Gold Nuggets lose eighth in a row, this time to Rutgers

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Rutgers completed its three-match trip to Louisiana with a 9-0 women's victory against Xavier University of Louisiana at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center.

The Scarlet Knights (8-4) won all three matches during their trip and gave Xavier (2-10), ranked 24th in the NAIA, its eighth consecutive loss.

Amy Zhang and Jennifer Holzberg defeated Amber Brown and Carmen Nelson at No. 1 doubles, and Zhang beat Brown 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Xavier defaulted matches at No. 3 doubles and No. 5 and 6 singles for the fifth consecutive dual, and the Zhang-Holzberg doubles victory clinched for Rutgers.



Brown, a freshman, played No. 1 singles for the second time as a collegian. Teammate Melissa DeLoach, 2-0 in singles at the AUM Invitational this past weekend, lost 6-2, 6-0 to Leonora Slatnick at No. 4.

Four of the Gold Nuggets' losses during their streak are against NCAA Division I opponents.

It was the Gold Nuggets' first home match since Feb. 5 and their first-ever meeting with Rutgers. The Nuggets' next match will start at 3 p.m. Tuesday against SCAD Atlanta at UNO.

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Rutgers RB Casey Turner Transfers to Florida A&M

Promising running back Casey Turner of Jacksonville, Fla., who did not play as a true freshman last year, announced his decision to transfer to Florida A&M.

Turner, a highly regarded 5-11, 190 pounder, never got the chance to play because of persistent groin problems. Turner redshirted in 2010 after suffering a groin injury before the season opener with Norfolk State.

He rushed for 2,232 yards and 31 touchdowns as a high school senior and was viewed as Rutgers' running back of the future. Coming out of Edward H. White High School, he was timed in 4.45 seconds for the 40-yard dash and rushed for 1,950 yards as a junior. Turner was ranked as a 3-star running back by Rival.com.

He committed to Florida International in the fall 2009, committed to Rutgers in December (2009) and then committed to North Carolina in January 2010. He flipped back to the Scarlet Knights the night before signing day.

Turner is expected to compete for the starting running back position vacated by Rattlers' graduating senior Phillip Sylvester.

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Norfolk State makes a game of it against Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Norfolk State opened its season with a loss Thursday night, but the 31-0 defeat at Rutgers Stadium goes down as more success than setback. In its previous visit to Rutgers in 2007, Norfolk State lost 59-0 and the game was over at halftime. In visit No. 2, the Spartans could have led at the midway point. The Scarlet Knights eventually took over in the second half, using the physical inside running of 6-foot-0, 215-pound Joe Martinek to wear out NSU’s defense.

Martinek’s 6-yard touchdown with 7:55 left in the third quarter put the Scarlet Knights up 14-0 and effectively ended Norfolk State’s challenge. The Spartans had defensive players suffer an injury or cramps on four straight plays and five total during the drive, a seven-play, 75-yard stretch to open the second half.

“The first half went well; we just didn’t have enough in the tank to finish everything off,” linebacker Corwin Hammond said. “Everyone was cramping. I was cramping. My defensive teammates were cramping. I thought that’s when things went downhill.”



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TONIGHT'S GAMES BY COMPUTER ON ESPN 3 (http://espn.go.com/espn3/index)

07:30 PM FOOTBALL NCAAF Norfolk State vs. Rutgers (Exclusive)
07:30 PM FOOTBALL NCAAF Florida A&M vs. #13 Miami (Exclusive)

NORFOLK, VA - It's too bad talking points don't go up on the scoreboard. Norfolk State might have been a favorite tonight. Heading into the team's 7:30 p.m. season opener at Rutgers, the Spartans are talking a good game, expressing belief that they're capable of beating the odds. They might be the only ones thinking that way.

"Even the students don't think we can win," senior offensive lineman Markeece Preston said. "They're buying into the whole I-A, I-AA thing. They think we'll get crushed."

