Rutgers @ Illinois

[cthomer5000]

The Scarlet Knights are actually favored in this one, with the line at -2 last I checked. I'm hoping Brian Leonard runs wild today, and Ryan Hart can keep the INTs to a minimum.

http://www.fof-ihof.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_pray.gif

I believe this is the national game on ESPN2, so you guys can all watch too! http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif


R-U Rah Rah, R-U Rah Rah....

[Lathum]

I'll be watching...

[cthomer5000]

Brian Leonard Named to Doak Walker Watchlist
September 1, 2005
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Rutgers University junior running back Brian Leonard (Gouverneur, NY) has been named a preseason candidate for the 2005 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back. It is the second-straight year in which Leonard has been nominated for the award. FULL STORY (http://scarletknights.com/football/news/gamepr.asp?prID=3025)


Harris Named to Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
August 24, 2005
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Clark Harris (Manahawkin, NJ) has been named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, presented annually to the college football lineman -- offense or defense -- who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi. He is one of 11 tight ends on the 123-member watch list. FULL STORY (http://scarletknights.com/football/news/gamepr.asp?prID=3002)




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I said this during his freshman year - Leonard will be playing in the NFL.

[JeeberD]

I'll try to catch as much of the game as I can and I'll be pulling for the Knights...

[Joe]

I'll be watching. Any team that beats a Big-10 school is a-ok in my book. Go Rutgers!

[Passacaglia]

I'm the opposite of GWB -- always root for the Big 10 team. Although, there are execptions -- the bad guys in green and the bad guys in red and gray. I rooted for Rutgers last year against MSU. It'll be interesting -- I bet Rutgers could have beat Illinois last year, but this year, with Zook there, and in Champaign? It'll probably be on here, so I'll watch as much as I can.

[hoopsguy]

As an Illini fan, I'm cautiously optimistic about the start of the Ron Zook era. It sounds like he is already making strides in recruiting, which was his biggest strength at Florida. But the cupboard isn't exactly overflowing right now, which means this could be an ugly year until Zook starts getting his guys in next year.

This game could set the tone for the season. If they aren't beating Rutgers, then it is going to be hard to make a case for many more wins (San Jose St, at Indiana) on the schedule.

[General Mike]

pregame pick?

Rutgers 34, Illinois 26

Ray Rice is gonna go bananas.

[Swaggs]

This would be a nice win for the NBE. Go Rutgers!

[General Mike]

that was some nice yac

[General Mike]

Rice looks impressive.

[General Mike]

God damn. He pushed it.

[cthomer5000]

kill me now.

[General Mike]

3 and out baby. Now bring the punt block! Bring it!

[General Mike]

We gotta get 6 here.

[General Mike]

GD JC. ugg

[General Mike]

3-0.

[sabotai]

Rutgers dominating so far, but only 3 to show for it.

[General Mike]

Girault~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lathum]

Gotta start getting TD's here

[Lathum]

Damn, this game should be at least 13-0

[Swaggs]

I'm not liking this. Rutgers should be up, at least, 13-0.

[General Mike]

god damn. Come on Ito, you can do it.

[Z²+]

Jeremy Ito named to the Doug Brien Award WatchList.

[Lathum]

If Illinois gets a TD here it is gonna kill the Knights morale

[General Mike]

If Illinois gets a TD here it is gonna kill the Knights morale

My morale too.

[Lathum]

My morale too.
PM me if you need some therapy...

[Lathum]

anyone watching the bowling green-wisconson game?

[cthomer5000]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!111111111111

[General Mike]

TD Rutgers~!!!!!!!

[General Mike]

anyone watching the bowling green-wisconson game?

Not really. TD Wisky tho.

[Lathum]

about time

[General Mike]

another solid defensive stand by Rutgers.

[ISiddiqui]

HAW HAW!!

Illinois sucks!

[General Mike]

moving the chains.

[General Mike]

Ito from 25, it's good.

[cthomer5000]

Hey Schiano... not sure if you're aware, but you get more points if you take the ball across the goal line.

[Lathum]

Hey Schiano... not sure if you're aware, but you get more points if you take the ball across the goal line.
lol, but that was a very mature play by Hart. Last year he throws a pick there.

[Lathum]

Sweet Pick

[General Mike]

Corey Barnes with the good pick.

