Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Football is definitely growing in on me. Rutgers doesn't have the best team but we're getting better. I still don't know much about football. I only watch the SuperBowl for the commercials and the final score, but I do watch the Scarlet Knights when they play. But Rutgers has been getting better. People are starting to talk about the team and how much coach Schiano has done for us. My first introduction to Rutgers football was when they sent me the booklet thing after I was accepted.

It showed a big picture of the Rutgers Stadium, and the fans rushing the field. Apparently they just had their biggest win in history, 28-25 against #3 Louisville. Greg Schiano ended up with Big East Coach of the Year in 2006. Rutgers finished the 2006 season with a record of 11-2, ranked #12 in the nation in final season polls.

[November 2006: Rutgers' biggest win in history]

Not knowing anything about football, I just thought it was cool. Since football is such a big part of Rutgers. I thought I'd go to a couple of games to see what it's all about; and I did just that in my freshman year.

The team entered the 2007 season ranked 16th, the first time in the school's history. Their big win of the season came against South Florida who was ranked 2nd at the time, while Rutgers fell out of the top 25.

The season ended 8-5 (3-4 Big East). Probably not that bad, compared to the unknown Rutgers team in the past. But that wouldn't get my attention (especially since Manchester United was doing so well).

The 2008 season started with Rutgers on the back foot. Losing star Ray Rice meant that quarterback Mike Teel had to step up. Rutgers went down 1-5 at the first 6 games. Homecoming weekend came up next and you know Rutgers just can't afford to lose a homecoming game. That game became the turning point. Rutgers didn't lose a single game afterwards, ending the season 7-5 (5-2 Big East). Senior QB Mike Teel was the star by the end of the year, left the Scarlet Knights to be drafted in the NFL.

On October 25, 2008, Teel threw 6 touchdown passes for 362 yards against #17 Pittsburgh, a school record. He was chosen as National Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

On December 4, 2008, Teel had a career night in the final home game of his college career, completing 21 of 26 passes for 447 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions as Rutgers routed Louisville 63-14. The yardage and touchdown totals were single game school records as the Scarlet Knights finished their schedule at 7-5.

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The 2009 season, again, proved that coach Greg Schiano is a great recruiter. Rutgers has had limited achievements but they manage to recruit high prospect players. This season's recruit that has got everyone talking was #8 pro prospect QB Tom Savage. With last season's star Teel gone, Savage has a chance to get some game time early in his collegiate career. So far this season, Rutgers is 7-2 (2-2 Big East) with 3 games to go, all Big East match-ups. The next two games will be away at Syracuse and at Louisville, and I expect Rutgers to win both. The last game will be at Piscataway against West Virginia. I really, really hope we can pull that one off cos we haven't been able to win against the Mountaineers (which my brother is very happy about). But we have a chance this season because we have the momentum, and WVU doesn't have that great of a team (according to analysts).

I still don't know much about the game or Rutgers' team but I'm learning. According to commentators and reports that I've read online, the past 2 seasons Rutgers has a chance of winning the Big East conference, but they haven't quite delivered. Fingers crossed for next season; it would be awesome to still be here when they finally win it. There's no where to go but up for us now, with the stadium expansion, great recruits each year, and with more people recognizing the scarlet R. I can see us winning the Big East in the next couple seasons, and maybe the BCS in 3-4 years. I can honestly say that I am now a fan of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team. GO R.U.!