RU Ready

Scarlet Knights vs. Badgers

Will Rutgers play Wisconsin? There is a chance that 2008 will see a Knights-Badgers series. Go RU! Here is a Wisconsin report on the chances of a 2008 schedule for Rutgers and Wisconsin.

Madison - Wisconsin officials appear to be close to filling out their 2008 football schedule and although no official announcement has been made one school that appears to be in the running is Rutgers of the Big East Conference.

Phone messages left with officials at both schools Wednesday were not immediately returned.

However, Rutgers like UW is still working to schedule a 12^th regular-season game for 2008. A home-and-home series between the schools, perhaps beginning this season, would be attractive to both programs.

Recruiting A Quarterback From Florida

Many New Jersey prospects did slip out of state, but as realfootball365.com notes, one Florida quarterback will be headed to New Brunswick:

Greg Schiano and his staff did pick up two other four-star recruits besides Forst -- defensive lineman Scott Vallone from Central Islip, N.Y., and WR Keith Stroud from Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, and an imposing physical specimen of a quarterback in 6-6, 230-pound D.C. Jefferson of Winter Haven, Fla.

"When you look down the street and see him," Schiano said of Jefferson, "you'd think he was with some pro franchise."

He was almost with LSU -- not surprisingly, considering Jefferson has been compared to JaMarcus Russell and Rohan Davey in both playing and body style. But after decommitting to Rutgers and flirting with the Bayou Bengals, Jefferson decided to sign with the Scarlet Knights, after all. With Mike Teel returning for his senior season, Jefferson should have a year to ease in gradually.

Check out the D.C. Jefferson highlight reel embedded in this post (thanks YouTube!).

Worth Every Penny: Greg Schiano

The Courier-Post has studied Rutgers salaries, and guess who comes out on top? Greg Schiano, who has done more to change attitudes about the state university than almost anyone else in recent years. From the salary survey:

Schiano, who is the highest paid public employee in the state, has a base salary of $450,000 and guaranteed incentives that will push the gross to $1.6 million through June 30, 2009. The contract could be worth as much as $2.1 million by the time it expires in 2016, if he meets each incentive.

Perks include a car, a country club membership, and an $800,000 interest-free home loan that will be paid for by the university if he remains the coach through 2016. The loan was used to build a 5,000-square-foot home on land Schiano purchased near Rutgers Stadium in the fall of 2006.

Schiano, in his eighth year at Rutgers, received a contract extension in early 2007, two months after he turned down an offer to coach at the University of Miami.

In December, Schiano spurned an offer to coach at the University  of Michigan.

Including bonuses, Schiano grossed nearly $1.8 million in 2007, which ranked 22nd nationally and second among Big East coaches last season.

Rippon and Pinkham to aid Schiano; NC at RU on 9/11

The Star-Ledger is talking about some coaching retirements:

According to someone with knowledge of the situation, wide receivers coach Robert Jackson and defensive line coach Cary Godette are both considering retirement.
The person requested anonymity because neither assistant has officially made a decision.

We do know about the announcements: Ed Pinkham as defensive assistant and Chris Rippon as the special teams coordinator. From the Ledger:

Pinkham, who hails from Clark, has spent the past 12 years as Colgate's defensive coordinator, earning a promotion to associate head coach as well in 2005.

Rippon, from Lincoln Park, spent the past three years as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Mississippi. He spent 12 years as an assistant at Syracuse, serving as the defensive coordinator there from 1999-2003.

"Ed is a well-respected defensive coach. He brings another sharp mind to the defensive side," said Schiano, who will officially retain the title of defensive coordinator but may yield some of the responsibilities this season. "Chris has been a defensive coordinator and has been successful in the Big East and the SEC. He brings a wealth of experience."

From The Courier News:

"The opportunity to come back to New Jersey and work for a coach like Greg," Rippon said, "was a great one."

That report also added some details to what we know about the 2008 schedule:

Rutgers will host the North Carolina Tar Heels in an ESPN Thursday night game on Sept. 11, according to the schedule released by North Carolina on Friday.

While Rutgers isn't expected to release its schedule until next week, dates against Navy and Army are set. The Scarlet Knights will travel to Annapolis, Md., to face the Midshipmen on Sept. 20, and will host Army on Nov. 22.

Recruiting for speed: Carter, Vallone

Carter and Vallone head up Coach Schiano's '08 recruiting class:

Although Rutgers lost three more games in 2007 than it did in 2006, when it finished 11-2, Schiano had fewer scholarships to offer this year and could be selective. A year after signing a number of linemen, he loaded up this year on tall, fast, versatile players.

“Would back-to-back 11-2 seasons have made a difference?” Schiano said. “You never can tell.”

But Schiano said one of the best indications of Rutgers’s extended recruiting reach was the signing of Morgan Carter of C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va. Carter, a quarterback, wide receiver and safety, was listed among the top 100 athletes by two rating services.

Schiano also signed Scott Vallone, a highly acclaimed 6-foot-3, 260-pound Long Island defensive tackle from St. Anthony’s in South Huntington, N.Y.

More, from NJ.com on RU recruits:

Morgan Carter, ATH, 6-3, 200, Woodbridge, Va./C.D. Hylton

Greg Schiano's first-ever recruit from Virginia played quarterback, wide receiver and safety in high school.

Schiano: "Our first (recruit) from the state of Virginia, we're stretching the State of Rutgers a bit. It's an area that we're getting more comfortable in as far as building more relationships there. We'll probably start him out at wide receiver and see what transpires.

and

Scott Vallone, DT, 6-3, 267, Central Islip, N.Y./St. Anthony
One of the most acclaimed recruits in the class. A three-year starter who helped his teams go 31-2.

Schiano: "I think Scott's going to be a tremendous defensive lineman for us. He's everything you want as a coach, he's got the tangibles and all the intangibles. Captain of his team, leader, all the things you look for as a coach and I can't wait to coach him. I think he's going to be a force in this league."

 

 

A Belichick at RU

Yes, it's Stephen Belichick, and he's a freshman who plays lacrosse. Most Rutgers students are Giants fans, but at least one freshman is cheering the Patriots, and dad.

But how many Tom Petty fans are there? Do college students swoon for this rocker or is he the singer who gets their parents' toes tapping? TVTalk says his voice was thin.

Some Rutgers students found their way to the parking lot at Giants Stadium today. At least they didn't have to listen to Petty.

Tom Brady better hope he gets more protection in the second half. One freshman lacrosse player must be thinking the same thing.

Happy birthday Brian Leonard!

Brian has made many fans happy so this happy birthday wish is the least we can do. Happy birthday, Brian Leonard!