[cthomer5000]

lol, but that was a very mature play by Hart. Last year he throws a pick there.
The playcalling sucked though. Two passes when you have 2nd and 3 that close to the endzone?

[General Mike]

Illinois' turf sucks. Great coverage on the punt tho.

[General Mike]

Except that one drive, the D is playing great. We need to punch one in tho.

[Lathum]

RU needs to get in the endzone here to end the half on a high note.

[cthomer5000]

Absolutely awful call there. Rutgers was robbed.

[Lathum]

can the officials hump RU anymore

[General Mike]

Way to get the call right crappy Big East officials.

[cthomer5000]

boom goes the dynamite!

20-7 Rutgers!

[General Mike]

20-7

[Lathum]

great pass across his body

[cthomer5000]

the Rutgers defensive line is really impressing me. They've gotten a solid pass rush all-day, and I think two sacks out of a 3 man front with no additional blitzers.

[General Mike]

Rutgers' new DC is impressing me quite a bit.

[cthomer5000]

Rutgers' new DC is impressing me quite a bit.
http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[cthomer5000]

Illinois' QB looks awful out there.

[General Mike]

decent stand by the defense. I can't believe their qb out ran everyone.

[cthomer5000]

Brian Leonard is ridiculous.

[Lathum]

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ISiddiqui]

HAW HAW

Illinois REALLY sucks!

[General Mike]

Play of the Week.

[cthomer5000]

If none of you saw the play, you will on Sportscenter later. 27-7 Rutgers.

[falios]

I take it Leonard is working on his Hurdling for the Track team this spring.

[General Mike]

Rutgers got lucky with the Off. Pass Intereference flag.

[General Mike]

Tucker may be better than Moses.

[cthomer5000]

Tucker may be better than Moses.
The receivers as a whole are playing extremely well today, and I agree that Tucker is looking great.

[General Mike]

Lets get a TD here so we can get Mikey Teel some snaps.

[General Mike]

god damn Ito. :(

[Eaglesfan27]

D'Oh!!! I JUST finally realized that my hotel does have ESPN 2! I've been periodically following this game through this thread, but it is nice to see Rutgers kick butt with my own eyes.

[General Mike]

Rutgers needs to not go in the shell offensively.

[General Mike]

god damn the penalties.

[ISiddiqui]

Rutgers needs to not go in the shell offensively.
Well it's kind of hard to against years and years of habit ;).

[General Mike]

this is bullshit.

[General Mike]

Brian Leonard time.

[General Mike]

Catch the ball Harris.

[General Mike]

damnit.

[Lathum]

uh-oh

[falios]

Why Ito? WHY?

[Eaglesfan27]

Maybe I should stop watching :(

They haven't kicked butt at all since I started watching. I can't believe the kick was blocked.

[General Mike]

Rutgers is cursed.

[cthomer5000]

Rutgers is is full-blown meltdown mode, and has looked like total shit for basically all of the seond half.

[ISiddiqui]

Ah, same old Rutgers :).

Sometimes I wonder why my fellow alumni let themselves be deluded by all the hype.

[cthomer5000]

http://www.notmike.com/images/we_suck.jpg.

[ISiddiqui]

LOL!

So true!

[ISiddiqui]

It looks like the only thing that can save Rutgers is Illinois' incompetance.

[cthomer5000]

argh.....

[ISiddiqui]

Never mind ;).

[cthomer5000]

God if you're out there.... take me now please.

[JeeberD]

Man, they're back to looking like Rut-girls...

[ISiddiqui]

Man, they're back to looking like Rut-girls...
I had a second where I thought, hey, they may put this one away... then I remembered... oh yeah, it's Rutgers ;).

[ISiddiqui]

Ouch that was a painful series...

[Eaglesfan27]

Very painful. I thought for sure this was going to OT. Now, I'm not so sure that Illinois won't win it in regulation.

[cthomer5000]

Can we at least lose in overtime? come on.

[General Mike]

thank god for Courtney Greene

[cthomer5000]

fuck this shit. Schiano has to go.

[ISiddiqui]

Man... if Illinois wins, this game just sums up Rutgers football history since we moved up to the Big East.

We should go back the A-10... Hell, we had an undefeated there once (1976) :D.

[General Mike]

we're still alive.

