami, not so fast, put that hand down, and go bother Bernie or Barry. Or my recommendations would be for Ms. Donna to find a corrections officer who coached in the state pen, that is the type of discipline that teams needs, not a fine upstanding and honorable man as Mr. Schiano.
In my idle thoughts, I wonder what would happen if Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Ms. Donna made it...with apologies to Conan...Sha Na Na plus Sha La La...hmmm...
Anyways, now that I got that out of my system, thank the football gods that Schiano had a vision of things to come on the banks...he is the salesman that can bring the goods to market, and sell the new era of Rutgers to young men who aren't so into going all over America. I was braced for either decision he made, although I don't know where I would have gone to cry by myself if he left.
And can we stop linking the football teams success to the so called Olympic sports demise. Of course they spent money on the program, because if they didn't spend to upgrade and bring all the elements up to at least sniffing distance of big time programs, what is the point of being in D1. Let's cash in and go to 1AA and be like Nova...are they crazy? Are these academic types not realizing the ancilary benefits of the program? You would think they would be able to see the subtle benefits of recognition, revenue streams, as well as campus and state pride the football team brings. As much as I like and respect the award winning opera singers, debate team, and calc breakthroughs, they simply aren't the type of thing that appeals and calls to a wide student body. It creates an environment of fun and energy that can overlap into other areas of campus life. Involved students and alumni helop a university grow and succeed. Enrollment grows, endowments grow, recognition grows, the university as a whole grows. So please stop tallying up the price of paying a good coach and flying the team and staff to a bowl without at least trying to guess at the economic impact beyond the gridiron. And if anything, the success of the football team can create revenue to SAVE the Olympic sports, not shove them out of the way because of the football budget. How much revenue does the swimming team generate? Ok, so it is not all about the benjamins, but part of the big picture is. Feel free to have all the bake sales you want and see if you get close to a Texas Bowl payout, and gasp, if they had only made that two point conversion, and maybe held on defense one more time...Orange Bowl, BCS, millions...(breathing heavy, feeling woozy...), ok, ok, I'm back, just had a little moment there...back to muttering a little, until I realize, at least we ain't Temple and I fall to the ground and thank the football gods again.
Go G.E., he can still being good things to life...(see earlier post for more on this line of thinking, and some of my finest photoshop work to date) We are glad you'll be staying. Where else would you want to grow old and win National Titles than the good old Garden State?
Go RU!
Everything's big in Texas
No doubt, many Rtuegrs fans would rather be heading to Miami and drinking o.j., but I am enjoying the two year string of success nonetheless. While I believe a playoff makes sense, even a limited one, I must admit, that it would diminish the little bit of luster bowls such as the Texas Bowl have to offer. And Kanses State is a quality opponent, who at leaast for one night was better than a huge program in Texas (although they were also worse than Kansas on another night in the near future).
Make no mistake, this is a big step, to not only make the leap to a 7 win season last year, but to sustain and improve this season. I am excited that the team is young, and growing with each experience. Guys like Kenny Britt, Kordell Young, and George Johnson, true freshman who have contributed significant minutes and plays to this seasons success...Rutgers is not yet a program that can bring in guys like this and have them redshirt and get acclimated and ease into their roles. We need them now, and thankfully, they made the committment to the program.
Go RU.
Make no mistake, this is a big step, to not only make the leap to a 7 win season last year, but to sustain and improve this season. I am excited that the team is young, and growing with each experience. Guys like Kenny Britt, Kordell Young, and George Johnson, true freshman who have contributed significant minutes and plays to this seasons success...Rutgers is not yet a program that can bring in guys like this and have them redshirt and get acclimated and ease into their roles. We need them now, and thankfully, they made the committment to the program.
Go RU.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Muttering
I'm like a homeless guy with a mental disorder wandering around, muttering the f-word to myself, but then remind myself that 10 wins isn't bad, two straight bowls aren't bad, and I wonder if I am becoming the fan I loathe. The fan who is never satisfied, and can't see the success through the disappointments. Teams don't routinely go undefeated or win national championships or tear through a league to get to and perhaps win a BCS bowl game, that's what makes those accomplishments special. And the teams that do those things on a regular basis generally have a cadre of fans who get mad, even furious when their team isn't the greatest every year. This is also the reason a coach can win 80% of his games including a national title and be thrown out of his job without a peep of criticism (Coker anyone?) There can be only one national champion each year...ok, maybe two if the polls go crazy...does that make 115 or 116 other division I coaches and their teams losers and underachievers?
So, I know all that, and I am excited at the beginning of this rise, and I hope it continues for many years, but at the same time, I can't get over the feeling that we may have left something on the table. That doesn't take away from the success or the accomplishments, and in some ways sets RU up for perhaps its first ever bowl win, because Wake is good, bottom line. They may have won against a weaker ACC conference this year, but they have a potent running game, speedy WR's, and a young QB who doesn't know he shouldn't be this good this early.
Rutgers is a walking, talking, ten win miracle. They recruited well, and they won games, and they have turned it around with a fantastic coach and a stock of talented and strong character players. And I will toss in the splintering of the Big East by traitor Shalalala (I wonder if Bowser works for her...) as a factor to help because maybe Rutgers saw a chance to step into the void at the top of the conference without as much money as it would have taken to step into Va Tech, Miami, and BC's budget. As it turns out, we are approaching them, but as karma would have it, Rutgers has had a better season than all of them.
And one other thing, I had the chance to hear the radio broadcast of the game. For the most part, I enjoy their coverage of Rutgers. They are informed and relatively free of homerism, although they know when to lean in and hope things are going to Scarlet Knights way. They paint a picture of the game as they should do on radio, and often engage in situational conversation that brings fans inside the game. However, with all that being said, I have a major bone to pick with the duo of Carlin and Pernetti and it relates to their talk about James Townsend. Yes, Townsend dropped a huge pass that would have been a touchdown late in the game. But these two kept bringing it up as the play that cost Rutgers the game. Now, I am not denying that it was a huge mistake, but to rail on a guy for one play was over the top and inappropriate. Why not rail on Ito for missing the 52 yarder? According to their logic, that cost them the game too. Or blame McCourty for letting WVU get down to the 1 yard line in the third overtime in one play. That play cost them the game too. Many plays add up to why a team wins or loses a game. For example, Bill Buckner is often blamed for the Red Sox losing the World Series in 86, but people don't remember Calvin Schiraldi stinking up the joint from the pitchers mound on that night. It was irresponsible journalism to blame Townsend not only when they play happened, but throughout the rest of the telecast.
So, I know all that, and I am excited at the beginning of this rise, and I hope it continues for many years, but at the same time, I can't get over the feeling that we may have left something on the table. That doesn't take away from the success or the accomplishments, and in some ways sets RU up for perhaps its first ever bowl win, because Wake is good, bottom line. They may have won against a weaker ACC conference this year, but they have a potent running game, speedy WR's, and a young QB who doesn't know he shouldn't be this good this early.
Rutgers is a walking, talking, ten win miracle. They recruited well, and they won games, and they have turned it around with a fantastic coach and a stock of talented and strong character players. And I will toss in the splintering of the Big East by traitor Shalalala (I wonder if Bowser works for her...) as a factor to help because maybe Rutgers saw a chance to step into the void at the top of the conference without as much money as it would have taken to step into Va Tech, Miami, and BC's budget. As it turns out, we are approaching them, but as karma would have it, Rutgers has had a better season than all of them.
