Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams for Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (also known as Rutgers University). In sports, Rutgers is chiefly known for being the "Birthplace of College Football," hosting the first ever intercollegiate football game on 6 November 1869 in which Rutgers defeated a team from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) with a score of 6 runs to 4. [http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/timeline/1800fr.htm Rutgers Through the Years] (timeline), published by Rutgers University (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.] [http://www.scarletknights.com/tradition/tradition.asp Tradition] at www.scarletknights.com. Published by Rutgers University Athletic Department (no further authorship information available), accessed 10 September 2006.]

Among the first American schools to participate in intercollegiate athletics, Rutgers' main campus in New Brunswick-Piscataway currently fields 27 teams in the Big East Conference which participates in Division I-A competition as sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the following sports: baseball, basketball, crew, cross country, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving, wrestling, and volleyball. [ [http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/athletics/ Rutgers Athletics] , accessed September 24, 2006] The athletic programs compete under the name "Scarlet Knights", after the Rutgers University mascot which was chosen in 1955 by the student body. Rutgers campuses in Newark and Camden field fewer teams and participate in intercollegiate competition sanctioned by the NCAA's Division III under the name "Scarlet Raiders" and "Scarlet Raptors", respectively. [ [http://scarletraiders.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders] , website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Newark, accessed 25 January 2007.] [ [http://athletics.camden.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers-Camden Athletics] , website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Camden, Accessed 10 September 2006.]

Athletic heritage

Rutgers was among the first American institutions to engage in intercollegiate athletics, and participated in a small circle of schools that included Yale University, Columbia University and long-time rival, Princeton University (then called "The College of New Jersey"). The four schools met at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan on 19 October 1873 to establish a set of rules governing their intercollegiate competition, and particularly to codify the new game of football. Though invited, Harvard chose not to attend. [ [http://www.the-game.org/history-originsto1889.htm A History of American Football until 1889] accessed 10 September 2006.] In the early years of intercollegiate athletics, the circle of schools that participated in these athletic events were located solely in the American Northeast. However, by the turn of the century, colleges and universities across the United States began to participate.

The first intercollegiate athletic event at Rutgers was a baseball game on 2 May 1866 against Princeton in which they suffered a 40-2 loss. Rutgers University is often referred to as "The Birthplace of College Football" as the first intercollegiate football game was held on College Field between Rutgers and Princeton on 6 November 1869 in New Brunswick, New Jersey on a plot of ground where the present-day College Avenue Gymnasium now stands (although the game was based more on soccer than on rugby, unlike the current version of American football, which takes its rules from a rugby-based framework. [http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1869-1910] ). Rutgers won the game, with a score of 6 runs to Princeton's 4. [ [http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1869-1910 NFL History] at the National Football League website, accessed 10 September 2006.] According to Parke Davis, the 1869 Rutgers football team shared the national title with Princeton. [ [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.]

Since 1866, Rutgers remained unaffiliated with any formal athletic conference and was classified as "independent". From 1946 to 1951, the university was a member of the Middle Three Conference, and from 1958 to 1961, was a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference. [http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/rutgers_database.htm Rutgers football history database] at NationalChamps.net, accessed 3 January 2007.] Because of its age, being one of the nine colonial colleges, Rutgers was invited to join the Ivy League at the formation of that conference in 1954. However, the university declined. [Several articles 1948-1956 in the "The Daily Targum" (Rutgers University's campus newspaper), located in "The Targum", "The Rutgers Targum" and "The Daily Targum" (then printed weekly) Microfilm records (1) v.87-v.94:no.35 OCT 17,1945-APR 10,1953, and (2) v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972 (2 rolls) and Walton R. Johnson Papers (1949-2001), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey] For a time Rutgers was a member of the Atlantic 10 conference for most sports while being an Eastern Independent in football. Rutgers remained independent until 1991 when it joined the Big East Conference for football. All sports programs at Rutgers subsequently became affiliated with the Big East in 1995. [ [http://www.bigeast.org/schools/rutu/bige-rutu-body.html Rutgers] at BigEast.org (Official Site of the Big East Conference. Published by the Big East Conference (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.]