[cthomer5000]

mentally, this game is a loss regardless of the outcome. I won't be surprised when we lose to Villanova next week.

[General Mike]

finally Ito

[General Mike]

damn negatoids.

[ISiddiqui]

My LORD, what a run by Halsey!

[Eaglesfan27]

Terrible defense.

[JeeberD]

Looking grim for the Scarlet Women... :(

[cthomer5000]

damn negatoids.
I can only take so much. Do you see the bullshit going on out there? The terrible coaching decision? It's unreal.

[JeeberD]

Game. Ovah.

[ISiddiqui]

And it's over.

[falios]

That is horrible... That is all I have to say... Horrible, Horrible, Horrible.

[ISiddiqui]

I can only take so much. Do you see the bullshit going on out there? The terrible coaching decision? It's unreal.
And I'm always negative ;). I've laughed at our ineptitute since I stepped foot on campus. We suck, we've always sucked in the Big East, and we'll always suck. That's the way it is. Schiano's "2 more years" has always been a joke to me and my other Rutgers alum friends.

[General Mike]

all I can say is it's better to lose this week than next week.

[cthomer5000]

I'm embarrased to be affiliated with this school. Genuinely embarrassed.

[cthomer5000]

all I can say is it's better to lose this week than next week. Well, you'll have both. No need to choose.

[ISiddiqui]

I'm embarrased to be affiliated with this school. Genuinely embarrassed.
Eh, just focus on the academic... oh yeah... well, um.. at least people in the South and West think Rutgers is an Ivy League school ;).

(though our academics aren't really bad at all, they've just gone down over the last 10 years... perhaps some of the money on the football team could go... *gasp* to academics!!)

[scooter]

I-L-L I-N-I


Phil
Class of '92

There won't be many to enjoy, but that sure was fun!

[cthomer5000]

No one will hear another word out of me until:

1. Greg Schiano is fired.

2. Rutgers is in a bowl game.

Whichever comes first.

[ISiddiqui]

No one will hear another word out of me until:

1. Greg Schiano is fired.

2. Rutgers is in a bowl game.

Whichever comes first.
I hope you mean about Rutgers.. because you post good stuff otherwise :D.

[ShaefIllini]

pwn3d

[ISiddiqui]

pwn3d
Dude, you almost lost to Rutgers... who is the pwn3d one? ;)

[Logan]

That was so painful, it's unreal.

Glad I didn't go to Champaign and ruin my birthday/labor day weekend.

[ShaefIllini]

Dude, you almost lost to Rutgers... who is the pwn3d one? ;)

good point, but i'll take the W

[timmynausea]

Do Rutgers fans have anyone in mind to replace Schiano?

[dervack]

pregame pick?

Rutgers 34, Illinois 26

Ray Rice is gonna go bananas.


[Lee Corso]
Not so fast my friend.
[/Lee Corso]

After looking dead in the water for most of the first half, thanks to Rutgers for helping get the Ron Zook ERA off on the right foot.

[dervack]

By the way, it's fun to look at this thread after the game. If the Illini suck, then Rutgers must be awful, huh?

[Young Drachma]

Eh, just focus on the academic... oh yeah... well, um.. at least people in the South and West think Rutgers is an Ivy League school ;).

(though our academics aren't really bad at all, they've just gone down over the last 10 years... perhaps some of the money on the football team could go... *gasp* to academics!!)

Yeah, the Ivy thing is funny. So many folks I know don't realize Rutgers isn't private anymore.

[Young Drachma]

By the way, it's fun to look at this thread after the game. If the Illini suck, then Rutgers must be awful, huh?

Yeah, but the latter was rarely in dispute. Excuse folks for thinking this team had finally shed its horrible nature for a brief moment.

[Buccaneer]

SUu losing to Temple is the worse humiliation; losing to Rutgers is the second, which was up to it's usual tricks today.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, the Ivy thing is funny. So many folks I know don't realize Rutgers isn't private anymore. Well we are considered a "Public Ivy" and do have pretty good academics, but it has been falling recently, as the school infrastructure has taken so slow to upgrade (probably because they waste all that money on the football team :p).

And Rutgers hasn't been private since the 40s. :D

[Passacaglia]

D'Oh!!! I JUST finally realized that my hotel does have ESPN 2! I've been periodically following this game through this thread, but it is nice to see Rutgers kick butt with my own eyes.

