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.