The NSU student body has its reasons. Las Vegas doesn't set point spreads between teams at the different levels because it expects the teams to be so mismatched. When Appalachian State beat top-division Michigan in 2007, it was considered among the most shocking results ever.

"No one thought David would beat Goliath...

Norfolk State opens 2010 football season at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The BIG EAST Conference and Rutgers University announced the 2010 football schedule Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights play seven home games next season and have four games already set to be televised on ESPN or ABC. Rutgers opens the season Thursday, September 2 vs. Norfolk State at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights go on the road in week two of the season for their first visit to Florida International on Saturday, September 11.

Norfolk State was slammed 59-0 in their initial meeting with the Scarlet Knights in 2007. Hopefully, the 2010 game will be more than an easy "light scrimmage" for the State University of New Jersey this time around. The signing of this "money game" contract effectively takes Norfolk State University out of the running for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 7, 2010.

From our view, the likely candidate slips to the Morgan State Bears for the challenge. The MEAC's unnamed opponent will have to face the rebuilding Southern University Jaguars under first year Coach Stump Mitchell.

The NSU Spartans have not released their 2010 Football Schedule. But, we have been able to confirm the following dates for that schedule shown below. The MEAC home games will be Delaware State, Morgan State and North Carolina Central. The away conference games are at: Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Howard.

Norfolk State Spartans "Partial" 2010 Football Schedule
Sept 2, at Rutgers, Piscataway, N.J.
Sept 11, North Carolina A&T, Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA (Fish Bowl Classic)
Sept. 18, Virginia State, 6 p.m., Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA
Oct. 16 at Hampton , Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA (Battle of the Bay Classic)
Oct. 23, Florida A&M (homecoming), Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA

2010 Rutgers Football Schedule
Thursday, September 2 Norfolk State
Saturday, September 11 at Florida International
Saturday, September 25 North Carolina
Saturday, October 2 Tulane
Friday, October 8 Connecticut* (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 16 Army (New Meadowlands Stadium)
Saturday, October 23 at Pittsburgh*
Wednesday, November 3 at USF* (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, November 13 Syracuse*
Saturday, November 20 at Cincinnati*
Friday, November 26 Louisville* (ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC)
Saturday, December 4 at West Virginia* (ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC)

*Denotes BIG EAST game

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Rutgers 42, Texas Southern Tigers 0

Rutgers' defense comes up big in 42-0 victory over Texas Southern

It’s easy to look at Rutgers’ dominant defensive performance Saturday and pooh-pooh it because it came against an overmatched Texas Southern team, and not, say, Pittsburgh. But it’s not David Rowe’s fault that Texas Southern was Rutgers’ opponent. So Rowe won’t make any apologies for his first career interception, which he returned 56 yards for his first college touchdown in Rutgers’ 42-0 demolition of Texas Southern Saturday on Homecoming Day at Rutgers Stadium. Instead, Rowe will focus on the fact that his play, which opened the scoring, got the Scarlet Knights off and running to the easy victory that will serve to prep them for this Friday’s visit by 5-1 Pittsburgh.

“I saw the quarterback’s eyes go that way, I just jumped the corner route and I looked to my left I saw a whole bunch of blockers, so I figured I could get into the zone,” Rowe said. “When the defense puts the first points on the board, it’s kind of like the defense set the tone.” In a game where the biggest question going in was how quarterback Tom Savage would look in his first action since suffering a concussion against Florida International Sept. 19, the Rutgers defense made a statement that it is playing a whole lot better than it did in that embarrassing season-opening loss to Cincinnati. The RU defense held Texas Southern to 147 yards in total offense, including minus-3 yards rushing. Rutgers also piled up seven sacks — the most they have recorded in a game since they had seven against South Florida in 2007 — and forced four turnovers.



