NJ.com- "Gary's been doing great,'' said Jay Fiedler, an eight-year former NFL quarterback who spent five years as the starter for the Miami Dolphins in the early 2000s. "He's refined his mechanics a little bit, worked on all of his drops. He's a guy who is very adaptable to the pro game. He's worked under center before. He's worked in shot gun. He throws very well on the move. He can do just about everything that any offense is going to ask of him at the next level. I just think he's a guy who can make every throw. "He's a guy who is going to compete once he gets into camp. Any team that gives him a shot is going to get a really good player, somebody that's going to be able to develop and ultimately become, I think, a good player in the league.'' "He can make every throw in the league,'' Fiedler said of Nova, who ranks first in Rutgers history with 73 touchdowns, second with 9,258 passing yards and second with 689 completions. "He's an accurate thrower. He's got a real quick release. He throws a firm ball, hits all the different types of throws, the underneath throws, the intermediates, the deep throws. "I think the other strength that he has is his adaptability, his ability to do a lot of different things from under center, move the pocket around, to drop back, to shotgun, to run play-actions, to adjust his tempos on his drop, to adapt to the reads that he's seeing downfield. All of those things are what I feel make for a successful quarterback at the next level.'' Fiedler said he'd be "very surprised'' if Nova doesn't receive a phone call from an NFL representative at some point late in the evening Saturday after the draft. Many people, Rutgers fans imparticular, may be surprised when they hear the name Gary Nova associated the National Football League. For a guy that struggled for a large majority of his time as a starting quarterback in college football, it may not seem reasonable to expect him to not only correct his flaws as a quarterback, but to turn those negatives into positive aspects of his game. It's no secret that consistency was Nova's achilles heel, and consistency is exactly what he going to need to display to turn his limited reps on an NFL roster into a career. While some may see that as discouraging, it's actually the exact opposite. Gary Nova's flaws have nothing to do with his talent or physical abilities. Based strictly on his athletic ability he should see time in an NFL training camp. He can make all the throws. He's mobile. He's played in a pro system. All of those characteristics speak to his potential, and that's exactly what the NFL draft is. A gamble on potential, especially as you get into the later rounds as well as free agency. Is he going to get as many chances to prove himself as he got at Rutgers? Hell no. I don't think anyone in the history of sports was given more chances than Gary Nova during his 4 year career as a starting quarterback. Even A-Rod is jealous of the amount of chances Nova was given. Hell, If you could fuck up as much in life as Gary Nova did on a football field without consequence even Jerry Sandusky would be a free man. Our prisons would be empty, and meth would be as prevalent as table salt. Basically the entire world would just look like the current state of Baltimore. However, to say that in-between interceptions, inexplicable forward passes, and unforced fumbles Gary Nova didn't flash pro potential would be a flat out fabrication. For as many mind numbing decisions as he made, he was responsible for just as many inexplicably well placed throws and touchdowns. Just when you were ready to throw in the towel on Nova, he would do something that made you think he finally pulled it together. Of course he would then follow it up with another mistake, but that's besides the point. If Gary can put together a couple of good "what the fuck" moments in a row it would be fantastic to see him continue his career in the NFL. Hell, it will just be nice to be able to root for Gary Nova the individual instead of having my teams performance directly affected by his play. Come On Gary!!!! P.S. Whoever did the score for this youtube 'highlight' video deserves a fucking Emmy. No song has ever embraced an individuals entire existence like 'Wrecking Ball' does for Gary Nova. NEVER FORGET.
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CBS News- The only horse ever to be penalized in a college football game has died.
Rutgers University says Lord Nelson was 42, or the human equivalent of 126 years. One of Lord Nelson's duties during his 37-year Rutgers career was carrying the school's Scarlet Knight mascot during football games. It was against Army in 1994 that Lord Nelson was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after he broke free and raced down the sideline at Giants Stadium. "Receiving a yellow flag for his 'un-HORSE-man like conduct,' he almost cost Rutgers the game," the school said in a statement. Ohhhh, these colts ain't royal! Lord Nelson, the meanest, most imperial stallion on the block. Giving a new meaning to the term 'horsing around'. If the Rutgers football players weren't going to put up a fight, you can bet your ass Lord Nelson was. 15 yards? Well's worth it. If the tradeoff was a bunch of military officers crapping themselves they could have made it 30 yards. You think a hard hitting safety is something to be worried about? Just wait until got a 1,000 pound thoroughbred rumbling down the sidelines. Let's see, 1994? Yup, Lord Nelson was probably Rutgers most intimidating presence. Hell, he was probably the best player on the field. Talk about range? You aren't getting over the top on Lord Nelson without a hoof to the solar plexus. You want to try collaring that horse? Sometimes you need a couple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties to establish toughness. Nobody was tougher than Lord Nelson. That old steed made Sea Biscuit look a ride outside of a grocery store. Pretty sure he carried Barbaro to the glue factory on his back. Secretariat was merely a carnival attraction in comparison. What's a Scarlet Knight without a faithful partner of equal nobility? Lord Nelson wasn't just a part of Rutgers. For about 3 decades he was just about the only thing on the field worth watching. Lord Nelson wasn't one of those pansy ass horses that just wanted to run around in a circle all day. The guy needed some actual sport in his life. Not to beat a dead horse, but up until the last decade or so, he was more valuable than about 95% of the players that actually played said sport. P.S. Pretty funny/sad/pathetic/grounding that I get a memorial email for a horse dying, but if I passed away my parents would just get an email asking for more money. NJ.com- "You know what I think would be great for Jersey basketball? Why don't we get a $50 million god darn arena? How's that?'' Stringer said. "That's what I think would be real great. Because you try recruiting to this. Have you gone to the other facilities? Come on, people. Let's get involved in the things we need to do. "And I'll play everybody, anybody, whenever they get ready. I need a facility so that we can attract the same kinds of kids that everybody else does. I'm sitting up here and I walk into that facility at Ohio State — are you kidding me? It's the most incredible thing there is. "We gotta do more than just talking. We gotta do something about this. NJIT, how much are they spending on a facility? Please.'' "Here's our problem: When our kids walk in other places, I'm embarrassed," Stringer said. "I walk into the University of Maryland and they've got a place where these kids can practice the dunk. When I came from the University of Iowa, the weights were women's weights because our shoulders aren't as broad as guys. Everything was tailored down. Everything was catered. You're thinking, 'That's pretty darn good,' because you know that people care and everybody wants to be cared for.'' "I'm seeing the real big picture,'' she said. "We need to bring the big-time people in here. We're not getting the same level quality of depth. We're not getting it. What I'm suggesting is there are a lot of things that are in play. But this is kind of a fixable thing. This is really fixable. We need to take advantage of the talent we have." "There could a lot of reasons for us not getting back, but I promise you've got to have the quality of depth. And people might say, 'Just get them.' Just get them?' You know what's happening at other places?'' Do you want to be the one to say no to that face? Jesus Vivian, looking like Ice Cube meets women's basketball in that picture. Mean mug on a hundred, thousand, trillion. 'Gangsta Lean' meets 'Lean On Me'. No choice but to turn up 'Move Bitch' and get out the way when she walks in the room.