And one other thing, I had the chance to hear the radio broadcast of the game. For the most part, I enjoy their coverage of Rutgers. They are informed and relatively free of homerism, although they know when to lean in and hope things are going to Scarlet Knights way. They paint a picture of the game as they should do on radio, and often engage in situational conversation that brings fans inside the game. However, with all that being said, I have a major bone to pick with the duo of Carlin and Pernetti and it relates to their talk about James Townsend. Yes, Townsend dropped a huge pass that would have been a touchdown late in the game. But these two kept bringing it up as the play that cost Rutgers the game. Now, I am not denying that it was a huge mistake, but to rail on a guy for one play was over the top and inappropriate. Why not rail on Ito for missing the 52 yarder? According to their logic, that cost them the game too. Or blame McCourty for letting WVU get down to the 1 yard line in the third overtime in one play. That play cost them the game too. Many plays add up to why a team wins or loses a game. For example, Bill Buckner is often blamed for the Red Sox losing the World Series in 86, but people don't remember Calvin Schiraldi stinking up the joint from the pitchers mound on that night. It was irresponsible journalism to blame Townsend not only when they play happened, but throughout the rest of the telecast.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Possibilities
In Shawshank Redemption, Red talks about hope being a bad thing, and being locked in crappy football prison for so many years, I have been smushed by hope often. But that familiar refrain has a chance to be buried with a little magic this evening. Rutgers didn't kill anybody, and their only crime has been being a bad football husband, and whatever that crime's punishment is, they have more than served enough time. Maybe it is odds of probability, that they woudl finally hire a good coach who would finally keep enough local talent, and have some odd connection with another football power state in Florida. And if the world played the scenerio out enough times, Rutgers would come up a winner...
But that doesn't mean that the huge strides taken the last two years mean we will walk into Morgantown and walk away with an easy victory. The road is a cold and lonely place in college football. The lone easy road victory this year came after the defense ruined the team leaders leg, and I am sure that the shocked middies couldn't recover emotionally in time to get back into that game. In tonight's game, the Neers are spoilers, and probably aren't too happy after being reminded of that fact all week.
But that being said, my man Dufraine thinks hope is a good thing, and a win could be our parole where we go to Buxton, find a shiny rock that has no earthly business being there, find a map to Zihuatanejo and live in football paradise. i don't know if our visit to respectability will last a year, two years, or is a generation long thing, but my own experience says to enjoy the hell out of it now, and savor every moment I can.
Here's to savoring and some couch burning in Piscataway.
Go RU
But that doesn't mean that the huge strides taken the last two years mean we will walk into Morgantown and walk away with an easy victory. The road is a cold and lonely place in college football. The lone easy road victory this year came after the defense ruined the team leaders leg, and I am sure that the shocked middies couldn't recover emotionally in time to get back into that game. In tonight's game, the Neers are spoilers, and probably aren't too happy after being reminded of that fact all week.
But that being said, my man Dufraine thinks hope is a good thing, and a win could be our parole where we go to Buxton, find a shiny rock that has no earthly business being there, find a map to Zihuatanejo and live in football paradise. i don't know if our visit to respectability will last a year, two years, or is a generation long thing, but my own experience says to enjoy the hell out of it now, and savor every moment I can.
Here's to savoring and some couch burning in Piscataway.
Go RU
Friday, December 01, 2006
Peter King...PR Man?
Ok, here's a list and you tell me what they have in common...
Ben Roethlisberger (hey , I speeled it right!)
Peyton Manning (Colts superhuman)
Kimmie Meissner (16 year old triple axle landing world champ)
LeBron James (alien)
Liu Xiang (Chinese sprinter, broke the world record in the 110-meter hurdles)
Albert Pujols (aka, the baby, boo hoo, I only got a world series ring and not the mvp...)
Tra Battle (hard hitting safety from UGA)
Maggie Dixon (the late coach at Army)
Tiki Barber (freaky Giants RB)
and...
Brian Leonard
Give up? They are all being considered for Sportman/woman of the year. (Thanks to Rob for the heads up on this)
Brian Leonard is Peter King's pick, and while his proximity from his home in North Jersey to the Banks may have a small factor in this, or the gush job he wrote following the Louisville game notwithstanding, it is still a small miracle that Leonard is getting this kind of pub. Not for us, of course, but I wouldn't call Rutger's fans exactly unbiased in our admiration of Brian Leonard, and if you read some of the comments below King's article, many people across the country don't understand the impact of #23 on the community around Rutgers, and the state of New Jersey overall.
And I don't think it is fair to project his NFL career. There are no guarantees, and plenty of things have to break the right way for him to get drafted with a team that fits his abilities, and a coach who will utilize him to take advantage of his strengths. The NFL is a different game, a quicker game with the best of the best. I'm not suggesting I don't think he can do well in the NFL, I merely suggesting that his success in the NFL is irrelevant to his current hero status. He will always be the face of this turnaround, with all due respect to Schiano. Players and talent win games. I admire Schiano and give him the utmost respect for selling the program, but Leonard was a stud who came to Piscataway and mentored this group. Young people don't always respond to a coach hammering in details, or questioning effort, or showing someone the right way to prepare for a game, But someone like Leonard, who may or may not be a guy who gets in peoples faces and fires up his teammates...I don't know, I am not in the lockerroom. But my suspicion is that Leonard is a guy who leads by example, works his tail off, and gets the most out of his abilities. In return, his teammates see that ethic and emulate it. He will be sorely missed, but his impact will be longlasting.
From the random observation department, on the CnnSI website, there is an ad for viagra that says, "For all you weekend warriors (or athletes or something)...Play Hard." Ahem. viagra? play hard? kinda cheap...and I like it!
Go RU.
Ben Roethlisberger (hey , I speeled it right!)
Peyton Manning (Colts superhuman)
Kimmie Meissner (16 year old triple axle landing world champ)
LeBron James (alien)
Liu Xiang (Chinese sprinter, broke the world record in the 110-meter hurdles)
Albert Pujols (aka, the baby, boo hoo, I only got a world series ring and not the mvp...)
Tra Battle (hard hitting safety from UGA)
Maggie Dixon (the late coach at Army)
Tiki Barber (freaky Giants RB)
and...
Brian Leonard
Give up? They are all being considered for Sportman/woman of the year. (Thanks to Rob for the heads up on this)
Brian Leonard is Peter King's pick, and while his proximity from his home in North Jersey to the Banks may have a small factor in this, or the gush job he wrote following the Louisville game notwithstanding, it is still a small miracle that Leonard is getting this kind of pub. Not for us, of course, but I wouldn't call Rutger's fans exactly unbiased in our admiration of Brian Leonard, and if you read some of the comments below King's article, many people across the country don't understand the impact of #23 on the community around Rutgers, and the state of New Jersey overall.And I don't think it is fair to project his NFL career. There are no guarantees, and plenty of things have to break the right way for him to get drafted with a team that fits his abilities, and a coach who will utilize him to take advantage of his strengths. The NFL is a different game, a quicker game with the best of the best. I'm not suggesting I don't think he can do well in the NFL, I merely suggesting that his success in the NFL is irrelevant to his current hero status. He will always be the face of this turnaround, with all due respect to Schiano. Players and talent win games. I admire Schiano and give him the utmost respect for selling the program, but Leonard was a stud who came to Piscataway and mentored this group. Young people don't always respond to a coach hammering in details, or questioning effort, or showing someone the right way to prepare for a game, But someone like Leonard, who may or may not be a guy who gets in peoples faces and fires up his teammates...I don't know, I am not in the lockerroom. But my suspicion is that Leonard is a guy who leads by example, works his tail off, and gets the most out of his abilities. In return, his teammates see that ethic and emulate it. He will be sorely missed, but his impact will be longlasting.