Since joining the Big East, the Scarlet Knights have won four conference tournament titles: men's soccer (1997), baseball (2000, 2007), and women's basketball (2007). Several other teams have won regular season titles but failed to win the conference's championship tournament. [http://www.bigeast.org/ot/bige-records.html Big East Championship Records] published by the Big East Athletic Conference, accessed 8 August 2006.] Recently, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights' football team has achieved success on the gridiron after several years of losing seasons. They were invited to the Insight Bowl on 27 December 2005 but lost 45 to 40 against Arizona State. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls05/bowls?game=insight Insight Bowl - December 27, 2005] , accessed September 24, 2006] This was Rutgers' first bowl appearance since the 16 December 1978 loss against Arizona State, 34 to 18, at the Garden State Bowl, which was the first bowl game in which Rutgers was a participant. In 2006, the Scarlet Knights were invited to the inaugural Texas Bowl, in Houston, Texas in which they defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 37 to 10. On January 5, 2008 Rutgers faced Ball State in the International Bowl held in Toronto, for their third straight bowl game for the first time in the program's history. They won the game 52-30.

The first intercollegiate competition in Ultimate Frisbee (now called simply "Ultimate") was held between students from Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1972 to mark the one hundred third anniversary of the first intercollegiate football game. Rutgers won 29-27. [http://failuremag.com/arch_sports_ultimate_frisbee.html "Discography"] from "Failure Magazine", accessed 4 August 2006.]

chool spirit

Colors and mascots

Rutgers University's school color is scarlet. Initially, students sought to make orange the school color, citing Rutgers' Dutch heritage and in reference to the Prince of Orange. The Daily Targum first proposed that scarlet be adopted in May 1869, claiming that it was a striking color and because scarlet ribbon was easily obtained. During the first intercollegiate football game with Princeton on 6 November 1869, the players from Rutgers wore scarlet-colored turbans and handkerchiefs to distinguish them as a team from the Princeton players. The Board of Trustees officially made scarlet the school color in 1900.

In its early days, Rutgers athletes were known informally as "The Scarlet" in reference to the school color, or as "Queensmen" in reference to the institution's first name, "Queen's College". In 1925, the mascot was changed to Chanticleer, a fighting rooster from the medieval fable "Reynard the Fox" ("Le Roman de Renart") which was used by Geoffrey Chaucer's in the "Canterbury Tales". At the time, the student humour magazine at Rutgers was called "Chanticleer", and one of its early arts editors, Ozzie Nelson (later of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" fame) was quarterback of the Rutgers team from 1924 to 1926. [Scarlet Letter 1924 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey] The Chanticleer mascot was unveiled at a football game against Lafayette College, in which Lafayette was also introducing a new mascot, a leopard. [Scarlet Letter 1924 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey] However, the choice of Chanticleer as a mascot was often the subject of ridicule because of its association with "being chicken." [ [http://tigernet.princeton.edu/~class51/november48.html November 1948] in "Fifty Years Ago: Class of 1951" at published by the Princeton Class of 1951, edited by J. Sprigg Duvall (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.] In 1955, the mascot was changed to the Scarlet Knight after a campus-wide election, beating out other contenders such as "Queensmen", the "Scarlet", the "Red Lions", the "Redmen" and the "Flying Dutchmen." [Series of articles in the spring of 1955 issues of the "Rutgers Targum" (then printed weekly), the Rutgers University campus newspaper. Microfilm records v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972, Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey] Earlier proposed nicknames included "Pioneers" and "Cannoneers". When Harvey Harman, then coach of the football team, was asked why he supported changing the Rutgers mascot, he was quoted as saying, "You can call it the Chanticleer, you can call it a fighting cock, you can call it any damn thing you want, but everybody knows it's a chicken." [Quoted in the "Rutgers Targum" (8 April 1955). Microfilm records v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972 (1 roll) Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey] Harman later is said to have bought the first "Scarlet Knight" mascot costume for the 1955 season, which was to be his final season as football coach at Rutgers. [Editorial in the "Rutgers Targum" (9 September 1955). Microfilm records v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972, (1 roll) Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey]