In all seriousness, when the women that has brought three different programs to the Final Four speaks, you listen. C. Vivian Stringer, who sits at 3rd in womens basketball history with over 950 wins, is without a doubt the most successful person associated the university. This isn't a woman that was hired and came in her first year and started demanding new facilities. This isn't her first rodeo. She transformed the program into a national power. She took Rutgers basketball to a national championship game, and now her success has plateaued, due in large part to average facilities on a far above average campus. Consider me on board. There will always be a certain amount of nostalgia associated with walking into the RAC, there is no question about that. However, the sentimental value it holds indirectly correlates with the amount of aesthetic value it holds. The old barn needs to go, and that's exactly what the RAC is. Both in appearance and what it represents. It represents a time when Rutgers athletics weren't seen on a national scale. It doesn't properly symbolize the growth the university has seen on both an academic and athletic level. People will argue that the rough estimate of 50 million dollars Stringer suggests be allocated to a new arena and subsequent training facilities could be better spent elsewhere. While I understand their point, they certainly don't give enough credence to what athletics have done for the university globally. Other than it's proximity to New York City and the allure of the Northeast television market, the reason Rutgers even has 50 million dollars to distribute is the state of the football program and thus it's entrance into the Big Ten. If we are looking at Rutgers history they have been far more reactive than proactive. The expansion to the football stadium came only after the 2006 season when Rutgers showed they can compete with some of the biggest names amongst the landscape college sports. And you know what, that season in itself was enough to grow the prestige of the Rutgers name. The amount of people asking "what's Rutgers?" and "where is Rutgers?" decreased dramatically. The quality of academics has always been there, but academics don't sell. Sports sell. State of the art arenas and soldout stadiums sell. Modern and innovative amenities sell. These are 18 and 19 year old kids we are talking about. They want to see a University that is dedicated to success. The resources shouldn't be dependent on the basketball program flourishing on it's own, the resources should be put in place to help the program flourish. It's time for Rutgers to start thinking B1G. The Big Ten is an opportunity to turn just another school that happens to be in the state in to a true state university. It's an opportunity for brand expansion. An opportunity to continue to increase the reputation that has been steadily growing over the years. The finances are there. The talent, both academically and athletically, is there to be had. Just look at some of the premiere recruits the football program has brought in since they have taken a more dedicated approach to upgrading the stadium and training facilities. It's time to get aggressive. As I sit here on the couch, taking in the Madness that March brings, I can only hope the pride of New Jersey can one day become a staple in one of the biggest events sports has to offer. At this point, with the assets Rutgers possesses there is no reason they shouldn't. You don't take the opinion of one of most successful people in college athletics with a grain of salt. The time is now. After all... WE'RE GETTING BIG TEN MONEY!!!! NJ.com- "We hope Rutgers steps out there to give him a second chance because I think it will suck if he gets that second chance (in the NFL) — and I think he's going to do a great job with it — and then Rutgers comes back," said Patriots safety Devin McCourty, who was teammates with Rice for three years at Rutgers. "Knowing Ray, he'll probably still be with it, but I think it would be great (if Rutgers acts first).
Look around the Rutgers locker room. Take a gander at their facilities. Sit through one meeting. Listen to one postgame speech. If the the word ‘family’ isn’t omnipresent to you then you need your eyes, ears, and pulse checked. If there is one thing that is a guaranteed on the Piscataway gridiron every year, it is that the players play for each other and they stand up for each other. Doesn’t matter if they are getting shellacked by Houston at home, or posting 8 wins in their first season in the Big Ten. As corny as it comes off sometimes, the Rutgers football team is as close to a family as a group can get without sharing the same DNA. Call it a moniker. Call it a motto. Call it a convenient acronym. Whatever you want to call it, it is a philosophy that Rutgers players live by, for better or worse. The funny thing about family is you can’t change who they are. Hell, everyone has a relative or two that they wished were conceived through another bloodline. Unfortunately that’s not how it works. When someone is in dire need of support it should be their family that is there for them. Their family that is able to lift them up out of the dark place they are in. No one needs support right now more than Ray Rice. Does he deserve support? No. Is it permissible, under any circumstances, to do what he did? Absolutely not. However, this is America. The land of the second chance. Ray Rice doesn’t have a prolonged history of beating women. In fact, up until about 9 months ago, he was considered a pretty good dude. The guy has been through more hardships in his life than any of us could every imagine. That doesn’t excuse him from anything. It doesn’t mean he gets a pass. One instance can change everyones’ perception of you. That night, that video and that punch are things that Ray is going to have to live with forever. However, unless Kyle Flood’s emphasis on the term ‘family’ is merely lip service, it’s not something he has to get past alone. It was understandable for Rutgers to disassociate with Ray Rice when the video first came out. As is Rutgers luck, the Ray Rice hysteria was taking place during a crucial time for the program. Not only around the same time as their entrance into the Big Ten, but right around the same week as their first Big Ten home game. It would have been a public relations disaster to have cameras crews scanning the building at High Point Solutions Stadium and finding life size tributes to a guy that the world just watched knock his wife into oblivion. Tiquan Underwood's take is , “I think they should put his pictures back and welcome him back with open arms.” While I think that Ray Rice should be accepted back into the Rutgers community, I wouldn’t go as far as saying they should put his pictures back up. You have to pay for your transgressions in life. Sometimes that means jail time, sometimes that means your alma mater doesn’t readily endorse your achievements. You don’t see families tying balloons to the mailbox and renting a bounce house when a convict gets out of prison. With that said, Ray Rice meant a lot to Rutgers University, and they wouldn’t be where they are now without him. Anyone with an 1/8th of a brain cell knows what he did was wrong, but that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily a bad person. Good people do terrible things all the time, and if they didn’t have a strong family foundation they would never have another opportunity to prove that a 10 second video doesn’t define them. I don’t think they should be giving out Ray Rice bobbleheads anytime soon, but he should be welcomed on campus. After all, it’s the place he called home. Home isn’t just where your heart is, it’s where your family is. It’s where you learn to be a man, and part of being a man is learning how to forgive. You got to stand for something in this world, and I think it’s time Rutgers practice what they preach. http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/01/former_rutgers_star_jason_mccourty_describes_jealousy_of_brother_devins_postseason_success.html NJ.com- Look, I'm extremely happy for Devin. There are few people who will root harder for him. I know how hard he works, how bad he wants it, and I want to see him reach his goal. I want to be in Arizona on Feb. 1 as he wins his first Super Bowl ring. But every year, a part of me simmers with envy. I remember 2012, when the Patriots won the AFC Championship. A bunch of our teammates from Rutgers went up there to cheer Devin on. When New England beat the Ravens, the energy was amazing. Families started making Super Bowl travel arrangements. Friends and coaches who played a part along the way called with congratulations. Right then, I saw what it looked to come within striking distance of the ultimate goal. Those smiles, that feeling--I wanted to experience that, too. To put in that much work and get nothing, well it makes you so much hungrier. Six years of losing has definitely taken a toll, but I'm determined to continue to work hard and help my team achieve our goals. I think it's important, no matter your profession, to never become complacent and always strive for greatness. Right now, I'll cheer for Devin. I