From the random observation department, on the CnnSI website, there is an ad for viagra that says, "For all you weekend warriors (or athletes or something)...Play Hard." Ahem. viagra? play hard? kinda cheap...and I like it!
Go RU.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Q&A on Mountainlair
I had the honor of being posted on another blog, as Mountainlair, a great blog for West Virginia Mountaineer information. To read my brilliant insights...ok, at least to read my blather, please feel free to surf over to Mountainlair and take a gander. Thanks to John at Mountainair for giving me the chance to babble...now here's also hoping my prediction comes true.
Go RU!
Go RU!
80
I am a child of the 70's, but I remembert the 80's. Reaganomics and that whole gang...parachute pants, breakdancing, garbage pail kids, the other Bush, and lots and lots of Rutgers losses. But another 80 sticks out in my mind as well, as in 80-7.
This was t
he score of one of the most infamous games in recent Rutgers history. A crappy West Virginia team decided to not just take out its frustrations on Rutgers, not just to shove this loss far up into the deep recesses of our worst fears, they also decided to fill the hole created by that deep planting with concrete to indelibly leave a mark on all who watched, listened, or just got updates on the web. Now, this was when the web was a pledgling thing, and I figured the GameCast on ESPN was screwed up because the score kept changing so fast and how could it get to 59-0 at the half? It didn't make sense, and it still doesn't make sense.
The thing is, we remember that game, they way we remember an especially bad breakup where you discover your girl not only won't be dating you, but she has been secretly dating your soon to be ex-best friend, and they had their first "experience" in your bed, when you were getting a soda or something, and you, know, it just happened....yeah, like 80 points can just happen.
We remember that embarassment, the players, the coaches, it is burned in. And like a bigger kid who kicked your ass, but you couldn't do anything about it...until now.
Now, we are ready to answer for that. Sure it has taken a few years, but the scars are still bright and fresh. We remember 80-7 and we are still pissed. I doubt it is the same for the players, because as a football player you have to have a short memory for things like that, but it still makes my stomach tighten when I think about that game, and I still want revenge. Schiano isn't exactly the run it up type of guy, and I have read that he and Rodriguez (WVU's head coach) are somewhat friends...
But screw that. I want to hang 60 on them, and finally delivery punishment for that crime with 80 counts of cruelty.
80-7...walk to the light CarolAnn...80-7
This was t
he score of one of the most infamous games in recent Rutgers history. A crappy West Virginia team decided to not just take out its frustrations on Rutgers, not just to shove this loss far up into the deep recesses of our worst fears, they also decided to fill the hole created by that deep planting with concrete to indelibly leave a mark on all who watched, listened, or just got updates on the web. Now, this was when the web was a pledgling thing, and I figured the GameCast on ESPN was screwed up because the score kept changing so fast and how could it get to 59-0 at the half? It didn't make sense, and it still doesn't make sense.The thing is, we remember that game, they way we remember an especially bad breakup where you discover your girl not only won't be dating you, but she has been secretly dating your soon to be ex-best friend, and they had their first "experience" in your bed, when you were getting a soda or something, and you, know, it just happened....yeah, like 80 points can just happen.
We remember that embarassment, the players, the coaches, it is burned in. And like a bigger kid who kicked your ass, but you couldn't do anything about it...until now.
Now, we are ready to answer for that. Sure it has taken a few years, but the scars are still bright and fresh. We remember 80-7 and we are still pissed. I doubt it is the same for the players, because as a football player you have to have a short memory for things like that, but it still makes my stomach tighten when I think about that game, and I still want revenge. Schiano isn't exactly the run it up type of guy, and I have read that he and Rodriguez (WVU's head coach) are somewhat friends...
But screw that. I want to hang 60 on them, and finally delivery punishment for that crime with 80 counts of cruelty.
80-7...walk to the light CarolAnn...80-7
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Madness
Ok, so maybe the national spotlight has left the banks, but I remain. It is a crazy system, and one that is rife with prejudice and historical bias. I don't want to hear about the Big East as a weak conference anymore. Every conference, every team, is vulnerable (see USC at Oregon State, Texas v. A&M, and Florida v. South Carolina while not a loss, but a clear indication of their vulnerability). Ok, so we don't have a long list on national championship teams, but even the teams that left, Miami, Va Tach, BC, who everyone called the class of the conference, are not exaclty conquering the world. It's like a broken record, that conference sucks, this conference is the strongest...if the teams had a chance to play, there would be a definitive answer, but instead we are stuck in a self-fulfilling NCAA edict to keep it a murky national scene, so many teams can remain in contention, and many arguments can carry on about who deserves to be there. Playoffs? I know it is some kind of taboo word....too many teams would end their season with a loss, thus too many coaches would be judged a failure...I don't see why 4 or 8 teams couldn't play an extra week or two to give a chance to a somewhat fair amount of teams...or why not do January madness and invite the top 64 football teams? Now that would be exciting....
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Kirk Derpstreet
Uh, while I have appreciatted Kirk's enthusiasm over Rutgers turning things around, have you heard the one about the pollster who forgot to put a team on his list? Thanks Kirk. Lose to Cincy...off his radar.
Must have been high on Buckeye mania.
Must have been high on Buckeye mania.
Forecast Wrong: Sun Rises
Ok, ok, so maybe the world ending is a bit dramatic. But talk about getting kicked in the groin by the Bearcats of Cincy...and give them no credit, all they did was show up and not vomit all over themselves. And I don't totally blame Teel. Sure, he didn't play the best of games, but there was the usual cast of dropped passes and you can toss in a bunch of lingering injuries, and a defense that allowed a bevy of big plays...ugh. The WR's will eventually learn that the ball is a precious thing, and they need to cling to it when it comes in their general direction, and if a bad pass is floating in their direction, feel free to turn into a DB and try to deflect the pass, or maybe, gasp make a tackle on a guy who is about to streak 80+ yards for a TD.
Is there a worse penalty than 15 yards for defensive pass interference? I counted at least three times Cincy defenders were beat and just decided to tackle an RU WR, and instead of a big gain, it is just a fifteen yard and an automatic first down. One foot in bounds, and clock stopping on first down are coo
l college quirks, but the leniency on pass interference seems like a strategic move by a defender that is not punished properly.
Yes, the sun did rise Sunday, but only through a thick fog. My expectations for this season were 7-4, 8-3 at best, so I should be happy with the 9-1 predicament they are in, but have you ever been to Duke's football stadium or Northwestern's field? I'm not saying that the Knights of Scarlet are headed into a similar quick tailspin, but you never know. And when they are riding at 9-0 and #7 in the nation, I would rather they take advantage of the situation and go as far as they can. Don't talk about taking steps right now, don't try to give my an upbeat tone because of the laurels, right now, I am rightfully pissed that we gacked away an opportunity to be national champions of NCAA Division I football. Maybe it was a slim chance and we have 137 years of bad pub to overcome and Ohio State would have smoked us...I wanted the ride to last as long and as far as it could, and a bad effort to Cincy stings and doesn't feel like it should have ended that way. When you lose because the other team is better, still bitter, but at least legit. When you lose because you didn't show up and played poorly, ugh.So, yes, I admit, I was riding the dream wave of Buckeyes versus Scarlet Knights, only to have it dashed amidst a Bearcat "signature Big East win."