chool songs and chants

Several school songs are connected with the school's athletic heritage. The alma mater of Rutgers University is "On the Banks of the Old Raritan" with words written by Howard Fullerton (Rutgers Class of 1874) and adapted to an old Scottish melody "On the Banks of the Old Dundee." [George J. Lukac (ed.), "Aloud to Alma Mater". (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1966), 70-73. (No ISBN)] [ [http://www.dailytargum.com/media/storage/paper168/news/2006/05/18/CapAndGown/Singing.Songs.Of.Scarlet-2012870.shtml "Singing Songs of Scarlet"] from the "Daily Targum" 18 May 2006.] It is typically performed at the close of athletic events by the university's marching band, the Marching Scarlet Knights (also called "The Pride of New Jersey"), at Rutgers University Glee Club concerts, commencement and other important school events. The university's fight song, "The Bells Must Ring", is performed often during athletic events especially in recognition of notable scores. Written in 1931 for entry in a student song contest, pianist Richard M. Hadden (Rutgers Class of 1932) composed the song with W. E. Sanford (Rutgers Class of 1930). Between the verses of the fight song, the spirit chant is rhythmically shouted. [http://www.alumni.rutgers.edu/alumnews/hadden.html Richard M. Hadden RC'32, November 20, 1910 - July 9, 2003: Composer of "The Bells Must Ring"] at Rutgers Alumni News, published by Rutgers University Office of Alumni Relations (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.]

: R-U Rah Rah! : R-U Rah Rah! : Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah!: Rutgers Rah! : Upstream Redteam : Redteam upstream : Rah! Rah! Rutgers Rah! [ [http://nbpweb.rutgers.edu/songs/bells.shtml "The Bells Must Ring"] at Traditional Rutgers Songs, published by Rutgers University (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007]

This chant is one of many recited during Rutgers athletic events. Another popular chant, where one side of the crowd yells out "R" and the other "U" antiphonally, is often performed. The original spirit chant used at Rutgers was "Rah! Rah! Rah! Bow-wow-wow! Rutgers!" however, it has not been performed in the modern era. [Scarlet Letter 1890 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.]

Other notable songs include "Nobody ever died for Dear Old Rutgers" composed by Jule Styne to lyrics by Sammy Cahn from the 1947 musical "High Button Shoes" parodies an 1892 game in which Frank "Pop" Grant, a Rutgers football player, was being taken from the field because of injuries and stated that he would "die for dear old Rutgers." Other's sources state that the player stated "I will die if somebody does not give me a cigarette." [ [http://touchdownclub.rutgers.edu/history.htm History and Tradition] published by the Rutgers Touchdown Club (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007] The song "Loyal Sons" which exhorts Rutgers athletes (particularly football players) to "hit the line and run the ends boys...Score once more. Oh score once more."

Athletic rivalry

Rutgers maintains athletic rivalries with other collegiate institutions. The university has an historic rivalry with Princeton University and Columbia University (formerly "King's College") originating from the early days of college football. While they maintain this rivalry in other sports, neither of them have met in football since 1980. Rutgers has a Basketball rivalry with Seton Hall University, [ [http://media.www.dailytargum.com/media/storage/paper168/news/2007/01/26/Sports/Rivalry.Rising-2679317.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailytargum.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com "Rivalry Rising: With both teams lagging behind in the Big East, a new coach looks to revitilize Rutgers-Seton Hall"] by Brian Johnson in "The Daily Targum" (26 January 2007). Accessed 28 January 2007.] and has developed a growing rivalry with the University of Connecticut in women's basketball.

Football

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, posting several losing seasons in a row and raising discussion of possibly reducing the team to Division I-AA 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-A and is a member of the Big East Conference (since 1991). The current coach of the football team is Greg Schiano.