hope he has a great playoff run that ends with him winning Super Bowl MVP, especially since he's going into free agency. My mom has a dream of us suiting up for the same team. Maybe I can pull him to Tennessee, and we can win a championship together. Or, he can win a ring this year, then I tie him and surpass him. That's when the real trash talk will begin. If there is one thing in this world that is as strong as brotherly love it is a sibling rivalry. Anyone that has a brother comparable in age, never mind twins, can attest to that. That's why the only thing that is remotely surprising about this story is that Jason McCourty admitted it. You are supposed to suppress that envy deep in to your soul and let it constantly burn. Then when you do finally best your brother in something you talk a stream of shit so endless that it deserves a courtesy flush. Full disclosure, you're never even supposed to admit that you lost, or are losing. Don't believe me? Ask my brother, he's great at that. Even if you do, you certainly don't admit that it affects you. That's the best way to attract more harassment. Never show weakness, especially with someone who knows you as well as your own kin. Got to feel for Jason McCourty here though. Played on the same team as Devin throughout their entire lives. Actually started opposite each other for periods of time at Rutgers. They finally end up at a point in their careers where they are on separate teams on the largest stage, and the playing field is as far from equal as it could possibly be. Jason gets drafted one year earlier and ends up face first in the middle of a dumpster fire. Meanwhile, Devin earns first round draft pick status, and gets scooped up by possibly the most traditionally successful team in all of professional sports. He better hope the Tennessee Titans don't fuck up this draft. He might have to excommunicate himself from his family just to avoid his twin brother. Facing family, especially in a sport or hobby both of you fancy yourself talented at, is quite the phenomenon. Sometimes it feels like you try harder to beat your own brother than your most hated rival. Probably because your most hated rival didn't grow up with the same genetics and, most likely, can't text you on an hourly basis running his mouth. Strange phenomenon nonetheless. That rivalry aside, of course you want your brother to win, especially if you aren't part of the matchup. However, anyone that can watch their own blood succeed, despite their current failures in the same field, without a twinge of jealousy is either lying or a loser. Like Jason said, "when you play this sport, you play to win". There is no amount of talent that can carry someone whose only motivation is money. If winning doesn't fuel you, your chances of success are minuscule, especially in professional sports. So yeah, the second best thing that could happen to you is watching your brother win the Super Bowl, but you know what they say about second. It's definitely not first.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/01/bill_belichick_turns_patriots-ravens_postgame_press_conference_into_a_rutgers_infomercial.html NJ.com- This was an actual exchange during Bill Belichick's press conference following the thrilling 35-31 victory for the Patriots, and it's as if Rutgers had sent a video crew to Foxborough to make a recruiting DVD. Q. Can you talk about your Rutgers kids? A: They've played well for us, they really have. Of course they were in a great program there with Coach [Greg] Schiano and they were well coached at Rutgers. They've worked really hard here. Nobody's worked hard than Duron and Logan have in the last two years they've been here. Literally when the season was over last year, these guys were in a couple days after the season starting on this year back in, it was still January. Devin (McCourty) is obviously one of our hardest workers and has great leadership and character. I'm proud of all those guys and I'm sure Coach Schiano and the Rutgers program is too. They stepped up today [and] made some big plays for us. Despite being a man of many a written word, I am a man of very distinct and steadfast opinions. A simple man, you might say. Someone that either likes, hates, or is completely neutral towards pretty much everyone. That's why Bill Belichick is quite possibly my kryptonite. Don't get me wrong, I hate Bill Belichick. As painful as it is to say, I hate him because he's great. I hate him because he wins. I hate him because he is the most boring person on earth. I hate him because his personality is as dry as his wife's private parts. He's flatter than a four week old fountain soda. As monotonous and emotionless as a person of his power could possibly be. As charismatic as a mute on life support. Completely sapped of any excitability, which goes in defiance of his unparalleled will to win and dedication to success. That will to win, as well as a personal connection to Rutgers (his son played lacrosse and long snapper there), has led to him drafting countless players from the University. So while every fiber of my being wants to hate him, I can't help but respect him. I can't help but admire the exposure he has given to the Rutgers football program. Make no mistake, people may detest the man clad in a cutoff hoodie, but they take notice of his ways. When the coach of a franchise as successful as the New England Patriots has such a long resume of Rutgers allegiance it is impossible to ignore. It's impossible for other general managers and coaches not to notice how productive and prepared Rutgers players are. It's impossible for recruits not to be aware of how Rutgers, if nothing else, prepares you for life in the NFL. It's impossible for the support of one of the greatest football coaches of all time to not directly enhance the credibility of your university. So while I choked back the vomit taste as Bill Belichick and company once again walked out of a playoff game victorious, I couldn't help but be proud of Rutgers' alumni Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon. Two players whose interceptions proved vital to a Patriots win, the latter icing an appearance in the AFC championship game, save for a miracle Hail Mary attempt that McCourty once again proved significant on. I couldn't help be proud of Logan Ryan, another Rutgers' alumni that made a handful of plays and has worked his way into a being a productive NFL cornerback. I can't help but be proud of Tim Wright, a former Rutgers' wide receiver that has developed himself into a reliable weapon at tight end. As Bill Belichick, a man of few endorsements, waxed poetic about his nearly all Scarlet Knight secondary and the university from which they hail, I truly didn't know how to feel. It felt like your main adversary giving you high praise. It felt like a sworn enemy hitting on your girlfriend without realizing it. It was complimentary and loathsome all at the same time. It made me want to smile. It made me want to cry. It was like watching your best friend marry a girl you truly detest. You're happy for him, but sad at the situation. At the end of the day, my rooting interests take major precedence over my hatred of any sports figure. Anything that is good for Rutgers university is good for me. Despite his overwhelming banality, if Bill Belichick's advocacy of the Rutgers' program helps, in part, to get even one player of significance, I can suppress my animosity towards him. But I would be lying if I said it felt right. At the end of the day, it may sap me of my soul, but I realize these players still bleed Scarlet and wish them the best.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2014/12/rutgers_running_back_savon_huggins_to_transfer.html
NJ.com- Savon Huggins arrived at Rutgers in 2011 as the most heralded in recruit in program history. While his career didn't meet those lofty expectations, the running back left Rutgers on Monday with a legacy for representing his state school proudly and loyally. 