Rutgers Scarlet Knights football

NCAAFootballSchool
TeamName = Rutgers Scarlet Knights


ImageSize = 150
HeadCoachDisplay = Greg Schiano
HeadCoachLink = Greg Schiano
HeadCoachYear = 7th
HCWins = 38
HCLosses = 46
Stadium = Rutgers Stadium
StadCapacity = 41,500
StadSurface = Field Turf
Location = Piscataway, New Jersey
ConferenceDisplay= Big East
ConferenceLink = Big East Conference
ConfDivision =
FirstYear = 1869
AthlDirectorDisp = Robert E. Mulcahy III
AthlDirectorLink = Robert E. Mulcahy III
WebsiteName = Rutgers Scarlet Knights
WebsiteURL = http://www.scarletknights.com
ATWins = 588
ATLosses = 585
ATTies = 42
ATPercentage = .501
BowlWins = 2
BowlLosses = 2
BowlTies = 0
NatlTitles = 1 (Shared 1869)
ConfTitles = 7 |*Middle Three Conference: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 |*Middle Atlantic Conference: 1958, 1960, 1961
Heismans = 0
AllAmericans =
Color1 = Scarlet
Color1Hex = D21034
Color2 = White
Color2Hex = FFFFFF
FightSong = The Bells Must Ring
MascotDisplay = Scarlet Knight
MascotLink = Scarlet Knight
MarchingBand = Marching Scarlet Knights
PagFreeLabel =
PagFreeValue =
PagFreeLabel =
PagFreeValue =
Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights participate in NCAA Division I FBS American football. Rutgers University beat Princeton University in the first intercollegiate game ever played in 1869. [ [http://scarletknights.com/football/history/history.asp Rutgers Football History Capsule] , published by Rutgers Athletic Communications, accessed 8 June 2007.]

Despite being the "Birthplace of College Football" and sharing the 1869 national championship with Princeton University in the first year of intercollegiate play, Rutgers has not had an overly successful heritage in the sport through the years. [http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Rutgers.htm Rutgers Historical Scores] at Division I-A Historical Scores, published by James Howell. Accessed 12 January 2007.] Especially in the last three decades, Rutgers was regarded as one of the worst teams in Division I-A (now FBS), posting several losing seasons in a row and raising discussion of possibly reducing the team to Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) competition. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores102/102257/20020914NCAAFRUTGERS---0nr.htm Army vs. Rutgers] in "USA Today" 14 September 2002. (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.] [ [http://www.collegefootballchannel.com/story.asp?story=20028 Futility "U" - The Worst Football Programs of Division I-A 2006] by John Fuentes (4 January 2007), published by College Football Channel. Accessed 12 January 2007] For most of its existence, the football team was not associated with any formal football conference and remained independent even when the first football leagues were forming. At present, Rutgers participates in Division I FBS and is a member of the Big East Conference (since 1991). The current coach of the football team is Greg Schiano.

Championships and bowl games

In 1869, when Rutgers and Princeton met for the inaugural intercollegiate football game, they were the only two teams playing. Rutgers won the first game with a score of six runs to Princeton's four, on 6 November 1869. However, Princeton was victorious in the next game, played the following week, with a score of eight to zero. A planned third game, scheduled 29 November 1869, did not occur as the faculties of both schools presumably thought that the game would interfere with the studies of the respective school's student bodies. [ [http://www.scarletknights.com/football/history/first-game.asp Rutgers - The Birthplace of College Football: The First Intercollegiate Game - November 6, 1869] at scarletknights.com, published by the Rutgers University Athletic Department, accessed 12 January 2007.] Other sources claim that it may have been cancelled due to disagreement over what set of rules to play under. [ [http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=c-to1870 NO CHRISTIAN END! The Beginnings of Football in America] published by the Professional Football Research Association (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.] While some might consider the awarding of a championship in the 1869 "season" to be disingenuous—as there were only two teams playing "football" at the time, both showing 1-1 records—Princeton and Rutgers have been regarded as having shared the 1869 national championship. [Sportswriter Parke Davis asserts that Rutgers shares the 1869 championship with Princeton at [http://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/ia_football_past_champs.html College Football Past National Championships] at the National Collegiate Athletic Association website, accessed 29 December 2006.]