2006: Rutgers

In 2006, Rutgers boasted its best season in three decades, beginning its first nine games undefeated. Sports commentators and writers began referring to the 2006 season as Rutgers' "Cinderella season" as each week passed in victory, and Rutgers gained nationwide attention and raised discussion of a possible national championship appearance. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/columns/article_1352830.php "Rutgers' Route to Championship"] by Randy Youngman, "Orange County Register" (13 November 2006), accessed 12 January 2007.] [ [http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16032504.htm "Rutgers is reaping rewards of winning - Football glory draws visitors, donations"] by Rita Giordano, "Philadelphia Inquirer" (17 November 2006), accessed 12 January 2007] Rutgers ascended the major college football polls from starting the season unranked to achieving its highest ranking ever after the Scarlet Knights' 9 November 2006 victory over the third-ranked, undefeated Louisville Cardinals. The 28-25 contest was won by kicker Jeremy Ito, who hit the game-winning field goal at the end of the game. After this game, Rutgers jumped to seventh in the AP Poll, eighth in the USA Today/Coaches poll, seventh in the Harris Interactive Poll, and sixth in the Bowl Championship Series rankings. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex?pollId=null&weekNumber=12&seasonYear=2006 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 12] citing the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, ESPNU Allstate Standings, the BCS Standings, the USA Today Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.] [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankings?pollId=5&weekNumber=12&seasonYear=2006 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 12] citing the Harris Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.] Finishing the regular season with a record of 10-2, with losses against only University of Cincinnati's Bearcats and West Virginia University's Mountaineers. With a 37–10 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats in the inaugural Texas Bowl, Rutgers finished the 2006 season with a record of 11–2 and were ranked twelfth in the nation in final season polls. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 17] citing the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the USA Today Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.] This was Rutgers' highest rankings in the football polls since they were ranked fifteenth in 1961. [http://www.scarletknights.com/print.asp?prID=4739 Rutgers Ranked 12th in Final 2006 football Polls - Highest Season-Ending Ranking in School History] (Press Release 09 January 2007) at ScarletKnights.com (Official Website of Rutgers University athletics). Published by Rutgers University Athletics Department (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007] [ [http://www.texasbowl.org/ Texas Bowl] "Rutgers Wins Inaugual Texas Bowl" (news item). Published by the Texas Bowl (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007. ] The 2006 team featured players such as Maxwell Award finalist, All-American halfback Ray Rice, quarterback Mike Teel, fullback Brian Leonard, tight end Clark Harris, wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, All-American defensive tackle Eric Foster, safety Courtney Greene, kicker Jeremy Ito, and punter Joe Radigan, who holds the longest-punt record (78 yards) in Rutgers history. Rice, who during the season broke several Rutgers football records, and with 1,794 rushing yards set the Big East's single-season record, came in seventh in voting for the 2006 Heisman Trophy. Head Coach Greg Schiano was awarded the 2006 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award from the Football Writers Association of America. Results for the 2006 season are, as follows: [ [http://www.scarletknights.com/football/schedule/schedule.asp 2006 Scarlet Knights football schedule] at scarletknights.com, Rutgers University athletics department website (no further authorship information available), accessed 3 January 2007.]

Men's basketball

The Rutgers Men's Basketball Team was among the "Final Four" in the Division I NCAA Tournament and ended the 1976 season ranked fourth in the United States, after an 86-70 loss against the University of Michigan in the semifinal round, and a 106-92 loss against UCLA in the tournament's third-place consolation game. [ [http://www.shrpsports.com/collbask/1976.htm 1976 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament] at shrpsports.com, accessed 29 December 2006.]

Also, this was the last men's Division I tournament to date to feature two unbeaten teams, as both Indiana and Rutgers entered the tournament unbeaten. Both advanced to the Final Four, with Indiana winning the title and Rutgers losing to Michigan in the semifinals and UCLA in the third-place game. Rutgers went 31-0 before losing in both the semifinals (to Michigan) and the third-place game (to UCLA).

The Scarlet Knights' current coach is Fred Hill Jr.

Women's Basketball Team

The Scarlet Knights Women's Basketball of late has been one of the more successful programs in the school. A notable season would be the 2005-2006 season, when Rutgers at one point was ranked 4th in the nation and reached the Elite Eight behind the shooting of Cappie Pondexter. In the 2006-07 season, Rutgers finished 2nd in the regular season behind UConn, but went on to defeat the Huskies in the Big East Championship game.