'Tis a new day on the Banks of the Raritan. A day in which Savon Huggins and his loser mentality can not, and will not, affect this football team and it's future. Perhaps I am giving him too much credit. It you polled the Rutgers fan base, a vast majority wouldn't even know that Savon Huggins was still in school. That's how irrelevant the once 4-star recruit has become. Should I cut the kid some slack? He came into the university with the world on his shoulders. The die hard fans of the Knights expecting him to rip off a 50 yard touchdown on his very first carry. What they received was as close to the opposite as you could possibly get. Why do I harbor so much ill will towards a single failed recruit? The answer is simple. Huggins is one of the first players whose recruitment I followed from day one. Perhaps I was blinded by the 4 golden stars gleaming next to his name. Perhaps, just once, I wanted to see a highly touted prospect live up to his billing, instead of depending on mediocre prospects to out perform their ranking. Whatever it was, Huggins didn't just fail to live up to his potential, he tripped over it in the backfield for a 3 yard loss. The first question a friend of mine asked me when I told him that Savon was transferring was "where is he headed?" . A number of places ran through my mind. Possibly church, to confess for his sins, to take responsibility for dashing the hopes of Rutgers fans both near and far, to exercise the demons of Saturday's past. Maybe the eye doctor to fix whatever has been ailing his vision for the last 5 years. A blind person with a seeing eye dog could have, at the very least, paralleled Huggins' stats. He certainly would have been better at following his blocker. You got to think that Huggins regrets not transferring earlier. Going into the last year of a miserable college career he was staring at a backfield featuring 5 players his superior. Goodwin will probably get moved to cornerback next year due to depth at the running back position and he is 1,000x the player Savon ever was. If I walked into Kyle Flood's office off the street, on crutches, told him to fuck himself, spit on a picture of his wife, then asked for a walk-on spot, my chances of starting at tailback for Rutgers would rival Huggins. I realize he has not even carried the ball since 2013, but I have to imagine his presence around the team is responsible for at least one of the losses this year. Just no way you can be around that level of self implosion without some collateral damage. I realize his heart was in the right place when he chose to bring his talents to Piscataway. 'A' for effort, 'F' for execution. He's lucky he didn't scare away every recruit in a 100 mile radius. This isn't 'goodbye' Savon, this is 'see you never'. There were some moments this year. A history making home opener turned disastrous meltdown to Penn State. A couple bumps in the road in shellackings at the hands of true conference powers Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. However, 8-5, including solid wins on the road against Washington State and Navy, a momentous win over a lackluster Michigan program, and wins over Indiana and Maryland (the latter coming in an outrageous come from behind fashion) are enough to declare the Scarlet Knights season a success. Hell, there isn't much more you could have realistically asked for. Especially if you fall into the 'doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile' category of fan. The only thing that could have been expected was to keep losses against the best the conference has to offer from being absolute debacles. It would have been nice to put our best foot forward in games against some of the more prestigious foes, yet it still would resulted in an 8 win season, at best.
What can't be denied is that Coach Kyle Flood survived a murderer's row of tough road games and was able to keep his team's head on straight. Rutgers had the hardest schedule in the conference this year. They have the hardest schedule in the conference next year as well, and they were able to finish ahead of well established programs like Penn State and Michigan, despite them suffering through tough years. With the way last season ended, Rutgers turned a year that could have decimated the program into a reason to optimistic for the future. The recruits will only get better, the opponents far less intimidating. Let's be serious, a program that has spent the last decade floundering in mediocrity hasn't been subjected to the level of football played in East Lansing or Columbus. They were bound to take a few on the chin. The more important thing for the coaching staff and the future is that they were able to get up from those and finish the season on a high note. I don't know who was wearing Lorenzo Waters jersey yesterday, but it certainly wasn't the guy that turned missed tackles into a nearly uncountable statistic this year. Two fumble recoveries, a blocked field goal, 14 tackles that didn't occur 30 yards downfield? Way to pad those 'Zo. Nowhere to go but up on defense, how's that for glass half full? You want some more optimism. The last 3 quarters of the season saw the Scarlet Knights play stellar defense. Sure, the first half at Maryland was about as futile an effort defensively that the sport of football has ever seen, but it's about how you finish, right? Turnovers? Wrap up tackles? Maybe yesterday was a sign of things to come from the defense. People forget that despite the veteran presences of Darius Hamilton and Kevin Snyder, the unit as a whole, especially the secondary, is fairly young. How could the offense not have you excited? With Carroo officially deciding to come back, the Scarlet Knights will return 4 of their top 5 wide receivers and all of their immensely talented running backs. Freshman running back tandem Josh Hicks (200 yards and a touchdown) and Robert Martin III (100 yards and a touchdown) have sparkled in nearly everyone of their opportunities. Almost so much so that they make the return of stud running back Paul James seem insignificant. In a run heavy conference, It seems Rutgers has an embarrassment of riches at an extremely vital position. Quarterback, as is tradition in Piscataway, is still question mark. Next year, for the first time in 4 years, the answer to that question will not be Gary Nova. Gary went out on top, which is all you can ask from a career marred by the highest of highs and lowest of lows. If you take out a miserable performance against Penn State where he basically lost the game by himself, he had a very steady and solid year. The records he holds and the wins he was responsible for are an important part of Rutgers history and watching him walk away from this program a winner was maybe the most important part of yesterday's bowl game. As Gary wildly proclaimed amongst frenzied teammates prior to yesterday's contest, "It's more than a game!". I think the players, as well as the fan base, felt that. It's going to be a weird feeling for everyone to see someone other than Gary Nova taking snaps next year. To the person lucky enough to take on that roll, Darius Hamilton has some words of advice… “Whoever's next up, God bless him,” defensive tackle Darius Hamilton said. “This is a tough job. When everything goes right, you're the man. When everything goes wrong, it's all on your shoulders. You have to look no further than Gary to know that.” Perhaps it's not fair to say Saturday's game was as simple as Bad Gary versus Good Gary. Truth is, Gary has been playing hurt and Rutgers had far more problems than it's quarterback play in the first half. Still, in his last regular season game, the halves of football couldn't have been more polar opposite. While the defense put Rutgers in a hole that looked to be insurmountable, the offense didn't help much with a Gary Nova fumble and more drops than I take in an entire round of golf. It looked so much like the four losses prior. A rough start that turned into a complete shellacking before you could even blink. However, just mere hours later, Rutgers had turned what looked to be a 6-6 barely bowl eligible failure of a season into a 7-5 building block for the future.
I don't know what Kyle Flood said in the the locker room. I do know that he doesn't want to know what I was saying during halftime. I hope his kids were seated as far away from me as possible. The 3 hour drive to Maryland had looked to be for naught. The defense, if you want to call it that, was pop warner worthy, at best. It was looking grim for the Scarlet Knights both on the field, and in the postseason, as the possibility of a being left out of a bowl game loomed large. I give credit where it is due. Kyle Flood made the adjustments. Apparently, a lot of them. The offense, sparked by a long Janarion Grant return, continued where it left off in the first half and just a few short minutes into the second half the game no longer seemed out of reach. The Rutgers offense was unstoppable in the second half. Gary Nova was picture perfect. The defense forced throws and did an admirable job of stopping the run. They were a completely different team. The one thing I have been hard on Flood for this year is his team quitting when they get down. Rutgers was demolished by the top 4 teams in the Big Ten and the games were never remotely close. Not this game, the team that came out in the second half was one that looked like they had no idea what the score was. Honestly, after coming back from 25 down, they looked like they expected to win the game the whole time. The comeback win nows gives Rutgers a shot at a more prestigious bowl game, and makes the next month leading up to said bowl game a lot more bearable. It may have just been one game. One stellar half. However, the way in which Rutgers football capped off their regular season leaves a much better taste in the mouth of the fan base that has endured a multitude of up's and down's this year. In a game that meant a lot to first year offensive coordinator Ralph Freidgan, a man that was unceremoniously let go as long time Maryland head coach following a 9-3 season, his offense put on an absolute clinic after being down 35-10. As Gary Nova's career dwindles to an end, It was good to see him be the arm behind the biggest comeback in program history. Funny how 30 minutes of football can define an entire season... Embarrassing. Unwatchable. Emasculating.