I feel weird to have the cache to give anyone a signature anything, and I should take solice in the fact that my Ohio State friend (Stiffy, you bastard) took the time to rub in the loss. Usually I would have a call of pity not derision...I guess we have come far.
Go R.U.
Is there a worse penalty than 15 yards for defensive pass interference? I counted at least three times Cincy defenders were beat and just decided to tackle an RU WR, and instead of a big gain, it is just a fifteen yard and an automatic first down. One foot in bounds, and clock stopping on first down are coo
l college quirks, but the leniency on pass interference seems like a strategic move by a defender that is not punished properly.Yes, the sun did rise Sunday, but only through a thick fog. My expectations for this season were 7-4, 8-3 at best, so I should be happy with the 9-1 predicament they are in, but have you ever been to Duke's football stadium or Northwestern's field? I'm not saying that the Knights of Scarlet are headed into a similar quick tailspin, but you never know. And when they are riding at 9-0 and #7 in the nation, I would rather they take advantage of the situation and go as far as they can. Don't talk about taking steps right now, don't try to give my an upbeat tone because of the laurels, right now, I am rightfully pissed that we gacked away an opportunity to be national champions of NCAA Division I football. Maybe it was a slim chance and we have 137 years of bad pub to overcome and Ohio State would have smoked us...I wanted the ride to last as long and as far as it could, and a bad effort to Cincy stings and doesn't feel like it should have ended that way. When you lose because the other team is better, still bitter, but at least legit. When you lose because you didn't show up and played poorly, ugh.So, yes, I admit, I was riding the dream wave of Buckeyes versus Scarlet Knights, only to have it dashed amidst a Bearcat "signature Big East win."
I feel weird to have the cache to give anyone a signature anything, and I should take solice in the fact that my Ohio State friend (Stiffy, you bastard) took the time to rub in the loss. Usually I would have a call of pity not derision...I guess we have come far.
Go R.U.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Trap This
I know, I know. We haven't been here before, we don't know how to not look past any game, and how in the world can we come off the biggest win in team history and not have a let down?Plus, Cincy is hungry to be bowl eligible, and we are on the road.
I could mention the chopping coach, or the superman fifth year senior who overcame broken beer bottles on his car, or the sophomore who keeps getting stronger, or the much maligned QB who just keeps plugging away, but there is a better reason why this whole season has been for real, with no disrepect to anyone on the offensive side of the ball.
Rutgers defense is for real. No one has run up the score, no one has dominated us for a whole game, and although the no name group is starting to get some name recognition, they remain a solid, team oriented bunch of speedy, and maybe a bit unsersized group of crazies.
So trap yourself in happiness, the ride is not over....
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Remember the Titans...and Canes, Eagles, and Hokies
How sweet it is, and continues to be.
Notwithstanding the doubters, Matt Hayes on Sporting News, and Dennis Dodd on Sportsline, who still think Rutgers is a pretender and won't win on Saturday night,
most of the nation is giving Rutgers respect. No one in their right mind thinks an undefeated Rutgers has some kind of guaranteed birthright to get into the national title game. The biggest factor is history. USC, Florida, Notre Dame...these names evoke majesty in terms of college football, a loss or bump in the road indicates a normal progressiona for a championship team, and they have the history to back it up. Make no mistake that the powers that run college football like the debates that no playoffs spark. The talk keeps college football on the minds and lips of people, and keeps serious interest in the regular season. In sports such as the basketball, the regular season is about maneuvering for position, and while the banner for winning your conference is nice, it doesn't really mean much.
But football is a different animal. Each game, and by extension, each play can drastically change a season (see South Florida dropping a two point conversion, or Ray Rice's game changing rommp against Pitt). And the Scarlet Knights will be in playoff games the rest of the regular season, and potentially, as the schedule makers knew, their finale against West Virginia will be just like every other conference's title game.
What I don't understand is the posturing that the Big East is a weak conference. Rankings being as subjective as they are, are still generated by writers and coaches, (and sometimes they don't get it right by their own admission) and if you look at them, apparently people think Rutgers, L'ville, and West Virginia are for real, and three of the best 25 teams in the country. They don't list them with asterisks, I assume the rankings mean that if a lower ranked team played a higher ranked team, the team ranked higher would win. Right? So what is the confusion? The last time I checked, the ACC is the worst conference in America, they are the joke, and not the powerful force with the cream of the Big East crop. It may be a perfect storm this season having a former doormat (RU), a former Conf USAer (L'ville), and the team that just so happened to smoke the SEC champion LAST YEAR (WVU), but past history doesn't indicate current success (see White Sox, Red Sox, Hurricanes, and Lightning).
Go RU.
Notwithstanding the doubters, Matt Hayes on Sporting News, and Dennis Dodd on Sportsline, who still think Rutgers is a pretender and won't win on Saturday night,
most of the nation is giving Rutgers respect. No one in their right mind thinks an undefeated Rutgers has some kind of guaranteed birthright to get into the national title game. The biggest factor is history. USC, Florida, Notre Dame...these names evoke majesty in terms of college football, a loss or bump in the road indicates a normal progressiona for a championship team, and they have the history to back it up. Make no mistake that the powers that run college football like the debates that no playoffs spark. The talk keeps college football on the minds and lips of people, and keeps serious interest in the regular season. In sports such as the basketball, the regular season is about maneuvering for position, and while the banner for winning your conference is nice, it doesn't really mean much.
But football is a different animal. Each game, and by extension, each play can drastically change a season (see South Florida dropping a two point conversion, or Ray Rice's game changing rommp against Pitt). And the Scarlet Knights will be in playoff games the rest of the regular season, and potentially, as the schedule makers knew, their finale against West Virginia will be just like every other conference's title game.
What I don't understand is the posturing that the Big East is a weak conference. Rankings being as subjective as they are, are still generated by writers and coaches, (and sometimes they don't get it right by their own admission) and if you look at them, apparently people think Rutgers, L'ville, and West Virginia are for real, and three of the best 25 teams in the country. They don't list them with asterisks, I assume the rankings mean that if a lower ranked team played a higher ranked team, the team ranked higher would win. Right? So what is the confusion? The last time I checked, the ACC is the worst conference in America, they are the joke, and not the powerful force with the cream of the Big East crop. It may be a perfect storm this season having a former doormat (RU), a former Conf USAer (L'ville), and the team that just so happened to smoke the SEC champion LAST YEAR (WVU), but past history doesn't indicate current success (see White Sox, Red Sox, Hurricanes, and Lightning).
Go RU.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
CHOP HOUSE
I know I wrote about this before, but this name came to me in a flash in Thursday night.
The nickname for Rutgers stadium should be simple, yet evoke pride and a sense of the frebzy that occurs when a team tries to come into our confines and escape with a win. The easiest , simplest, most effective way to capture that essence...
THE CHOP HOUSE.
It's visual, and we wouldn't be one of those culturally insensitive group of fans that do a fake native american scalping motion. Instead we would continue the chopping motion of an ax against wood, chopping our hand axes into our palms...although maybe there is a morbid beheading thing in the dark recesses of your mind.
The nickname for Rutgers stadium should be simple, yet evoke pride and a sense of the frebzy that occurs when a team tries to come into our confines and escape with a win. The easiest , simplest, most effective way to capture that essence...
