Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA 07)

[superjames1992]

Alright, I am sick and tired of NCAA 08 on the 360 as some of you probably are. The turnovers, lack of atmosphere and presentation, and gameplay kill it for me.

I really like playing in the Big East, but not as my favorite team, WVU, since I feel the season is too scripted and easy. Instead, I will chose Rutgers, who unlike every other team besides Pitt and WVU. has their real stadium in the game. I also like their uniforms, plus I get to play with Ray Rice and Brian Leonard.

[superjames1992]

Rutgers 2006 Offensive Starters

NOTE: Besides Mike Teel, Jabu Lovelace, Ray Rice, Jeremy Ito, and Brian Leonard, these are auto-generated names, meaning they are not their real names.

Pos. Name               Class      Rating
QB   Mike Teel          RS So.     80
HB   Ray Rice           So.        95
FB   Brian Leonard      Sr.        93
WR   Kyle Manning       RS Sr.     86
WR   Travis Clemens     Sr.        80
TE   Maurice Barnes     RS SR.     92
LT   John Slaughter     Sr.        80
LG   Josh Gant          Sr.        78
C    Charles Bryant     Sr.        80
RG   Darius Thomas      Sr.        74
RT   Aaron Black        Jr.        80

[superjames1992]

Rutgers 2006 Defensive Starters

Pos.  Name              Class      Rating
LE    Ken Hill          RS So.     78
RE    A.J. Rucker       RS Sr.     89
DT    Joey Thompson     Sr.        70
DT    Dontae Williams   Sr.        68
LOLB  Lavelle Walters   Jr.        72
MLB   B.J. Charles      Sr.        78
ROLB  Terell Justice    Sr.        72
CB    Doug Pendleton    Sr.        82
CB    Jeff Bell         Sr.        82
FS    Nick Beverly      Jr.        82
SS    Jason Spencer     So.        78

[superjames1992]

Rutgers 2006 Special Teams Starters

Pos.  Name              Class      Rating
K     Jeremy Ito        Jr.        80
P     Ryan Thomas       RS Sr.     90
KR    Travis Clemens    Sr.        97
KR    Sean Campanella   So.        94
PR    Travis Clemens    Sr.        97
KOS   Ryan Thomas       RS Sr.     87
LS    Ray Johnson       RS Fr.     68

[superjames1992]

Preseason Top 10 and Big East Teams

1. Ohio State
2. Texas
3. Notre Dame
4. USC
5. LSU
6. Florida
7. Auburn
8. Oklahoma
9. West Virginia
10. Louisville
50. Pittsburgh
56. Rutgers
63. South Florida
65. Connecticut
87. Syracuse
97. Cincinnati

[superjames1992]

Rutgers 2006 Preseason Awards

1st Team All-Americans
FB Brian Leonard

2nd Team All-Americans
None

1st Team All-Big East
FB Brian Leonard
TE Maurice Barnes

2nd Team All-Big East
WR Kyle Manning
T John Slaughter
T Aaron Blakc
DE A.J. Rucker
P Ryan Thomas

[superjames1992]

2006 Big East Outlook

1. West Virginia
2. Louisville
3. Pittsburgh
4. Rutgers
5. South Florida
6. Connecticut
7. Syracuse
8. Cincinnati

[superjames1992]

Rutgers 2006 Schedule

WK  Opponent
01. @ North Carolina Tarheels
02. Illinois Fighting Illini
03. Ohio Bobcats
04. Howard Bison (1-AA)
05. @ South Florida Bulls
06. Bye Week
07. @ Navy Midshipmen
08. @ Pittsburgh Panthers
09. Connecticut Huskies
10. Bye Week
11. #10 Louisville Cardinals
12. @ Cincinnati Bearcats
13. Syracuse Orange
14. @ #9 West Virginia Mountaineers

[superjames1992]

2006 Rutgers Preview

Rutgers comes into the 2006 season looking to improve on the 7-5 mark they set a year ago. The Scarlet Knights finally got to a bowl game, but failed to win as they lost to the Sundevils of Arizona State. "It was tough on us," commented Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. "But I think it really has given us confidence that we can get to bowl games and we can win them as well. I am looking forward to this season. Last season was my first bowl appearance as a coach and I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to get back there."

Rutgers is primed to make a bowl this season. "We want to go to a bowl really bad," commented senior fullback Brian Leonard. "I'm a senior and I would love to make it to a bowl, and most importantly win a bowl game." The Scarlet Knights are predicted to finish 4th in the Big East. The Big East has 5 spots in bowls, so if the Scarlet Knights finish 4th, they should be heading to a bowl if they win at least 6 games.

Rutgers kicks off the season in Chapel Hill against North Carolina. They will come back to Piscataway to face Illinois the following week. Then the Scarlet Knights play Ohio University and 1-AA Howard before kicking off Big East play in Tampa against the South Florida Bulls.

Ray Rice is only a sophomore, but is primed for a huge year. Look him to keep the offense steady, even with an unproved leader at quarterback in Mike Teel at quarterback. If Teel, a sophomore, struggles, don't expect Schiano to think twice about putting in redshirt freshman Jabu Lovelace. Lovelace shows immense talent and is a dual-threat quarterback, something Rutgers might need if their offensive line struggles.