Really, no amount of degrading adjectives would do justice after the laugher Rutgers was on the short end of today. One thing is for sure though, it is unacceptable, and it's the 4th time in a 12 game season that we have had to experience it. Don't get me wrong, only a brightest eyed optimist would think Rutgers was going to win today, or be a major contender in the Big Ten. From an outside perspective, 6-5 with a winnable game against Maryland could be considered overachieving with how many viewed this team at the start of the season. However, Rutgers fans have had to flounder in mediocrity far too long, and it looks like the program, as a whole, accepts it. The "bowl eligible" email I received no more than 20 minutes after the Indiana game speaks to that. The way the players and the staff were talking about getting a 6th win you would think they were already preparing for the bowl game. Shit, you would think they were preparing for the 4 team playoff. Too many pats on the back for a middle of the road Big Ten team. Like I said before, prior to the season I would have signed up for where we are at right now. However, the way in which they are doing it is beyond discouraging. They now have taken faced four huge in-conference tests, and they have failed everyone in a resoundingly miserable fashion. I don't mind losing when we are overmatched talent wise, but I refuse to accept quitting. Make no mistake, in at least 3 of the 4 big conference games the players on the field quit. Having watched a lot of Big Ten games this year, I have watched mediocre teams hang with the best the conference has to offer. I watched an Indiana team, which got smoked by Rutgers last week, hang with Ohio State, which beat Rutgers by approximately 85 points, for the better part of 4 quarters. It is not ridiculous to expect Rutgers to be competitive with every team in this conference. These failures, either justly or unjustly, fall on the shoulders of head coach Kyle Flood and his staff. Kyle Flood, in a lot of ways, reminds me of a mild mannered Rex Ryan. He certainly is more politically correct and no one will mistake him for a defensive genius, but he is a players coach. All these players will speak highly of him, no matter what kind of loss they are coming off of. While that may be good in some ways, it certainly isn't translating on the field. No matter how much they love the coach, they quit on him halfway throughout the first quarter today. That's why it is a mistake to keep him at the helm. There is close to a 0% chance that he is fired and it is going to result in a very similar season next year. Unlike Rex, the lack of talent on this team is a result of the head coach. That's just part of recruiting and college coaching. Put the cliches and the "just trying to go 1-0 this week" to rest, it's grown tiresome. I am a fan through and through and I turned today's game off at halftime. If they aren't going to show up, neither am I. Today's performance was reminiscent of last years game against UCF. No offense, no attempt at tackling, overall disinterest. Like it or not, that falls on the figurehead of the program, Kyle Flood. This program's commitment to mediocrity is nauseating. I like Kyle Flood, as a person, as much as the next guy. However, when you are a coach of a college football team you are in the business of winning, and someone has to pay for the continued struggles of this Rutgers team. Blowing smoke up the ass of the fan base doesn't change the numbers on the scoreboard, and the numbers today painted them as a bad football team. Leave it to Rutgers. Only the Scarlet Knights could have me fuming mad at halftime of a game that ends up being a blowout in their favor. Only they could give up a 60+ yard touchdown run on a play that was meant to run out the clock. Only they could back a team up to 2nd and 25 only to give up another 60+ yard run. Vintage RU antics. Whatever. Fuck all that. I'm back on the bus. Bowl eligible baby! What was the over/under on wins for the season? 4? 4.5? Where the odds makers at? They can kiss every inch of my dick. Give me the keys, I'm about to drive this bandwagon. Not like I have a choice after buying this shirt last night... That's how the Piscataway portion of the season had to end. The three previous games are water under the bridge. We took our lumps. Learned what it is like to play with the big boys. At the end of the day, Rutgers is going to be a middle of pack team in the Big Ten…in their first year. The team many thought would be a doormat has solidified, at the very least, a .500 season. I am not going to sit here and glorify 9 bowl trips in the last 10 seasons. Many of those bowl trips came playing a weak out of conference schedule and a less than stellar Big East/AAC schedule. This bowl is something to be proud of. Following a travesty of a season last year with a bowl worthy first season in the B1G is progress. It's something to hang your hat on. It's a building block for this program to progress to bigger and better things. It's what recruits needed to see to consider Rutgers a worthy destination. It was a great afternoon for Rutgers players both new and old. The freshman running back duo of Robert Martin III and Josh Hicks were lights out. A glimmer into what looks to be an embarrassment of riches at the position. Kemoko Turay nearly beheaded Indiana's quarterback, again justifying the hype surrounding an already impressive freshman year. Leonte Carroo, once again, showed why it might not be feasible to see him in Piscataway next year. He has NFL talent and he flashes it every time he is given an opportunity. Last night was no different. Lastly, Gary Nova played his last home game in front of a crowd that has grown to love and hate him, depending on the week. It was a pleasure to watch him go out a winner. He played solid, smart football and finally led Rutgers to a win where our collective hearts weren't in our stomachs come the final two minutes. I, for one, appreciate everything he has given to this football program, even during the low points. While last night was a pleasant experience, and worthy of celebration, there is still a lot of season left. I got to say…I'm all in. I know Langford is going to run for an entire mile on our defense next week. Hope Melvin Gordon enjoys his record the whole 7 days it lasts. Fuck it. Bend but don't break. Motherfuck a spartan. Just keep on battling. Nothing to lose now. After a couple beers and a Rutgers win I was convinced to take the road trip out to Maryland. Can't wait to send the turtles crawling back into their shells. Might have to give Testudo some nightmares in a few weeks. Bowl tickets available? Sign me up for that shit too (as long as it's not in Detroit). I want to watch these boys battle in person as many times as I can. Lord knows my NFL won't be doing the same.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2014/11/critics_of_rutgers_qb_gary_nova_have_made_threats_according_to_teammate_leonte_carroo.html