THE CHOP HOUSE.
It's visual, and we wouldn't be one of those culturally insensitive group of fans that do a fake native american scalping motion. Instead we would continue the chopping motion of an ax against wood, chopping our hand axes into our palms...although maybe there is a morbid beheading thing in the dark recesses of your mind.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Pinch Me
I am still shocked and I will admit it.
I have always believed they would eventually win...
I have always wished that they would eventually win...
It is nirvana, heaven, redemption, gratification, and it isn't over yet.
I stopped to smell the roses yesterday, to savor the possibilities, and maybe take a moment to dream. Down 25-14 at the half, I had a weird feeling, they were set-up nicely. Just like RU had learned from UConn about letting up a little at the half, RU came out like mad chopping dogs, and shook the foundations of college football. Yes, the foundations.
And, I cried, literally cried tears of joy watching the highlites this morning.
Go RU.
I have always believed they would eventually win...
I have always wished that they would eventually win...
It is nirvana, heaven, redemption, gratification, and it isn't over yet.
I stopped to smell the roses yesterday, to savor the possibilities, and maybe take a moment to dream. Down 25-14 at the half, I had a weird feeling, they were set-up nicely. Just like RU had learned from UConn about letting up a little at the half, RU came out like mad chopping dogs, and shook the foundations of college football. Yes, the foundations.
And, I cried, literally cried tears of joy watching the highlites this morning.
Go RU.
Monday, November 06, 2006
G.E. (Schiano), He brings good things to life.
"I am a man of constant sorrow..."Yes, you know the infectious song from O Brother, Where Art Thou, and quite frankly the theme song for a generation of Rutgers fans. Can you imagine if you were born in 1976? There's no way you remember any of the events of that Rutgers season. And maybe by the time you were 5 or 6 in 1981, Deron Cherry had graduated and you were lucky enough to see tht scintillating 3-0 victory over Virginia at Giants stadium, or the heartbreaker to the Wayne Hardin led Temple Owls (who were only two years removed from their win over Cal in the Garden State Bowl...)
You were watching the end of an era as Frank Burns (who was drafted by the Eagles in 1949) was heading out the door, and Dick Anderson was on his way in the door, followed by the Graber era, and the Shea error...and then along came Gregory Edward Schiano....hmm, remember the old general electric jingle? G.E. we bring good things to life? Certainly true again...
Just for another historical note...I found this little nugget in the NY Times archives...dated Jan. 7, 1984:
SPORTS PEOPLE ; Then There Were 10
The Rutgers football schedule for 1984 includes Miami, the final No. 1-ranked team, and four other teams that competed in bowl games this past season. But if the opponents look tough, preparing for them has been even tougher, especially because the Scarlet Knights do not have a head coach.
An advisory committee headed by David A. (Sonny) Werblin has pared a list of candidates to 10, but while it continues the selection process, the recruiting is being handled by the nine assistant coaches, none of whom are sure they will be retained by the new coach. Jerry Petercuskie , one of the assistants to Frank Burns , who was dismissed after the Knights' 3-8 season, said that not a single high school player had committed himself to Rutgers. ''Some have said they'll wait and some have not,'' Petercuskie said. ''We lost some because of the fact we don't have anybody here.''
From not a single player in the state committing to NJ State U., to now, where these kids weren't even gleams in their parents eyes...
By the way, for more about the newest trends, and how many recruits came to find respect for RU, Steve Politi from the Ledger is writing some very interesting articles leading up to the Luoisville game about historical decisions by coaches, recruits, and the program overall that led up to this era of Knights football.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Thump Thump...Thump Thump...
It started as a small pitter patter as Manny picked off the pass amidst the powder blue of the Northern Carolina. Then, the spanking of the Illini behind the shed, and the merciless Soliches and Bison slaughter had it thumping a bit harder. Then an odd trek began, on the road, and up the rankings. I remember when I happened to be in South Florida near Miami when Rutgers was in Tampa. A guy spotted my Rutgers shirt and said, "Hey, their having a nice year, but it is going to be tough tonight. You know, they lost to New Hampshire a few years back." Not understanding this unfounded attack, I responded, "Yeah, that was a few years ago, and times have changed...By the way, how is the U doing this year?" knowing that they hadn't had the best of starts, including a bad loss to FSU. The man responded, "What do I care? I root for New Hampshire." So, I knew odd things were afoot when Hurricane fans were jumping ship to root for a Div 1AA team. And after three exhillerating wins on the road, the cardiac kids block a punt, clamp down on UConn, and set-up Rutgers' biggest Big East game....ever.But still, I have been having this odd feeling in the ticker, so I went to the doctor, and low and behold, he reported back the above image. I have Rutgers Heartworm. I can't eat as much, and I am frequently starting conversations with random people about Rutgers. My doctor said that I am not in any immediate harm, but he was curious about all the scars. I had to explain that I have had the heart muscle rebuilt several times from being broken with all kinds of actions, missed field goals, turnovers, penalties, injuries, etc. Someone, the joy of this season has not only healed many wounds, it has made my muscle stronger and ready to grow even larger.
Is it Thursday yet?
Thursday, November 02, 2006
But did I mention?
By the way, the significance of tonight's game is only for one of those teams to rise into a tie for first place with the Scarlet Knights...
Burning Sofas and Red Birds
Important Big East games not inclusing Miami or Virginia Tech (hey, BC never really meant much to anyone right?) didn't often happen in the big east. Now, the BE has the appetizer for the second most important game of the regular season, giving full due to the Bucks and Big Housers. I have often wondered what would happen when you cross a bearded mountain guy with a loaded musket and a redish bird with a mean scowl on its face? It seems like the Mounts have the upper hand in this game. All their offensive weapons running amuk, and a defense that does what it needs to do to keep things in order. But, like everyone likes to ponder, who have the Mounts played?
Marshall? 3-5
Eastern Washington? 2-7
East Carolina? 4-4
Mississippi State? 2-7
Syracuse? 3-6
UConn? 3-5.
The only school that even seems like a good win is Maryland which stands at 6-2. I know, I know, you can only win the games on your schedule, and no one in the "Pwer" conferences is jumping at the chance to go to Morgantown, but the bearded hilltopper hasn't exactly been going through the SEC grinders like Floria and Auburn have experiences.
On the other hand, let's ponder Louisville opponents thus far:
Kentucky 4-4
Temple...ugh, not quite a high school JV squad, 1-8 (bowling green should be ashamed...)
Miami, 5-3, and the Card beat them pre-brawl
K State, a respectable 5-4
Middle Tenn St., 5-3, but the best team in their conference, the Sun Belt
Cincy, 5-4, a tough Big East squad,
Syracuse, 3-6
Just based on strength of schedule, it seems like the Cards are a stronger team, plus this game is in Louisville, the site of their only win in the brief 7 game series. And don't forget, that while the Michael Bush show is sidelined for the year, the huge o-line Louisville is still opening holes worth 151+ yards per game.
So, in the game that will determine who will battle Rutgers down the stretch for the Big East title, I predict, with a big apology to my man Brownie, a 20-17 Louisville victory. Thus will set up the next in this season long series of "the biggest games in Rutgers history...."
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Superman: Doomsday Plans
I didn't want to go here so early as a Rutgers football bloggist, but I am going out on a ledge and about to make a bold prediction.