The Morning After: Breaking down Rutgers' 42-0 victory over Texas Southern

A GLORIFIED SCRIMMAGE

Yes, that’s all this game amounted to. But with an important game coming up Friday against Pittsburgh, it was important to get everybody on the field after a weekend off and run through the plays and get tuned up. Tom Savage returned to action for the first time since suffering a concussion Sept. 19 against Florida International. Savage (14-for-21, 150 yards, one TD) looked fine in everything he did in his three quarters-plus of action. He connected on a 53-yard pass to Mohamed Sanu in the first series of the third quarter that was wiped out by a holding penalty, and he ran six times for 32 yards. He had one 28-yard run in the second quarter where he passed up an opportunity to run out of bounds or slide to avoid the hit. Instead he kept going until he was tackled. He also was sacked twice and hit hard on several of his runs, but appeared fine.

ABOUT THAT DEFENSE

David Rowe’s 56-yard interception return for a touchdown was the Scarlet Knights’ fourth defensive touchdown on the season, and gave them a three-game streak in which they have scored at least one defensive touchdown. Texas Southern did a bunch of spread formation, empty-backfield stuff, with lots of no-huddle. But the Rutgers defense was not confused. It gave up a few medium-range passes early on, but had seven sacks, forced four turnovers, and surrendered just 126 yards.

Sidelights: Rutgers routs Texas Southern for 600th victory - NCAA College ...


Excerpts:
Rutgers scheduled the bottom of the SWAC and MEAC as part of its 12-game slate for this season. The Scarlett Knights beat Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Howard University 45-7 on Sept. 12. The positive for Texas Southern was that it got a $400,000 payday to come to the birthplace of college football. Rutgers played the first college game against Princeton in 1869. The Scarlet Knights are now 600-591-42 in their 140-year history. They are the 38th FCS school to win 600 games. Texas Southern will forever be in Rutger's football history as the 600th win. The NCAA allows Football Bowl Subdivision schools to count only one victory over an FCS opponent (Howard and Texas Southern) toward the six-win minimum to qualify for a bowl berth.

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Attendance: 50,169@ Rutgers Stadium, Piscataway, NJ

Photo Galleries:
Texas Southern at Rutgers "Homecoming"
Slideshow: Rutgers 42, Texas Southern 0

Rutgers 45, Howard Bison 7

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- It was somewhere in the second quarter Saturday, a bit into what would become Rutgers' relatively redemptive romp over Howard, that Jourdan Brooks really heard Tom Savage. "Let's go," Savage said. Then, "Come on, we're going to punch it in." And then, pulling Brooks aside, "Run hard on this one.""You know, he reminded me of Mike a little bit," Brooks said, breaking into a grin after Rutgers' 45-7 win. "He definitely doesn't seem like a regular freshman."

Savage certainly proved himself no ordinary freshman -- and that he may indeed be the heir apparent to the two-time captain and record-setter Mike Teel. On a gray, rainy afternoon, he coolly managed Rutgers' offense, he dynamically made some highlight reel throws and he earned Greg Schiano's praise for making what the coach called "good decisions." It was his first-ever start, he would've led Rutgers to a score on every one of his possessions if not for a missed field goal and Savage still very endearingly admitted to a nervous morning of "just looking at the weather."

Highlights of Rutgers 45-7 victory over Howard at Rutgers Stadium

Taking a closer look at Rutgers' victory over Howard

ABOUT THAT DEFENSE
Well, when you beat up an opponent like Rutgers did to Howard, the defense must be doing something right. But after being embarrassed on national television in the home opener on Monday, most would have expected Rutgers to have a killer instinct at a high level, and it really wasn't there. Yes, they forced some turnovers (3), but there were still tackles being missed and runs being broken off. The most glaring mistake was when Howard took a fourth down-and-3 situation in the second quarter and turned it into a 40-yard touchdown play. That's not what you want to see.

Video: The Star-Ledger breaks down Rutgers football 45-7 win over Howard

If this was really a first test for Tom Savage, it was more like one in which he had the answers in advance. Not that anyone in the crowd of 43,722 who braved the dreary conditions at Rutgers Stadium Saturday - and endured the lack of competitiveness by Howard -- seemed to mind or care. The future is now, and he looks poised, calm and fully in control.