Rutgers beat 1st seeded Duke 53-52 in the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, and advanced to the 2007 Women's Final Four. In the National Semifinals, they would defeat LSU, 59-35 and advance to their first ever National Championship game. In that game, however, they lost to the Lady Vols of Tennessee by the score of 59-46.

In June 2007, the Rutgers women's basketball team earned the Irv Grossman Award of Merit as providing service and unique achievement to increase appreciation for and elevate the status of women’s collegiate sports on a national level. The award is named after Irv Grossman, the founder of the Honda Awards Program.

The team is currently coached by C. Vivian Stringer.

Other sports

Championships

* Women's Basketball, AIAW National Champions (1982)
* Men's Basketball, Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Champions (1989)
* Cheerleading, Dance Team, UCA National Champions (1996)
* Soccer, Big East Conference Champions (1997)
* Baseball, Big East Conference Champions (2000)
* Women's Basketball, Big East Tournament Champions (2007)
* Baseball, Big East Tournament Champions (2007)
* Men's Track & Field, Outdoor Big East Champions (2005)
* Men's Track & Field, Outdoor IC4A Champions (2005)

Controversy and debate

Regarding "bigger time" athletics

Rutgers University's seventeenth president, Edward J. Bloustein (1925–1989) envisioned a drive for success at Rutgers that involved participation in "bigger-time" athletics. Several of the nation's colleges became associated with Division I-AA when that designation was established in the late 1970s, including many of Rutgers' historic rivals like Princeton, Columbia, Lehigh and Lafayette College. Bloustein decided that Rutgers ought to pursue developments that woud place the university on par with comparable state universities both academically and athletically. This led to Rutgers opting for inclusion among Division I, and later, under president Francis L. Lawrence, to join the Big East Conference in 1991.

William C. Dowling, a University Professor in the Department of English, and a small number of other like-minded faculty, students and alumni organized a group known as "Rutgers 1000" [ [http://members.aol.com/peithosophian/RU1000.html Rutgers 1000 website] ] in 1993, favoring downgrading the school's football team to Division I-AA. Though the group dissolved itself in 2003 when President Richard McCormick's publicly announced a determination to continue supporting the athletic program, it was revived in 2007. Also in 2007, Professor Dowling came under fire from athletic director Bob Mulcahy, regarding remarks perceived insulting to some minority athletes. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3040343 ESPN - Rutgers prof under fire for comments about student athletes - College Sports ] ]

Rutgers efforts to upgrade the quality of its football program have raised criticism of several alumni, faculty and students regarding the size of athletic department's budget, wishing to divert its funds elsewhere. The athletic department's budget is $35.5 million [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2519938 http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2519938] ] compared to a $1.6 billion budget for the entire university. [ [http://www.dailytargum.com/news/2006/04/04/UniversityBudget/Spending.Is.Up.State.Aid.Is.Decreasing-1778308.shtml "The Daily Targum" (4 April 2006) "Spending is Up, State Aid is decreasing"] ] Most of the athletics budget comes from self-generating revenue (ticket sales, merchandise, broadcast rights), while the rest is taken from mandatory student fees. Supporters believe that having a very visible football program increases the connection of alumni and members of the community at large, thus increasing donations to the athletic department and even the university as a whole.

Though some critics feared that the focus on Division I-A athletics would lower admissions and academic standards, at a score of 980, the Rutgers football team had the third-highest Academic Performance Rate (APR) score of any Division I-A football team in 2005. [ [http://sportsline.com/general/story/8239262 NCAA's new scarlet letters are APR] accessed 10 September 2006.] A final complaint was that the upgraded football schedule would prevent competing against long standing rivals Princeton, Columbia, Lehigh, and Lafayette. However, supporters of the move claim it would make Rutgers more comparable to large, prestigious state universities such as the University of Michigan and University of California and private institutions such as Stanford University which have been touted for balancing their academic reputation with athletic success.