NJ.com- Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova has dealt with plenty of criticism during his tumultuous four-year career. But some fans have crossed the line by making death threats, according to teammate and longtime friend Leonte Carroo. Some would say Rutgers' arrival into big time college football was when they stormed the field after defeating #3 ranked Louisville in 2006. Others would say their recent entrance in to the Big Ten, a premiere football conference, marks their ascension into relevance. They would both be wrong. Your fan base isn't deserving of respect in college football until your quarterback is getting death threats. That's just a fact. You think the UConn quarterback gets death threats? How about the Syracuse quarterback? They probably have to wear their jerseys around campus just to get recognized. I bet Ryan Hart would have killed to get death threats while at Rutgers. Should college kids, that put their heart and soul on the line for no monetary compensation, have to deal with such ridiculousness? No. I think everybody realizes that. Except for the people hiding behind keyboards shooting empty threats out all across the worldwide web. However, that's just the age we live in. The TwittERA, if you will. Anyone who is anyone receives death threats now a days. It's a sign that people care about you, hate is just well disguised love. Gary Nova should respond with a resounding 'thank you' to each and every fan that ridicules him in public. The fans, rational and irrational alike, are the reason he is a starting quarterback in a power conference like the Big Ten. Despite the media exposure of the NYC market, Rutgers would not be in the Big Ten without a passionate fan base. Gary Nova has been the Rutgers starting quarterback, on and off, for 4 years. I know for a fact I have said "I am going to fucking kill Gary Nova" more than once. There were probably games where it was coming out of my mouth like it was on a loop. I didn't mean it. If i saw Gary in the bar tomorrow I would buy him a beer and give him a nice stiff pat on the ass. In the infamous words of Terrell Owens, "that's my quarterback", for better or worse. Lord knows the kid has been through more than any of his detractors could even imagine. He has had more emotional peaks and valleys than a pregnant woman. In fact, his career is eerily reminiscent of the longest premenstrual cycle in recorded history. The Scarlet-blooded Knights fans have been with him along the way for this epic journey. It's a tale of sorrow and a tale of persistence. It's like the greatest drama ever written played out in front of our eyes over the course of 4 years. Of course we are emotional. Some fans just let out that emotional through less than constructive criticism. On Saturday, Gary Nova plays his final home game in front of the Rutgers crowd. When the clock hits zeroes, come victory or defeat, I will be putting my hands together for a kid that has had to endure more scrutiny than most will encounter in their entire lives. I have a pretty good feeling that those that authored those threatening tweets and misguided fandom will be right there along with me. Say what you want about Gary Nova, but he has been present for, even responsible for, some of the most memorable moments in Rutgers football history. Regardless of your thoughts on Gary Nova, watching him lay on the turf in Lincoln, Nebraska was a disheartening sight. I have crucified him. I have waxed poetic about him. It really depends on the week. No matter what your thoughts are on him, he is the best option Rutgers has at quarterback. Honestly, its really not even that close. Sure, Laviano had some nice plays with his legs in the second half. When push comes to shove teams aren't going to allow him to roll out and run 46 yards on a quarterback keeper every week. We need Gary healthy and fast.
There's been a ton of criticism directed towards Kyle Flood for the situation in which Nova got hurt. Rutgers, a team that usually runs out the clock in similar situations, aired the ball out. Attempting to go 94 yards in the last minute of the half. I refuse to put this on Flood. Was it the smartest decision in the world? No. Was it extremely improbable that Rutgers put up points on the drive? Definitely. However, you can't play scared. I have been clamoring for Rutgers to stop doing it for years, so I'm not going to be a hypocrite when a freak accident happens. Nova could get hurt on any given play this season, that's the nature of football. Rutgers was down 14 in a game where their defense was shaky and Nebraska was receiving the ball after the half. The difference between 21-7 and 21-10 or 21-14 is worth the risk of throwing the ball. No one expected Nova to get hurt. Hindsight is 20/20. People would be talking about how big Flood's cojones are had they put up points there. The last few games have proved one major thing. The Knights need to get bigger on the offensive and defensive lines. Games are won in the trenches. The smaller quicker players aren't going to cut it. There's no short term fix to that. It's an issue that needs to be addressed in recruiting in the coming years. Rutgers was constantly pushed 2 yards downfield on defense. Those big cornfed honkies were dominating Rutgers up front. The offensive line was getting no push. I don't think it's a matter of lack of talent, but rather a matter of size and strength. The secondary. Oh God, the fucking secondary. If the line isn't going to get push up front, the one thing Rutgers is going to have to depend on is the secondary and linebackers making tackles when they are there to be made. Lorenzo Waters looked like a fish out of water. I have played better safety on Madden and I couldn't tackle a chicken in a phone booth on Madden. By count, I think he missed 300 tackles yesterday. Yes, making those tackles is going to be much harder job when the defensive line is getting no penetration. That's no excuse for missing tackles by 5 feet. Hats off to Ameer Abdullah. I hate giving any sort of credit to the opponent. It's just not in my nature. I got to give it to him though. Dude is a beast. He has monster holes to run through, but he is extremely slick in the open field. Quite frankly, he made the Rutgers defense look silly. They didn't need any help Ameer, they could have done that themselves. Just looking at the picture below makes me want to toss up my shrimp tacos. Please get healthy Gary. It's Badger hunting season next week, and you got the sawed off shotgun. Well, an appearance like that was an inevitable. Rutgers got taken to the woodshed. Entering into the Big Ten there was a lot of pundits that thought every conference game would be like that. It took until game 7 after a 5-1 start to finally get there. When Braxton Miller went down and JT Barrett struggled in the first few games of the season it looked as though the Scarlet Knights might luck out and face a weakened Buckeyes' team. Barrett eventually figured it out, and their offense has been quite the juggernaut the last few weeks. It showed as they emasculated a Rutgers defense that has been overachieving based on expectations this year.
I wanted to be mad, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I hate that defeatist attitude. However, if you told me Rutgers would be 5-2 going into Nebraska I would have signed up for it in a heartbeat. In fact, I think next week's game is a much bigger litmus test than Ohio State. At this point it is clear that Ohio State and Michigan State are the class of the Big Ten. Everyone else kind of falls in the middle. I have a fair amount of confidence facing every other team left on the schedule with the exception of the Spartans. A good showing against Ohio State would have been nice, but maybe a nice ass beating is something this team needed. At least this years smack downs are at the hands of OSU and not Houston. Honestly still just happy to be in a conference where every game is a must watch. Yeah, I definitely talked myself into thinking Rutgers had a chance this past Saturday. That's just being a fan though. Rationality and fandom are far from one and the same. I wouldn't have it any other way. I always want to think my team is going to win. Like this Saturday for instance. Can't wait to show up to Nebraska and leave those corn fuckers in tears. That boy Abdullah ain't gonna know what hit him. Hope they learn how to throw a forward pass in the next couple days, because that Rutgers run defense is nicccce (sans last game, aberration). I don't want to make too big of a deal of this because it has very little effect on the outcome of the game. However, Urban Meyer going for it on 4th down twice while in field goal range up 30+ is an absolute joke. I don't like the term 'classless' because I think class is overrated. I will call it unnecessary though. I know the opposing view is that teams have to win by as many as possible to impress the playoff committee. Sorry, but I just don't believe that Ohio State is making the 4 team playoff based on 4 more points in a blowout against Rutgers. Like I said, not the biggest deal, but if Urban Meyer gets hit by a bus I probably won't shed any tears.