Allow me to paint the picture creeping into your Rutgers mind. Ray Rice has been stuffed throughout the first half. The young WR's are dropping balls. Maybe even the surefooted kickers are shanking a few, and the defense is giving up chunks of yards and gasp, a point or few. Hey, I don't like to think about it either, but right now, I can't face any more of my script adaptation so I am going into some dark, rough seas of the Rutgers season. It might seem like doomsday has arrived, and the zero in the loss column is about to tick to one...but wait, from the video billboards of Times Square, comes the call, a Scarlet Knight tinted-bat signal. Yes, waiting in the wings, happily plowing over linebackers, defensive backs, and whoever gets in his way, Mr. Leonard is just cruising along, a relatively fresh body waiting to be called upon. And so far, so good. Ray Rice has been better than anyone imagined, earning an apparent seat at the Downtown Athletic Club. But all the talk and writing about the lack of another offensive threat on the offensive side of the ball has not been doing any homework or even the briefest of history lessons. Brian Leonard is waiting, and the stories that will be written will continue the brief mentions he is getting about being a good soldier and letting Raymel become the man on the banks, but the stories will be ammended to include his triumphant saving of the season with one or more heroic performances in the coming weeks. I can't tell you specifically where or when, hey I'm not pyschic or anything, but I suggest a phone booth or changing thing on or near the Rutgers sideline so he can emerge when needed.
Is it a bird? A plane? No just the leaping Beast of the Big East!
For Mr. Blair, here is a non-football statement: Facebook sucks and I am out, cold turkey.
Sure the F-book has its place, but I am tired of the endless trail of wall postings, pokes, random groups, weird marriages between people I don't know, and the creepy linking of pictures that I myself never took and don't know where they came from. So I am out, deactivated.
Naming the Stadium
Ok, so it might be a bit cliche, but I think we need a good name for our home field.
Obviously, the swamp, the horseshoe, the big house, death valley, and the like are undeniable references to some of the most historic places to play a collge football game.
I think it is time to give Rutgers Stadium a moniker worthy of the Scarlet Knights. We need about 7 or 8 years of huge wins over ranked teams to make it stick (maybe the Cards in a couple of days can be the beginning?)
Wiki has a few listed, but I am not sure where they came from, namely, "The Banks" or "The Block"
Obviously, The Banks is a reference to that beautiful Raritan River, but the Block? I doubt it is a reference to the "Keep Chopping" mantra of the current team, but who knows? (note: see the insightful info from kevinfromnb in the comments section about Schiano and the origins of the block...)
My first impression was to go the medievil route...
The Castle or the Red Castle
The Fortress
Or we might go for a more Rutgers historical feel:
The Crib (you know...birthplace)
Any other suggestions? Feel free.
Go RU.
Honor of Honors
Today, we received an honor, that is not usually bestowed upon such a fledgling blog, a mention of Every Day Should Be Saturday. I am humbled to be in the same paragraph as someone who compares rival schools to communicst regimes, and food for deities!
Dreams do come true.
Keep chopping.
Candy
Do you believe that John Candy was really born on Halloween?
Do you believe that is it October and the Scarlet Knights are lossless? People keep talking about 1976 as their last undefeated season. So I thought I would look back to that bicentennial year, and find the things that made it special. Although I may be biased, the biggest news was the formation of Apple computer. It also marks the birth of baseballs Toronto Blue Jays, The Ramones (who released their first album), the laser printer was introduced, and California repealed its sodomy law (I am just a reporter here) 1976 also saw the births of Fred Savage of the wonder years, Jaleel White (you may know him as Urkel), free swinging Vlad Guerrero, MTV boy genius Andy Milonakis and we also mourned the losses of Rutgers legend Paul Robeson, Agatha Christie, Howard Hughes, and George Whipple (the nobel prize winner, not the toilet paper guy).
My point is that seasons like this come along once every generation. They are easily over-analyzed, and dissected for weakness by a sports media that doesn't sell papers by being positive. Sure, those stories work every once in a while, and Rutgers is getting their fair share of praise and good will, but I am constantly hearing about the things that need improvement. For example, Mike Teel isn't passing well enough. But if you watched the game Sunday night, you saw at least three passes to Tiquan Underwood that he either dropped, or were barely off his fingertips. And those three passes would have given him another 70-90 yards, and maybe a touchdown. I know you can't predict those things, but you can't also say he isn't playing well because it doesn't tell the whole story. I mean, you can hear right from my pal Seamus, Notre Dame is a pick returned for a score and a last minute Jeff Samardzijajajajajaja (or big WR Eastern European-Irish dude) rumbling in for a TD away from two more heartbraking losses. But, in the polls, all that matters is the number in the win column (right now, I don't bother looking in the loss column, for obvious reasons). But why is Teel struggling? Because receivers drop balls? They are eight and zero, and Teel has managed the game well. Yes, the defense has been dominant at times, yes, Rice and Leonard have been wonderful, but don't discount the calming efficient presence of a quarterback in the huddle.
Wondering about Bowl possibilities? Well Keith Sargeant of the Home Tribune lays it out better than I ever could. All I know is that they are going for the second year in a row, and I can clearly remember watching the meaningless games that were accidentally aired back in the day when Rutgers would be pounding Temple (or getting pounded for that matter) and wishing for a hint that brighter days were ahead. The brighter days, like unexpected unattended bowls of candy, are here.
GO RU!
Do you believe that is it October and the Scarlet Knights are lossless? People keep talking about 1976 as their last undefeated season. So I thought I would look back to that bicentennial year, and find the things that made it special. Although I may be biased, the biggest news was the formation of Apple computer. It also marks the birth of baseballs Toronto Blue Jays, The Ramones (who released their first album), the laser printer was introduced, and California repealed its sodomy law (I am just a reporter here) 1976 also saw the births of Fred Savage of the wonder years, Jaleel White (you may know him as Urkel), free swinging Vlad Guerrero, MTV boy genius Andy Milonakis and we also mourned the losses of Rutgers legend Paul Robeson, Agatha Christie, Howard Hughes, and George Whipple (the nobel prize winner, not the toilet paper guy).
My point is that seasons like this come along once every generation. They are easily over-analyzed, and dissected for weakness by a sports media that doesn't sell papers by being positive. Sure, those stories work every once in a while, and Rutgers is getting their fair share of praise and good will, but I am constantly hearing about the things that need improvement. For example, Mike Teel isn't passing well enough. But if you watched the game Sunday night, you saw at least three passes to Tiquan Underwood that he either dropped, or were barely off his fingertips. And those three passes would have given him another 70-90 yards, and maybe a touchdown. I know you can't predict those things, but you can't also say he isn't playing well because it doesn't tell the whole story. I mean, you can hear right from my pal Seamus, Notre Dame is a pick returned for a score and a last minute Jeff Samardzijajajajajaja (or big WR Eastern European-Irish dude) rumbling in for a TD away from two more heartbraking losses. But, in the polls, all that matters is the number in the win column (right now, I don't bother looking in the loss column, for obvious reasons). But why is Teel struggling? Because receivers drop balls? They are eight and zero, and Teel has managed the game well. Yes, the defense has been dominant at times, yes, Rice and Leonard have been wonderful, but don't discount the calming efficient presence of a quarterback in the huddle.
Wondering about Bowl possibilities? Well Keith Sargeant of the Home Tribune lays it out better than I ever could. All I know is that they are going for the second year in a row, and I can clearly remember watching the meaningless games that were accidentally aired back in the day when Rutgers would be pounding Temple (or getting pounded for that matter) and wishing for a hint that brighter days were ahead. The brighter days, like unexpected unattended bowls of candy, are here.