Budget cuts and lean times

In the writing of New Jersey's 2006 state budget, the state legislature cut $66 million from the government's appropriations to Rutgers. The university responded by reducing several classes, laying off staff and junior faculty, and closing several programs. The athletic department announced that it would be ending six athletic programs beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year. These athletic programs affected are the lightweight and heavyweight Crew, the swimming and diving team, men's tennis teams and the men's and women's fencing. Title IX concerns also played a significant role in these cuts.

Venues

New Brunswick/Piscataway

Rutgers University fields 27 sports teams from their New Brunswick-Piscataway Campus for NCAA Division I-A competition. Most of the university's 14 athletic venues and facilities are currently located in Piscataway on the Busch and Livingston campuses, with two facilities in New Brunswick (the "College Avenue Gymnasium" and the "Class of 1914 Boathouse"). Though the College Avenue Gymnasium has hosted a large variety of athletic events—including memorable games in the 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in which Rutgers advanced to the "Final Four", subsequently ending the season fourth in the nation—it was also the site of conventions to revise the New Jersey State Constitution in 1947 and 1966. [Reock, Ernest C. "Unfinished Business: The New Jersey Constitutional Convention of 1966" (New Brunswick, New: Center for Urban Policy Research / Rutgers University Press, 2003), passim. ISBN 0882851756]

One hundred and twenty-five years after Rutgers and Princeton first inaugurated the tradition of American football, "Rutgers Stadium", a 42,000 seat facility, was opened during the 1994 football season. The field at Rutgers Stadium is large enough to host national and international soccer matches. [ [http://www.scarletknights.com/facilities/facilities-stadium.htm www.scarletknights.com: Rutgers Stadium] accessed 13 August 2006.] The "Louis Brown Athletic Center," commonly known as the "RAC" (for its original name of "Rutgers Athletic Center"), is home to the Rutgers men’s and women’s basketball programs and has a capacity of 8,000 seats. The RAC is often considered one of the toughest places to play by opponents because of the shape of the facility and the volume and intensity of the crowd. [ [http://www.scarletknights.com/facilities/facilities-rac.htm www.scarletknights.com: RAC] accessed 13 August 2006.]

Soccer and Lacrosse are both played at "Yurcak Field," which accommodates over 5,000 fans. Built in 1994, this site, recognized as one of the premiere collegiate venues for these two sports in the United States, was named in honor of Rutgers alumnus Ronald N. Yurcak, a 1965 All-American Lacrosse player. [ [http://www.scarletknights.com/facilities/facilities-yurcak.htm www.scarletknights.com: Yurcak Field] accessed 13 August 2006.] Rutgers also operates an 18-hole 6,000-yard, par 71 golf course, designed by Hal Purdy and awarded four stars in 2004 by "Golf Magazine" and ranked by "Golf Digest" as "Best Place to Play". [ [http://www.dailytargum.com/media/storage/paper168/news/2006/04/14/University/Golf-Course.Grows.Over.Time-1851834.shtml Golf Course Grows Over Time] from "The Daily Targum" 14 April 2006, accessed 13 August 2006.]

Newark

Rutgers-Newark fields teams for NCAA Division III competition in Men's and Women's Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball (women), Baseball (men) and Softball (women). The Men's Volleyball team is the only NCAA Division I sport on the campus. Their teams are known as the "Scarlet Raiders." [ [http://scarletraiders.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders] , Website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Newark, accessed 25 January 2007.] Built in 1977, the "Golden Dome Athletic Center" is the hub of Rutgers-Newark athletics, seating 2,000. Soccer and softball games are held on "Alumni Field," while the Rutgers-Newark baseball team plays at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, a 6,200-seat ballpark that is home to the Newark Bears, a minor-league professional baseball franchise. [ [http://scarletraiders.rutgers.edu/directions/facilities.php Rutgers-Newark Athletic Facilities] accessed 10 September 2006.]

Camden

Rutgers-Camden fields teams for NCAA Division III competition in Men's and Women's Crew, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Indoor Track, Baseball (men), Softball (women), and Track and Field. In 2006, Rutgers-Camden won the NCAA Division III Softball championship, defeating two-time defending champion St. Thomas, 3-2 to capture the school's first national title. [ [http://athletics.camden.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers-Camden Athletics] , website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Camden, Accessed 10 September 2006.] Rutgers-Camden basketball also holds the unfortunate distinction of the longest losing streak in college basketball, set in 1997. The team was disbanded, but student outcry lead to a re-instatement. Then Athletic Director "Pony" Wilson coached the team to its first win in 117 games over Iona College. Though yet to post a winning season, the team has returned somewhat to respectability.