They say you don't apologize for who is on your schedule, and I don't intend to. A 2-3 Michigan team was not who Rutgers was expecting to walk in to High Point Solutions Stadium had you asked them at the beginning of the season. However, make no mistake about it, It is still a talented team. A top 10 defense in the nation with the talent on offense to play with anyone in the country.
As excruciating a loss that the Penn State game was, it made this win that much sweeter. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger was proven to be true last night. In a nightmarish situation, Rutgers maintained their composure and closed out their first ever Big Ten victory. Giving the ball back to Michigan with a 2 point late in the 4th quarter felt the knife was already firmly implanted in Rutgers' collective torso and all Michigan had to do was give it a little twist. The far too familiar feeling of letting a certain win slip away in a huge spot had to be in the back of everyones mind. The fans, the players, and the coaches alike. To everyone's credit though, you weren't able to tell. The defense came through in a big spot. The well coached special teams unit once again made a monsterous play. The fans were as electric as ever until the final whistle. I have been putting it off, but it's time to give the man his due. In a game where Rutgers averaged 2.5 yards per carry against a stellar defensive front, Gary Nova shined. In fact, Gary Nova, the much maligned quarterback who has had more up's and down's than a narcotics abuser, put his team on his back. Rutgers' motto for the last decade has been 'FAMILY'. They may not produce the best results on the field, but goddamn it if they don't play for each other every single week. While this was a team win, It is one that Nova can proclaim his own. He will never say it, but that win was redemption. Redemption for the times he's been awful. Redemption for the times he's been benched. Redemption for a career filled with moments where he has come up just a little bit short. I know I have given Gary a hard time over the years. He would be the first to tell you he's deserved it. But as he took that knee and a helpless Michigan team walked out Piscataway with a loss, I couldn't help but feel proud of him. I don't know Gary personally, but it sure as shit feels like I do. So watching him embrace his family at midfield was emotional. It was a moment that not only he can cherish, but the entirety of the Rutgers' faithful can cherish. A moment about overcoming adversity. That's what this Rutgers' team did last night. Showed a nation that scoffed at the idea of them joining the Big Ten that they belonged there.
404 yards. 3 touchdowns. Each one more impressive than the last. I wasn't watching the same player. The same player that let a bad performance turn into a bad season so many times before. Couldn't have been him, That player would have wilted under the bright lights. Maybe Gary Nova has grown up. I wasn't going to say it after solid performances against Navy and Tulane. Those are games where Gary has always been good. I needed to see him go against the stiffest of competition and lead his team in the absence of Paul James. He did that and more. Not only did he make every throw he's supposed to make. He made plays with his feet. He stiff armed an unblocked defender in the process of making a pinpoint touchdown pass at a crucial moment. He made me bELieve again.
Could there have been a more perfect way to seal a win? Sure, the offense had to get one more first down, but that blocked kick was a dagger to the Michigan faithful. I could not have been happier to see Brady Hoke march out his kicker on 4th and 9 in Rutgers territory. I was dreading seeing Devin Gardner again. Even if the Rutgers' defense did contain him a majority of the night. That kick was blocked before it was even snapped. Rutgers' football has taught me to never make assumptions, but there was no way that kick was getting past the line of scrimmage. I have never been so sure of something in my entire life. I have seen it far too many times. I said it before the game and I will continue to say it until they stop leading the nation in blocked kicks, Rutgers has the best coached special teams unit in the country.
I am always one for a good celebration. However, I did not rush the field last night. Sometimes you have to act like you have been there before, even if you haven't. Unlike the Louisville game in 2006, this was a game I felt Rutgers should win. I have felt like that many times in big spots and always been let down, usually in heart wrenching fashion. Was this win huge for the university? Absolutely. But it was only a matter of time. A matter of time before they finally made one more play. A matter of time before they made all the low points worth it. Standing in the stands watching everyone rush the field was an indescribable feeling. A moment that just felt right. Last night Rutgers arrived to the landscape of big time college football. And I could not have been more content when it happened.
They say the first one in the hardest to get. Good to hear. My heart can't handle much more of these games. I am probably going to die in my early 40's at a Rutgers game. Whether that be from alarming amounts of alcohol consumption or an ill timed fake punt call remains to be seen. Either way, It will be a hell of a way to go out. Let's hope the first one is the hardest to get, because the schedule doesn't get any easier. However, something tells me this Rutgers team has been through enough that they are prepared for any challenge they face.
I couldn't be happier for anyone that is lucky enough to call themselves a Scarlet Knight today. I have woken up many a Sunday morning hungover, but this one just feels different. The sun is shining a little bit brighter. The birds are chirper a little more melodically. There is still enough adrenaline in my system to ignore the pounding headache. So I have to sound like a pack a day smoker for the next week. Big deal.
Who's laughing now? I'll give you a hint. It's me. I'm laughing because chubs can't get through a donut without needing to stop to use an inhaler. I'm laughing because the hair lines of these two assbags make mine look like George Clooney's. I am laughing because these three assholes have done maybe 2 athletic things combined in their lives. Ya know, if you include getting out of bed and blabbering gibberish on television as athletic feats. So fuck off and tell me how that foot tastes you sorry excuse for a human being.
PSA: If you bring your children to a conference night game entitled the 'Blackout' game, and you sit downstairs clad in blue and yellow (only pretentious assholes say maize), you are going to hear some shit you don't want to hear. If you happen to be lucky enough to be in my section, it's going to undoubtedly come from my mouth. So don't give me the 'what's that smell' face when I drop an F bomb before they even kickoff. That should be the least of your worries. You're stupid fucking kids have heard a lot worse at school, I promise you. You want to be offended. I can do that. I could have told your daughter that her horse face is going to get her sent to the glue factory sooner than later. I could have told your son that the Michigan stickers he was wearing will undoubtedly be only the first of many sticky things he will have plastering his face in the future. Oh, and nice job with that wife bro. You get one vagina for the rest of our life and that's what you came up with? That bitter bitch face seems permanent. Maybe try giving her an orgasm once and awhile dude. Just trying to help.
I thought Big Ten fans were supposed to have thick skin? First, I made the Penn State chick cry like she was sentenced to a Sandusky shower, and now this. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke. If you don't want to hear 'come the fuck on' at a football game then go the fuck home. Back to your trailer park on 8 mile road you pheasants. Hope you enjoyed my derogatory mouth while Rutgers fisted that Michigan ass last night. Have a safe ride home in your Buick, ya puts. Here's a hint for future games dude…. P.P.S. Chop, Chop Mr. Ducksworth. This week has been amazing. For once, Rutgers wasn't the school making national headlines for all the wrong reasons. Brady Hoke's decision to leave his quarterback in, after he had his brains scrambled was pure comedy at its finest. Stupid Chris Christie wanna-be. Brady Hoke will only have the second best FUPA in the state today. Probably a bit disappointing for him. I would imagine that is something he prides himself on.