The defense of Rutgers could be trouble this year as they are rated at a lousy C+. "We'll be okay there," Greg Schiano said at a press conference when the local media was concerned about the Rutgers secondary. "We'll work things out. We may have an inexperienced defense, but that doesn't mean we can't be good."

Expect the Scarlet Knights to go bowling this season. We think they'll finsh 7-5 (3-4).

[superjames1992]

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0) @ UNC Tarheels (0-0)

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Rutgers came out strong early in this affair as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead early. Then, as Rutgers was inside the 10 yard line primed to score once again, the tide shifted. Quarterback Mike Teel carelessly lobbed a pass into double coverage looking for senior tight end Maurice Barnes, but the pass fell into the hands of UNC defenders as they feel into the endzone for a touchback. UNC would then drive down the field to make it 14-7 and would score again to make it 14-14. With under 2 minutes left, Mike Teel threw his 3rd interception of the game, setting up UNC with a field goal to make it 17-14 at halftime.

In the 2nd half, Jabu Lovelace replaced the sinking Teel, but Lovelace would bring on more of the same, as he went on to be picked twice. Teel would be put back in and would stay in for the rest of the game. He would throw a 4th interception in the 4th quarter, that was returned for a touchdown. The final score was 38-24 as UNC won the game.

On the bright side of things, Rutgers runningback Ray Rice carried the ball 32 times for 196 yards in the game. "Our offensive line gave me gaping holes to run through and I exploited them," commented a frustrated Ray Rice following the game. "It doesn't matter, though, because we lost and that is all that matters to me. If we don't put a win in the book, I'm not happy."

Rutgers falls to 0-1 (0-0) with the loss and will host the Fighting Illini of Illinois next week in Piscataway to kick off Rutgers' home opener.

Rutgers Stat Leaders

Passing
Mike Teel: 14/22, 129 yds., 3 TDs, 4 INTs
Rushing
Ray Rice: 32 carries, 196 yds.
Receiving
Kyle Manning: 4 receptions, 34 yds.
Defense
Nick Beverly: 6 tackles

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA 07)

I'm following!! Have a good season.

[superjames1992]

Rutgers 2006 Schedule and Results

WK  Opponent
01. @ North Carolina Tarheels L 24-38
02. Illinois Fighting Illini
03. Ohio Bobcats
04. Howard Bison (1-AA)
05. @ South Florida Bulls
06. Bye Week
07. @ Navy Midshipmen
08. @ Pittsburgh Panthers
09. Connecticut Huskies
10. Bye Week
11. #10 Louisville Cardinals
12. @ Cincinnati Bearcats
13. Syracuse Orange
14. @ #9 West Virginia Mountaineers

[superjames1992]

Week 1 Big East Standings

1. South Florida (1-0) (0-0)
2. #8 West Virginia (1-0) (0-0)
3. Syracuse (1-0) (0-0)
4. Connecticut (1-0) (0-0)
5. Cincinnati (1-0) (0-0)
6. #9 Louisville (1-0) (0-0)
7. Rutgers (0-1) (0-0)
8. Pittsburgh (0-1) (0-0)

[superjames1992]

Re: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA 07)

I'm following!! Have a good season.

Thanks RAZR!

[superjames1992]

Illlinois Fighting Illini (1-0) @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-1)

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23

Piscataway, NJ - Rutgers was dominant in the first 3 quarters of this game. Jeremy Ito got Rutgers on the board early with a 41 yard field goal. He would add kicks of 22 and 49 in the 2nd quarter to end the 1st half 9-0 in favor of Rutgers. Ray Rice would break open on the first play of the second half as he would take a 80 yard run to the house. Rutgers added on a 2 point conversion to make the score 17-0. Jeremy Ito added a 20 yard field goal late in the 3rd to make it 20-0 Rutgers. In the 4th quarter, Rutgers fell apart. Illinois returned a Teel fumble 44 yards for a touchdown to make the score 20-7. Illinois would score again to make it 20-14 with 2 minutes left. Teel would throw a costly interception, his 2nd of the day, which would set up Illinois for a 49 yard touchdown pass to take the lead 21-20 with 1:10 remaining. Rutgers proceeded to drive down the field with ease and set up Jeremy Ito with a 21 yard field goal for the win with time expiring. Ito nailed it to win the game, his 5th field goal of the game.

Coach Greg Schiano was disappointed about the late game collapse and that Rutgers couldn't finish off drives. "I cannot believe we fell apart so fast. It was rather embarrassing. We got too comfortable and stopped playing, which let the Illini close up to us. Also, we must finish off our drives. Ito shouldn't have to kick 5 field goals in a game. We should have converted every one of those into touchdowns."

Ray Rice once again ran wild as he picked up 196 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Rutgers improves to 1-1 (0-0) with the victory and will face the Ohio Bobcats next week.

Rutgers Stat Leaders

Passing
Mike Teel: 14/25, 209 yds., 2 INTs
Rushing
Ray Rice: 25 carries, 196 yds., TD
Receiving
Sean Campanella: 5 receptions, 81 yds.
Defense
B.J. Charles: 6 tackles, 1 TFL