Yes, what Savage accomplished was against an overmatched MEAC team that was 1-10 last year. But it's hard to deny that he looks and acts the part of a big-time quarterback - rare for a 19-year-old true freshman making his first career start. Savage, with all of one half of college experience behind him, offered the hope of bigger and better things to come by leading Rutgers to a wound-salving 45-7 victory over Howard, allowing the Knights to square their record at 1-1.

The Star-Ledger breaks down Rutgers football 45-7 win over Howard

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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Addition of Texas Southern underwhelming at best

Texas Southern's AD Charles McClelland takes step up from Texas College and Texas State by adding road games with Louisiana-Monroe and Rutgers to Tigers 2009 schedule for Coach Johnnie Cole second season.

Rutgers loads schedule with cupcakes -- Howard Bison (Sept. 12), Texas Southern, Florida International and Army.

The Scarlet-White game is tomorrow, Rutgers Stadium’s expansion is taking shape and the open slot in the "Rutgers University" 2009 schedule has finally been filled. With Texas Southern. From the Southwest Athletic Conference. Really.

I’m not knocking the thought of a second Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA if you will) opponent, but when Morgan State and Norfolk State look like USC compared to these guys, excuse me if I’m a little underwhelmed. Texas Southern was all of 4-8 last season, falling to mighty 6-6 Arkansas State in a close 83-10 slobberknocker. Three of its four wins were against non-Division I opponents Shaw, Texas College and Concordia College, and they were an impressive 1-6 in the SWAC.

To Rutgers’ credit, it’s not like they didn’t try to get a better opponent. “We have worked diligently for months to complete our 2009 schedule with a Football Bowl Subdivision team,” Athletic Director Tim Pernetti said in a press release. “We were unable to convince any of the institutions with openings to come to Rutgers, including numerous BCS conference opponents.” If they waited this long and worked this hard to try to schedule a better opponent, so be it. I commend that effort. But to settle for Texas Southern is unacceptable. But there are still a bunch of positives to come out of this.

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Rutgers football: Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley meets the media

With Morgan State (2-1) set to visit Rutgers on Saturday -- a Championship Subdivision School looking for its first-ever victory over a BCS opponent -- head coach Donald Hill-Eley met with the media on Monday to discuss the game and the prospects of an upset.

Here is what the sixth-year coach had to say:

Q. As fragile as Rutgers' psyche seems to be, is it important for your team to have some early success to have a chance?

Hill-Eley: As with any game, it's important to try to get some success early, moving the ball to get that confidence that we can compete with them.

Q. What type of matchup problems does your quarterback, Carlton Jackson, create with his athleticism and running ability?

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No game here, folks...Rutgers by 55! The only suspense is will Morgan score 3. No need for wishful thinking, the MEAC and SWAC have proven they can't beat an average FCS/1-AA outside the MEAC. This is simply a paycheck game for the Bears. Just pray Hill-Eley makes a better showing than the Norfolk State Spartans that got shellacked 59-0 last season by the Scarlett Knights.

FAMU vs. Tennessee State is on nation-wide TV at 3:00 p.m. and the Rattlers will give the MEAC something to cheer about in this OVC-MEAC rivalry game before a packed house at the Atlanta Football Classic.

Rutgers Rolls Over Norfolk State 59-0

Rice runs for 3 TDs as Rutgers piles it on Norfolk State

PISCATAWAY, N.J.-- No. 13 Rutgers produced the biggest second quarter in the school history, and all it needed was 11 plays and 91 seconds to amass 277 yards and score 42 points.

Ray Rice ran for three touchdowns and Mike Teel threw for three more in the lightning-quick outburst that carried the Scarlet Knights to a 59-0 victory over Norfolk State on Saturday.

While the result wasn't surprising, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano raised some eyebrows just before the half by calling three timeouts in an attempt to get the ball back with the Scarlet Knights (3-0) ahead 45-0.