GO RU!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Zubaz Ecstasy
Zubaz pants, along with bell bottoms and parachute pants, might be the silliest things we can use to adorn our lower torsos. But that doesn't change the weird hippness of those crazy Rutgers 'R' pants on the sideline making me feel all warm and fuzzy, like the blocked punt that sealed the deal.
8 and freakin 0. My wife now pinches me the morning after each of Rutgers' wins just to make sure I am not dreaming. I am sure people are grumbling about the 14 points scored on two crazy plays (the sack and fumble return and the punt block/smash recovered by Frierson), and without them RU would not have won. I can't begin to tell you how irrelevant that analysis is. Do I really need to go back to Rutgers games through the ages...if any Penn State didn't have those 2 80 yard bombs, we would have won; if only Va Tech didn't have those two int's returned for touchdowns, we would have won; if only Miami didn't decide to play in the fourth quarter two years ago, we would have pulled off the biggest upset in history...please. The games are the games, the victories are victories, and while poll voter may be swayed by the margin of victory, I am simply satisfied with the W.
And let's ponder for a moment being #12 in the BCS. Let's consider who Rutgers is in the midst of. How about no one in the ACC is ahead of them, including powers like Miami (not in the BCS, but they are rising in the WWE rankings), Va Tech (25 in the BCS), and Boston College (15), so take that you traitors/defectors. I am not going to say Rutgers would be having a similar fate in the Big Tem or SEC, but at least you can't laugh them out of the room as in years past. And again last night, a weakness seemed to be exploited, that Do. Brown running all over the place, but eventually the D held it's ground, and in spite of all those yards, only 13 points wound up on the scoreboard. I mean this is the sentence that is on the lips of various sports reports and columnists, USC, Notre Dame, Cal, Tennessee, Rutgers (8-12 in the BCS). Sure, there are the obvious comparisons to K-State and Northwestern, and the coming years will tell if this is a two year flash in the pan, or if it is truly a turnaround, and that will distinguish if this means the Knights have turned the corner, or if they are just lost in a nice neighborhood for a few years.
The next game will have almost two weeks of hype, another Rutgers biggest game in their history arrives with Louisvile coming into the stadium, which needs a nickname by the way...hmm, seems like a ponder for another post perhaps, but I am open to suggestions.
8 and freakin 0. My wife now pinches me the morning after each of Rutgers' wins just to make sure I am not dreaming. I am sure people are grumbling about the 14 points scored on two crazy plays (the sack and fumble return and the punt block/smash recovered by Frierson), and without them RU would not have won. I can't begin to tell you how irrelevant that analysis is. Do I really need to go back to Rutgers games through the ages...if any Penn State didn't have those 2 80 yard bombs, we would have won; if only Va Tech didn't have those two int's returned for touchdowns, we would have won; if only Miami didn't decide to play in the fourth quarter two years ago, we would have pulled off the biggest upset in history...please. The games are the games, the victories are victories, and while poll voter may be swayed by the margin of victory, I am simply satisfied with the W.
And let's ponder for a moment being #12 in the BCS. Let's consider who Rutgers is in the midst of. How about no one in the ACC is ahead of them, including powers like Miami (not in the BCS, but they are rising in the WWE rankings), Va Tech (25 in the BCS), and Boston College (15), so take that you traitors/defectors. I am not going to say Rutgers would be having a similar fate in the Big Tem or SEC, but at least you can't laugh them out of the room as in years past. And again last night, a weakness seemed to be exploited, that Do. Brown running all over the place, but eventually the D held it's ground, and in spite of all those yards, only 13 points wound up on the scoreboard. I mean this is the sentence that is on the lips of various sports reports and columnists, USC, Notre Dame, Cal, Tennessee, Rutgers (8-12 in the BCS). Sure, there are the obvious comparisons to K-State and Northwestern, and the coming years will tell if this is a two year flash in the pan, or if it is truly a turnaround, and that will distinguish if this means the Knights have turned the corner, or if they are just lost in a nice neighborhood for a few years.
The next game will have almost two weeks of hype, another Rutgers biggest game in their history arrives with Louisvile coming into the stadium, which needs a nickname by the way...hmm, seems like a ponder for another post perhaps, but I am open to suggestions.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Bandwagon
Sunday night...UConn coming to town. Not that we are supposed to be mentioned in the same sentence as such a team, but did you notice USC yesterday? That is my point to anyone who has already penciled in 8-0. Football is cruel, and one play can change it all. I believe Rutgers will win this game behind Rice again, and perhaps Teel will mix in a bit more against a weaker tem, but I take nothing for granted. This is not a rivalry, but I guess people have nothing to write about UConn, so geography is pulled out a back pocket. This is just the next game, and on national TV, and the story is that Rutgers is favored by 17 or so points. I still feel like I am dreaming about that line a bit. I haven't seen lines like that since Temple came to Piscataway. (More on those dogs, er, Owls, later...)
People get all bent out of shape about bandwagons. It is like fan's become the border patrol, and if you haven't been a fan for a minimum of 10 years and have been present/worn a hat when the team in question stunk, you don't have the fan right to root for a newly emerging team. Please. That is ridiculous. Root for whoever you want. Now, I do find it weird that someone can just buy a fresh hat each year, and start rooting for whoever is in the lead (I don't see all the 49er hats I used to see when Montana and Young were raising Lombardi's Silver in the air), but it doesn't really bother me if people want to be posers and don't have the fortitude to watch missed extra points and fumbles and interceptions that snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But I say, c'mon, there is always room on the bandwagon .
And also of note, Temple won. I am shocked as you are. Rutgers last rival has been pitiful of late, not that I don't take joy in watching the Cherry and White suffer, but twenty losses in a row, sheesh, Bowling Green should be making plans to drop to Div II after that loss. The Owls are primed for hoops in the post-Chaney era. How do you get kicked out of a conference? Stinking beyond repair. As bad as Rutgers was, they didn't get kicked out of the Big East, a conference that was losing teams, and seemed on the verge of collapse, still decided to jetison one of their own. Seriously, Temple, give it up, drop to Div. 1A and suffer a mediocre fate in the Atlantic 10.
People get all bent out of shape about bandwagons. It is like fan's become the border patrol, and if you haven't been a fan for a minimum of 10 years and have been present/worn a hat when the team in question stunk, you don't have the fan right to root for a newly emerging team. Please. That is ridiculous. Root for whoever you want. Now, I do find it weird that someone can just buy a fresh hat each year, and start rooting for whoever is in the lead (I don't see all the 49er hats I used to see when Montana and Young were raising Lombardi's Silver in the air), but it doesn't really bother me if people want to be posers and don't have the fortitude to watch missed extra points and fumbles and interceptions that snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But I say, c'mon, there is always room on the bandwagon .