From 1946 to 1951, Rutgers was a member of the Middle Three Conference, winning that conference's championship in the first four years as a member, in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949. Rutgers became an independent team again in 1952. Rutgers was a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference from 1958 to 1961. The college won the conference championship in three of those four years (1958, 1960, and 1961). The 1961 season was particularly remarkable as it was the Scarlet Knights' first undefeated season (9-0)—with Alabama, one of only two undefeated teams in the nation—and the team was captained by future college football hall-of-famer Alex Kroll. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,938839-1,00.html "Doing for Dear Old Rutgers"] in "Time Magazine" (1 December 1961) (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.] In 1961, Rutgers was considered a contender for the Rose Bowl, but was not selected because university president Mason Welch Gross did not express interest with the Rose Bowl's organizers. ["Army, Navy May Hold Key to Rose Bowl" in "The Washington Post" (2 December 1961). Page A16. Only authorship information given "by a staff reporter".] [ [http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/COLUMNISTS01/611300409/1082 "Son of former Rutgers coach sees Schiano as reincarnation of dad"] by Rick Malwitz in "The Home News Tribune" (30 November 2006). Accessed 12 January 2007.] The following year, Rutgers once again went independent, and remained so until it joined the Big East Conference in 1991. In 1976, Rutgers declined an invitation to play an unranked McNeese State University at the Independence Bowl, feeling snubbed by more prestigious bowls despite its undefeated 11–0 season. ["Rutgers Votes to Skip Independence Bowl" in "The Washington Post" (23 November 1976). Page D6. (No further authorship information available).] Rutgers has gone to four bowl games in its 138-year history in college football of which it has won two. The results are, as follows:

2006 Season

2006 was the year that is considered by many to be the breakout season for Rutgers. Led by Draddy Trophy winning Senior fullback Brian Leonard, Sophomore quarterback Mike Teel, Sophomore halfback Ray Rice, Sophomore wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, Junior defensive tackle Eric Foster, and Junior kicker Jeremy Ito, Rutgers finished the season ranked 12th in the Associated Press and Coaches polls, won eleven of thirteen games, and won the first bowl game in school history.

The team started off the season going undefeated through nine games, including a dramatic win over the then-3rd ranked Louisville, which was highlighted by kicker Jeremy Ito's last minute field goal to seal the win. They were defeated by both West Virginia and Cincinnati, but nonetheless received an invitation to play Kansas State in the inaugural Texas Bowl. Rutgers defeated Kansas State 37-10 to win the first bowl game in school history. Halfback Ray Rice was named the game's MVP and ran for 170 yards and one touchdown in twenty four carries. Due to his tremendous 2006 season, in which he ran for 1,794 yards and scored twenty touchdowns, Rice won Big East Player of the Year honors. He also finished seventh in Heisman Trophy votings and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award.

CFB Schedule Start
ranklink=yes
time=no
tv=yes
rank=yes
rankyear=2006
attend=yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/02/2006
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = North Carolina
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
tv = ABC
w/l = w
score = 21–16
attend = 50,000CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/09/2006
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Illinois
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN2
w/l = w
score = 33–0
attend = 41,036CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/16/2006
nonconf = yes
homecoming = yes
time = no
opponent = Ohio
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = MSG Network
w/l = w
score = 24–7
attend = 41,102CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/23/2006
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Howard
away =
rank = 23/23
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = MSG
w/l = w
score = 56–7
attend = 35,558CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/29/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = South Florida
away =
rank = 23/23
opprank =
site_stadium = Raymond James Stadium
site_cityst = Tampa, FL
tv = ESPN2
w/l = w
score = 22–20
attend = 32,493CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/14/2006
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Navy
away = yes
rank = 24/25
opprank =
site_stadium = Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Annapolis, MD
tv = CSTV
w/l = w
score = 34–0
attend = 36,918CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/21/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming = no
time = no
opponent = Pitt
away = yes
rank = 15/19
opprank =
site_stadium = Heinz Field
site_cityst = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
tv = ESPN2
w/l = w
score = 20–10
attend = 49,620CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/29/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Connecticut
away =
rank = 15/16
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN
w/l = w
score = 24–13
attend = 43,620CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/09/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Louisville
away = yes
rank = 15/16
opprank = 3/4
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN
w/l = w
score = 28–25
attend = 44,111CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/18/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Cincinnati
away = yes
rank = 7/8
opprank =
site_stadium = Nippert Stadium
site_cityst = Cincinnati, OH
tv = ESPN2
w/l = l
score = 11–30
attend = 27,804CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/25/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Syracuse
away =
rank = 15/16
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPNU
w/l = w
score = 38–7
attend = 43,791CFB Schedule Entry
date = 12/02/2006
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = West Virginia
away = yes
rank = 13/13
opprank = 15/15
site_stadium = Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
tv = ESPN
w/l = l
score = 39–41 (3OT)
attend = 60,299CFB Schedule Entry
date =12/28/2006
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Kansas State
away =
rank = 16/17
opprank =
site_stadium = Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium
site_cityst = Houston, TX
tv = NFL Network
w/l = w
score = 37–10
attend = 52,210