Anyway, I know it was hard for Julie Hermann to hold her tongue all week. Michigan was getting raked over the coals. No doubt she wanted in on that little bit of media scrutiny. There's nothing in this world that gets Julie wet quicker than a good ol' fashioned media controversy. She lives for that. I'm glad she ignored the itch and let us play the good guys, at least for one week. The problem with this game is that Michigan is still very talented, but they have been soooo bad. Cannot fall into the trap of looking at their record. I don't think we will though. This is the Michigan Wolverines coming to play in Piscataway. Someone pinch me, still can't believe we are in the B1G. The 'blackout' should be in full affect and the atmosphere electric. Let's get ourselves our first conference win and go 1-0 this week. And Gary, please, oh please, oh please, oh please don't turn over the ball. I smell a big special teams play today. Block kicks, it's what we do….Now let me see those sexy black jerseys... Nice little ho-hum vintage Gary Nova game against inferior competition. 4 TD's and 290 yards through the air. Yeah, it was Tulane. But this is Gary Nova, and I will take that any day. A team that was picked to finish at the bottom of the division is favored against Michigan this upcoming week. Who would have predicted that? Rutgers is at already at the win total that most people expected them to finish the season with. The cupcakes are over though. Michigan may be terrible up until this point, but you never count out a team with the history of the Wolverines. Couple things from the game. Desmond Peoples and Justin Goodwin filled in admirably for the injured Paul James. The James injury may hurt us against stiffer competition down the road (Wisconsin, Mich St., Nebraska), but for now the depth is really showing itself. If you are going to have to deal with a devastating injury, it is good it came from a position of strength. While neither player boasts the big play potential of James, both are able to allow their blocks to develop and hit the hole with speed. From what we have seen in their careers both players are stellar pass catchers out of the backfield as well. Leonte Carroo. What a fucking stud? What else can be said? This guy is going to demolish the receiving touchdown records at Rutgers. Catches absolute everything, just a joy to watch. Call it chemistry from high school with Nova. Call it Carroo making Nova look good. I don't care what you call it, as long as it continues. It would be nice to see Nova get some more players involved on offense with the meat of the schedule coming up, but I can't blame him too much for going back to the well. A defense? What?! Listen, by no means am I saying they are world beaters, but it's a hell of a a lot better than what we saw against Washington State and Howard. Holding Penn State to 13, limiting Navy's high powered rushing attack, and stifling Tulane were all a welcome change to the first few weeks. Sometimes it is easy to forget how young this defense is, and it should only improve going forward. My god, Kemoko Turay. What an absolute freak. It is going to be fun watching this guy for years to come. He has all the athletic ability in the world and seems to be catching on quickly when it comes to instincts. Especially considering his limited football background. Hopefully we see more plays like the ones below... This Michigan game kind of scares me. Going to have to run the ball effectively, limit Gary's throws, and avoid turnovers at all costs :ahem Mr. Nova:. Would be nice to see the defense continue to improve and maybe force a turnover or two. The special teams just has to continue to be the special teams. Block kicks, It's just what we do. Maybe we can decide to actually block for Grant on a kick return, Lord knows he is itching to take one to the chopper.
Above all, we need a Penn State-esque turnout from the Scarlet Knight faithful. I want ears bleeding in Piscataway. Got to get our first Big Ten win somewhere, and wouldn't it be nice to get it at home against a team as storied as Michigan. CHOP MICHIGAN!!! Rutgers fans can forget the first 5 minutes and the last 5 minutes. The other 50 were complete and thorough domination. The running game was stellar and able to give Gary Nova a much needed opportunity to rest his arm. James (pre-injury), Peoples and Goodwin left tire tracks all over the Navy defense. Was I one more touchdown away from an aneurism in the first quarter? Sure. Was I one false breath from a stroke in the 4th quarter? 1,000,000%. Doesn't matter now though. 1-0 this week. Fuck Navy. Bring on Tulane. As heart breaking as the Penn State game was, the Scarlet Knights still have an opportunity to take on a weakened Michigan team to go 5-1 if they play their cards right. Good Lord I needed that win. Go KNIGHTS!!! P.S. The triple option is the biggest mind fuck in the history of sports, and to be frank, it can kiss my black ass. P.S.S. Fire.Fucking.Flames.
You would never know how poor of a hand Eric LeGrand was dealt. It's the ultimate poker face. Except for the fact that it is 100% genuine. It truly is unbelievable. When I see tweets like this I laugh hysterically, and then I just sit back and say 'wow'. How many people, in their heart of hearts, could say they would remain this happy, positive and inspiring given the situation Eric is in? I would venture to say the percentage is microscopic.
In a world full of negativity, where people are so seldom able to laugh at themselves, this tweet and the person responsible for it are a breath of fresh air. There is no way anyone could repay Eric LeGrand for what he has given us, and that is the belief in a better tomorrow. The belief that nothing is insurmountable. And most importantly, the belief that no circumstance is too awful for a good laugh. He just understands life better than any us ever could. We'll always bELieve Eric! Apparently Julie Hermann Made an 'Off Color' Remark About Sandusky At a Staff Meeting Last Fall9/19/2014 http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2014/09/rutgers_athletic_director_julie_hermann_made_crude_sandusky_remark_in_staff_meeting_sources_said.html
NJ.com- Following a NJ Advance Media investigation that included statements from more than a half-dozen people inside the Rutgers athletic department, university officials acknowledged Hermann made the Sandusky-related remark at a staff meeting last fall. Multiple people interviewed by NJ Advance Media -- who would speak only on the condition of anonymity because they feared retribution -- said Hermann was talking about "reaching out and touching the donors" of the program and her punchline was to not do it "in a Sandusky way". Yawwwwn. Do not care. Rutgers' athletic director made a joke about a pedophile a year ago. Why does everything have to be a thing? The statue of limitation has run out on this joke guys. All that says to me is that she has a sense of humor and I would probably enjoy grabbing a beer with her. Listen, I get that Sandusky jokes are in poor taste, but they are also kind of funny. Are there people out there that haven't made a Sandusky joke in the last 2 years? I don't want to know them. We aren't talking about a 'Danny Ferry comment' that has any derogatory or discriminatory implications. She just chose a poor time to remind everyone in the meeting that Penn State coaches touch kids. Sometimes we forget these things. Fantastic investigative reporting Star Ledger. A year later you uncovered an off the cuff joke made in front of the 'privacy' of her own staff. Who was responsible for getting the scoop on this? They should be the 168th person laid off. The real question here is who is the mole? Fucking narc. Yeah, I'm sure everyone in the room gasped for breath and was appalled when she made the joke. 1000% chance half the room laughed. Who are these stick-in-the-mud Rutgers' officials? Don't give me that anonymous bullshit. Sac up pussy. If you are going to rat on the athletic director on your own staff you deserve the firestorm that's coming your way. Lest we forget Julie Hermann apologized no more than a few days ago on behalf of the University. This joke was made a year ago, and she already apologized on behalf of the University of which she is a part. Bases covered, Good work Jules. P.S. This is the exact reason I KNOW apologizing for Saturday was not Julie's call. She doesn't give 1/8th of a fuck what people think. She didn't regret making this joke. Probably made multiple similar jokes since. She probably laughed while reading this article. Scratch that. She probably read the headline and set it aflame right in front of whoever gave it to her. |
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