And also of note, Temple won. I am shocked as you are. Rutgers last rival has been pitiful of late, not that I don't take joy in watching the Cherry and White suffer, but twenty losses in a row, sheesh, Bowling Green should be making plans to drop to Div II after that loss. The Owls are primed for hoops in the post-Chaney era. How do you get kicked out of a conference? Stinking beyond repair. As bad as Rutgers was, they didn't get kicked out of the Big East, a conference that was losing teams, and seemed on the verge of collapse, still decided to jetison one of their own. Seriously, Temple, give it up, drop to Div. 1A and suffer a mediocre fate in the Atlantic 10.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Bi-Focals
Like anyone, I am excited about current success leading to future recruits and the restocking of talent. And to read a list of current and future NJ talent staying 'home' as it were, is what many Rutgers fans have claimed is the secret to Rutgers long term success. Plus, that a giant talent like Anthongy Davis would even give a program like Rutgers a sniff when the likes of Ohio State and USC are calling, (now take a minute to let that sink in, Buckeyes, Trojans, Scarlet Knights????), can we begin the bronze mold for Mr Schiano now? He grew up in Piscataway, and the program is on the rise, and...ok, I may be getting ahead of myself, but this is what hope and success does.
Our focus, however, must be split at this point.
But, as fun as the future is, and apparently as lackluster as the Huskies might appear, we are meant to savor a dream season, not get lulled into an unexciting opponent. They are all exciting opponents in my mind. Plus, seasons like this are what makes being a Rutgers fan so special. we are not Notre Dame where they aregue over which National Title is more special, or Atlanta where they can't even distinguish which of the 14 division titles were the hardest to achieve, or even the Yankees, where 26 years of ultimate success has always been bought (not that there's anything wrong with that). To be a Rutgers fan has been a journey of patience, savoring the upsets of Michigan State, and gritting through New Hampshire and 'Nova.
When Temple went into the MAC sunset, and began it's expert ability to give up 62 points, Rutgers lost its only rival. And they were only a rival because we both stunk so bad, that to brag about being the best of the doormats was our only battle cry. While it would be nice to buy into a UConn rivalry, in reality we are in search of a team we can call a rival.
When I really need a reality check about Rutgers, I have always turned to Jerry Izenberg. He knows when to call a spade a spade, or when to call the Knights on an embarassing turn of events. Of course, he also captured the rapture of a bowl bid this year, and currently tells the tale of Shawn Tucker and his kind of unbelievable choice to follow his heart and go north as a young man, and give Scarlet a chance. He suffered through 1-11, and now his dreads fly around in the joy of 7-0. Izenberg is one of the few professional news columnists, not assigned Rutgers as a beat, who takes his thoughts and focused on the Knights. And he is insightful, and writes with a passion that a Scarelt Knight fan can appreciate.
Our focus, however, must be split at this point.
But, as fun as the future is, and apparently as lackluster as the Huskies might appear, we are meant to savor a dream season, not get lulled into an unexciting opponent. They are all exciting opponents in my mind. Plus, seasons like this are what makes being a Rutgers fan so special. we are not Notre Dame where they aregue over which National Title is more special, or Atlanta where they can't even distinguish which of the 14 division titles were the hardest to achieve, or even the Yankees, where 26 years of ultimate success has always been bought (not that there's anything wrong with that). To be a Rutgers fan has been a journey of patience, savoring the upsets of Michigan State, and gritting through New Hampshire and 'Nova.
When Temple went into the MAC sunset, and began it's expert ability to give up 62 points, Rutgers lost its only rival. And they were only a rival because we both stunk so bad, that to brag about being the best of the doormats was our only battle cry. While it would be nice to buy into a UConn rivalry, in reality we are in search of a team we can call a rival.
When I really need a reality check about Rutgers, I have always turned to Jerry Izenberg. He knows when to call a spade a spade, or when to call the Knights on an embarassing turn of events. Of course, he also captured the rapture of a bowl bid this year, and currently tells the tale of Shawn Tucker and his kind of unbelievable choice to follow his heart and go north as a young man, and give Scarlet a chance. He suffered through 1-11, and now his dreads fly around in the joy of 7-0. Izenberg is one of the few professional news columnists, not assigned Rutgers as a beat, who takes his thoughts and focused on the Knights. And he is insightful, and writes with a passion that a Scarelt Knight fan can appreciate.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Chads
I was born but not really aware of the previous years of success of Rutgers football. No, I came of age as a Rutgers football fan watching Penn State roll into Giants stadium to not really beat the Scarlet Knights, but more to wittle them down, and then toss a few 70 yard bombs to break my heart. 1961 Rose Bowl? Hmmm, I remember 1961 like it was never. But why shouldn't beating Cornell and Dartmouth count as much as beating the best of the PAC-10 or Big 10 or 11 or whatever it is. And not to rely on the Home News Tribune too much, but this is why Schiano is a defensive genius, (yes I said genius Adem) getting the most out of quality guys who could have gone anywhere (as long as anywhere is like, K-State, Illinois, or gasp, Temple) but they chose Rutgers and their team first, not me-first style.
And bandwagon? C'mon recruits, we'll take you. Don't want to go to the Criminal U, er, Miami anymore? Why not? FIU is a quality opponent, right, and Duke, I mean that will help your BCS standing. Ha ha.
And if I could afford to buy the insider on ESPN, (please, do you know how many Pop Tarts $39.95 will buy), I would love to hear why Craig James thinks the world would be behind an undefeated Rutgers in the BCS championship game...although methinks annointing them undefeated is like awarding a presidential election at 11 pm-ish...there are many dangling chads to keep track of.
Including the next game up on the schedule, which recent history with UConn should remind us that this is still Rutgers, and as happy as you can be that they have won them all so far, let's take nothing for granted. South Florida was a bobble away from sending us to overtime, for example, and even big teams like Florida (fumble? incomplete pass?), Notre Dame (sorry Seamus) are a bad day or even just a bad call away from dashing dream seasons...not that i wouldn't need several pinches to wake up from the ecstasy of 11-1, 10-2, etc....but in the deep recesses of my Philadelphia tainted mind, I remember the Rich Kotite led Eagles 7-2, then losing the final 7...I'm not suggesting that could happen on The Banks, but I am a realist afterall.
Enjoying the ride....
And bandwagon? C'mon recruits, we'll take you. Don't want to go to the Criminal U, er, Miami anymore? Why not? FIU is a quality opponent, right, and Duke, I mean that will help your BCS standing. Ha ha.
And if I could afford to buy the insider on ESPN, (please, do you know how many Pop Tarts $39.95 will buy), I would love to hear why Craig James thinks the world would be behind an undefeated Rutgers in the BCS championship game...although methinks annointing them undefeated is like awarding a presidential election at 11 pm-ish...there are many dangling chads to keep track of.
Including the next game up on the schedule, which recent history with UConn should remind us that this is still Rutgers, and as happy as you can be that they have won them all so far, let's take nothing for granted. South Florida was a bobble away from sending us to overtime, for example, and even big teams like Florida (fumble? incomplete pass?), Notre Dame (sorry Seamus) are a bad day or even just a bad call away from dashing dream seasons...not that i wouldn't need several pinches to wake up from the ecstasy of 11-1, 10-2, etc....but in the deep recesses of my Philadelphia tainted mind, I remember the Rich Kotite led Eagles 7-2, then losing the final 7...I'm not suggesting that could happen on The Banks, but I am a realist afterall.
Enjoying the ride....
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Long suffering
I am a Rutgers fan. To say that is no longer immediatly met with chuckles and pity. Right now, I am fully infected with Rutgers fever, and I don't mind admitting it. Although there are other web sites out there that are strong testaments to college football, (see www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com for an example) there is not, in my humble opinion, one that seeks out Rutgers info and puts it all in one place. NJ.com has a section, but it seems to be pretty tied into that paper's content, of course. I hope to be an independant source of Rutgers football information.
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