2007 Season

For the first time in the history of Rutgers football, the team entered a season ranked - 16th in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls. The Scarlet Knights finished the season with an 8-5 record that included a 52-30 victory over the Ball State Cardinals in the International Bowl. It marked the third consecutive appearance of the team in a post-season bowl game, and the second bowl game won by the team.

CFB Schedule Start
ranklink=yes
time=no
tv=yes
rank=yes
rankyear=2007
attend=yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = 8/30/2007
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Buffalo
away =
rank = 16/16
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN+
w/l = w
score = 38–3
attend = 43,091CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/07/2007
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Navy
away =
rank = 15/16
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN
w/l = w
score = 41–24
attend = 43,514CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/15/2007
nonconf = yes
homecoming = yes
time = no
opponent = Norfolk State
away =
rank = 13/13
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN+
w/l = w
score = 59–0
attend = 43,712CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/29/2007
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Maryland
away =
rank = 10/10
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ABC
w/l = l
score = 24–34
attend = 43,803CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/06/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Cincinnati
away =
rank = 21/21
opprank = 20/24
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN2
w/l = l
score = 23–28
attend = 43,768CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/13/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Syracuse
away = yes
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Carrier Dome
site_cityst = Syracuse, NY
tv = ESPN+
w/l = w
score = 38–14
attend = 36,226CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/18/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming = no
time = no
opponent = South Florida
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank = 2/3
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN
w/l = w
score = 30–27
attend = 44,267CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/27/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = West Virginia
away =
rank = 25/NR
opprank = 6/6
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ABC
w/l = l
score = 3–31
attend = 43,620CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/03/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = UConn
away = yes
rank = NR/NR
opprank = 16/16
site_stadium = Rentschler Field
site_cityst = East Hartford, CT
tv = ESPNU
w/l = l
score = 19–38
attend = 40,000CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/09/2007
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Army
away = yes
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Michie Stadium
site_cityst = West Point, NY
tv = ESPN2
w/l = w
score = 41–6
attend = 39,073CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/17/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Pittsburgh
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN+
w/l = w
score = 20–16
attend = 43,531CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/29/2007
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Louisville
away = yes
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPN
w/l = l
score = 38–41
attend = 37,012CFB Schedule Entry
date = 01/05/2008
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Ball State
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = International Bowl at Rogers Centre
site_cityst = Toronto, ON
tv = ESPN2
w/l = w
score = 52–30
attend = 31,455

2008 Season

CFB Schedule Start
ranklink=yes
time=no
rank=yes
rankyear=2008
tv=yes
attend=yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/01/2008
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Fresno State
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank = NR/25
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN
w/l = l
score = 7–24
attend = 42,508CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/11/2008
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = North Carolina
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = ESPN
w/l = l
score = 12–44
attend = 42,502CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/20/2008
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Navy
away = yes
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Annapolis, MD
tv = CBS College Sports Network
w/l = l
score = 21–23
attend = 37,821CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/27/2008
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = no
opponent = Morgan State
away =
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Rutgers Stadium
site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ
tv = SNY
w/l = w
score = 38–0
attend = 42,411CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/4/2008
nonconf = no
homecoming = no
time = no
opponent = West Virginia Mountaineers
away = yes
rank = NR/NR
opprank =
site_stadium = Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
tv = SNY
w/l = l
score = 17–24
attend = 59,122

References

External Links

* [http://www.rutgers.edu Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey]
* [http://www.scarletknights.com The Official Site of Rutgers Athletics]