You mean you were really able to make sense of what was going in the game through this thread? I was watching Miami-Ohio State, and reading this thread, but found a bunch of one-liners that would probably only make sense if I were watching the game.

[lynchjm24]

Thanks for doing the conference a big favor Rutgers, almost as impressive as Pittsburgh's 'effort' last night.

Syracuse can't get out of their own freaking way either. If they are going to play this bad at home they are going to be humiliated away from the Carrier Dome.

I've had the 'privledge' of seeing Connecticut, Rutgers, Syracuse, West Virgina, South Florida, and Pittsburgh this weekend. If UConn really finishes 6th in this horrible conference like most of the 'experts' are predicting, my head will probably explode.

I don't know what's worse - finishing 6th and at least keeping the coach or having a great season and watching Edsall move to a legitimate conference.

[ISiddiqui]

I take it you aren't watching Louisville then? ;)

The great Big East hope!

[lynchjm24]

I take it you aren't watching Louisville then? ;)

The great Big East hope!


Even if they are the savior there still has to be a few legitimate teams in the conference that can:
A. Not blow huge leads to middling teams
B. Not embarass themselves on National TV 3 times in their past 8 games
C. Actually win a game outside of their home dome

[RPI-Fan]

Not that I have anything against the Rutgers fans on this board, but, when there are congregations of smack-talking fans of small schools like this I actually end up liking rooting against them.

Also kind of explains my (much greater) disdain for OU, Kansas, UGA to some extent, and a few other places right now.

[ISiddiqui]

Not that I have anything against the Rutgers fans on this board, but, when there are congregations of smack-talking fans of small schools like this I actually end up liking rooting against them.

Also kind of explains my (much greater) disdain for OU, Kansas, UGA to some extent, and a few other places right now.
That's ok. I'm an alum from Rutgers and I root against us ;).

[General Mike]

That's ok. I'm an alum from Rutgers and I root against us ;).

Aren't you a Mets fan too? After dealing with Benitez, Franco and now Looper for 15 years you should be used to choke jobs.

[lynchjm24]

I'm watching Louisville. If this is our savior, leave me behind.

[st.cronin]

The best team in the Big East on the ropes against the worst team in the SEC. And hahahaha what a kickoff return by #4. What a game!

[cthomer5000]

Not that I have anything against the Rutgers fans on this board, but, when there are congregations of smack-talking fans of small schools like this I actually end up liking rooting against them.

Also kind of explains my (much greater) disdain for OU, Kansas, UGA to some extent, and a few other places right now.
Well fuck you too.

[lynchjm24]

Well fuck you too.

I've always found the Rutgers fans I've run into to be much 'better' fans then most teams/schools. Maybe because they don't have as many so the ones I meet are very hard-core.

I had a Vegas pit boss at the Rio with a RU watch on list the entire UConn offensive line to me. I work with an NJ sales rep who knows the team inside and out.

The Rutgers fans here seem like good fans to me, they are passionate even though the team is a constant disappointment.

[cthomer5000]

The Rutgers fans here seem like good fans to me, they are passionate even though the team is a constant disappointment.
And I've never gotten a "talking shit" vibe from any of us at all. We're always cautiosly optimistic, because we expect it to blow up in our face (like yesterday) at any given moment.

Honestly, I hit absolute rock-bottom in my Rutgers fandom when that game ended yesterday. I refuse to emotionally invest myself in them until Schiano is either fired or makes a bowl game. I'm already a Jets fan, I don't need more heartbreak in my sporting life.

[General Mike]

And I've never gotten a "talking shit" vibe from any of us at all.

Except me.

Honestly, I hit absolute rock-bottom in my Rutgers fandom when that game ended yesterday. I refuse to emotionally invest myself in them until Schiano is either fired or makes a bowl game. I'm already a Jets fan, I don't need more heartbreak in my sporting life.

And I'm a Mets fan. Only Mets fans can understand the pain of Franco, Benitez and Looper for the last 15 years. Not to mention Kenny Rogers in the NLCS. And at least the Jets are decent. The Giants choke against the 49ers in 2003 was alot worse than what Rutgers did yesterday.

SUu losing to Temple is the worse humiliation; losing to Rutgers is the second, which was up to it's usual tricks today.

After watching Syracuse today, be careful what you wish for.