Notable athletes from Rutgers University

Several alumni who participated in athletic programs during their undergraduate years at Rutgers University have continued their athletic careers professionally. A few became coaches, managers or owners of professional teams, including Alexi Lalas, Class of 1991, a former U.S. Soccer National Team member who is the current President & General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Eddie Jordan, Class of 1977, who was Head Coach of the Washington Wizards, Sonny Werblin, Class of 1932, who was founder of the New York Jets in the National Football League, and Jeff Torborg, Class of 1963, a Major League Baseball Catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels who went on to manage several teams in Major League Baseball and coaches of college athletic teams, including Jim Valvano, Class of 1967, who while coach at North Carolina State University won 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Also notable, David Stern, a member of the Class of 1963, who is the current commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA)—a post he has occupied since 1984.

John Conway, Class of 1999, is the current goalkeeper for Red Bull New York and Josh Gros, Class of 2003 is a midfielder for D.C. United in American Major League Soccer. Players that went on to the National Football League include: Deron Cherry, Class of 1980, (Kansas City Chiefs) member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Quarterback Ray Lucas, class of 1996, (New York Jets, Miami Dolphins 1996-2002), Quarterback Mike McMahon, Class of 2001 (Minnesota Vikings), Center Shaun O'Hara, Class of 2000, (New York Giants), Tight End L.J. Smith, Class of 2003, (Philadelphia Eagles) and Tight End Marco Battaglia, Class of 1996, (Pittsburgh Steelers) [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/search_results.aspx?searchType=COLLEGE&collegeSearch=rutgers title= Rutgers Players in a College Search] at NFLPlayers.com, website of a subsidiary company of the National Football League Players Association (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.] Current Rutgers football players Brian Leonard (Class of 2007, drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2nd of the 2007 NFL Draft), and Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice (Class of 2009) have been regarded by sportswriters as being potential in-demand by teams in the National Football League. David DeJesus is currently a center-fielder for Kansas City Royals.cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/players/index.jsp|title=MLB Player Search|publisher=Major League Baseball|accessdate=2006-08-09] Rutgers' successeful Women's Basketball program have sent several women to the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), including Sue Wicks, Class of 1988, who played for the New York Liberty from 1997 to 2002, and was a member of the American team in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and most recently Cappie Pondexter, Class of 2006, of the Phoenix Mercury and Tammy Sutton-Brown, Class of 2001, with the Charlotte Sting. Among Rutgers Men's Basketball, Roy Hinson, class of 1982, has been a long-time player in the league, and recent student Quincy Douby is currently a Guard for the Sacramento Kings.

ee also

* Rutgers University
* Rutgers-Newark
* Rutgers-Camden
* College athletics
* Colonial colleges
* Public Ivy
* Big East Conference

Notes and References

Footnotes and citations

Books and printed materials

* Demarest, William Henry Steele. "History of Rutgers College: 1776-1924." (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers College, 1924). (No ISBN)
* Leitch, "A Princeton Companion" (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1978).
* Lukac, George J. (ed.), "Aloud to Alma Mater." (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1966), 70-73. (No ISBN)
* McCormick, Richard P. "Rutgers: a Bicentennial History". (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1966). ISBN 0-8135-0521-6
* Schmidt, George P. "Princeton and Rutgers: The Two Colonial Colleges of New Jersey". (Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand, 1964). (No ISBN)

Online resources

* [http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/ScoresIndex.htm Division I-A Historical Scores Index] by James Howell.

External links

* [http://www.rutgers.edu Rutgers University]
* [http://www.scarletknights.com ScarletKnights.com: Official Site of Rutgers University athletics]
* [http://www.rutgerstdclub.com/ Rutgers Touchdown Club]
* [http://www.scarletnation.com www.scarletnation.com]

Rutgers