Rutgers Scarlet Knights

[joshball]

here's my $0.02.

I am a huge Louisville fan! GO CARDS.
They had a bad night, could have won the game and should have by a long shot, my bud brohm got scared.
Anyways
The critics for the Rutgers are the same ones for Louisville.
Problem they are not in the SEC or a Texas, USC, CAL, etc. That is the entire problem.

Go get em Rutgers.
But first and foremost GO CARDS

[flathead]

My son, who was a defensive lineman in high school (6'4" 260#), now laughs when he tells of getting run over by Brian Leonard more than once. "And it wasn't just me he ran over, it was the linebacker and the safety too!! "

Our high school scrimmages the school Leonard went to every year. I saw him play a couple times and it was obvious this kid was going to be something special.

[kd7fds]

I am a Boise State alumni and fan.

I am all for smaller schools shaking their share of money loose from the BCS Tree.

[Bones42]

especially if they're able to earn bowl bids.

7 figures a year is a big gamble. For 2006, it appears to have been worth it.

[jasper45]

Guess who the highest paid state employee for NJ is (not counting overtime)..........Rutgers football coach.

This is kind of a catch 22 at every university that has a football program. I know that Barry Alvarez was among the highest paid in the State of Wisconsin while coaching, both with salary and perks. However, football programs are the biggest money influx for schools, especially if they're able to earn bowl bids.
It does look bad on the surface, especially when school funding is cut.

[Bones42]

Been following them this year since the 3rd game. They show incredible TEAMWORK.

NJ slashed Rutgers funding

Guess who the highest paid state employee for NJ is (not counting overtime)..........Rutgers football coach.

[NJFFSA16]

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Unbeaten Rutgers moves up in both The
Associated Press College football poll and the Bowl Championship
Series standings.
Fresh off Thursday's 28-25 win over Louisville, the biggest win
in school history, the nine-and-oh Scarlet Knights moved from 15th
to seventh in the A-P poll out yesterday.
It marks the first time the school, which began playing football
in 1869, has been ranked in the A-P's top ten.
Rutgers also made a major move in the Bowl Championship Series
standings, which determine who plays for the national championship.
The Scarlet Knights moved from 13th place to sixth in the B-C-S
standings released last night.

[R1SAlum]

Anyone else intrigued by this teams season?

If you know the kind of talent that New Jersey high school football produces it is no surprise. Nebraska, Ohio State, and Penn State have all had Jersey talent in years they won their many National Championships. If the winning continues at Rutgers, they will be able to keep the home-grown talent there. The pipeline to Florida recruits Rutgers has is helpfull too.
They are the underdog that everybody loves now but as early as next season, they won't be able to sneek up on anyone. That's the kind of respect that program needs.

[LuckyThirteen]

They'll need it. NJ slashed Rutgers funding and will certainly screw up a good university. My son had Rutgers on his short list before this story broke.

'Tis a damn shame.

[jasper45]

It's a very good story, and they stepped up big against Louisville. No matter what happens in their last three games, they have already shown what is great about college football. Particularly when you read stories about the individual team members, like their senior fullback, Brian Leonard, who, as a freshman player says that he had beer bottles thrown at his car because of their terrible on field performance. Also, when you consider that they were a team that only won three games as little as 4 years ago, they have made tremendous gains.
Louisville was a big game, but they still have Cincinatti and West Virginia, which will be tough games.
Could we see a Scarlet Knights/Badgers bowl game on New Years?

[E229Lt]

I know one of the greatest byproducts of this season, is that it is going to help with in-state recruiting.

They'll need it. NJ slashed Rutgers funding and will certainly screw up a good university. My son had Rutgers on his short list before this story broke.

[LuckyThirteen]

I used to follow them season after dissapointing season when I was a kid. When we moved to VA in '94, I finally gave up on them and started following UVA.

I'm not switching teams, but I'm definitely following them again. I think they are constantly baffling the critics who, even after a big win against Louisville, want to downplay the caliber team they are this year.

I know one of the greatest byproducts of this season, is that it is going to help with in-state recruiting.

[E229Lt]

Anyone else intrigued by this teams season?