A roughing the kicker penalty allowed the Spartans (1-1) to keep the ball, but Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian seemed to stare at the Rutgers' bench when he went on the field to help punter Brian Jackson, who suffered an Achilles' tendon injury.

The two coaches shook hands after the game ended and spoke for about a minute, patting each other on the shoulders.

Schiano rested Teel, Rice and most of his skill players on offense in the second half.

The 59 points and the margin of victory were the biggest for Rutgers since a 59-0 win over Buffalo in 2000.

Teel started the biggest second quarter at the birthplace of college football (1869) with touchdown passes of 43 yards to Kenny Britt and 28 yards to Tiquan Underwood on consecutive plays from scrimmage for the Scarlet Knights.

Rice, who now has nine touchdowns this season, scored on runs of 22, 7 and 4 yards, before Teel ended the offensive fireworks with a 34-yard scoring pass to Britt.

The scoring drives covered 52, 28, 92, 46, 42 and 53 yards and lasted two, one, two, two, three and two plays. The total elapsed time for the six drives was one minute, 31 seconds, which is all the time Rutgers had the ball in the quarter.

Remarkably, the big quarter came after Norfolk State forced Rutgers to punt on its first two possessions and then settle for a 30-yard field goal by Jeremy Ito with 4:45 left in the first half for a 3-0 lead.

Defensive tackle Eric Foster intercepted a Casey Hansen pass late in the quarter and Rice ran nine yards to give Rutgers a second-and-inches at the Spartans 43 as the quarter ended.

Norfolk State, a championship subdivision team playing its first bowl subdivision opponent, had to feel good at that point.

The optimism didn't last long for the Spartans, who have yet to produce a winning season since joining then Division I-AA in 1997.

Teel and Britt connected on a deep post on the opening play of the second quarter for a touchdown. After Norfolk State came up short on a fake punt deep in its own territory, Teel found Underwood on a sideline fly pattern on the next play for a 17-0 lead.

Rutgers got the ball back at its own 8 after a punt, and Teel and Underwood hooked up on a 65-yard pass play to the Norfolk State 27 on first down. An illegal substitution penalty moved the ball five yards and Rice, who carried 12 times for 72 yards, scored on a great cutback run from the 22-yard line.

A short punt, a 32-yard pass from Teel to Underwood and a personal foul set up Rice's 7-yard TD run. A 23-yard pass to Underwood, who had four catches for 148 yards, and a pass interference paved the way for Rice's final score.

Teel, who was 8-of-15 for 269 yards, covered the 53 yards on his final drive with passes of 19 and 34 yards to Britt, who had four catches for 121 yards.

Backup quarterback Jabu Lovelace scored on a pair of 16-yard runs for Rutgers in the second half.

ATTENDANCE: 43,712

Norfolk State at Rutgers Today

by Philadelphia Inquirer

Norfolk State at Rutgers Today at 3:30 p.m., Rutgers Stadium

TV/Radio: MSG-ESPN Regional; WENJ-AM (1450), WOR-AM (710).

Records: Norfolk State, 1-0; Rutgers, 2-0.

The buzz: Norfolk State of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) is playing its first Division I-A opponent since starting football 10 years ago, and coach Pete Adrian raised some eyebrows by commenting that he would rather be playing Michigan than Rutgers. . . . As many eyes may be on the stands today as on the field. In last week's win over Navy, a handful of Rutgers fans booed and shouted vulgarities at the Mids, forcing athletic director Bob Mulcahy and president Richard McCormick to issue public apologies to the Naval Academy.

Last week: No. 13 Rutgers continued its balanced attack, rushing for 210 yards and passing for 266 in a 41-24 win over Navy. Tailback Ray Rice set the school's career rushing record. The Scarlet Knights committed 11 penalties for 100 yards.

While Rutgers, No. 13 in the Associated Press poll, figures to dispatch Norfolk State today, ticket demand remains at an unprecedented level. Even a game against a Norfolk State team that plays in a level of football one division below Rutgers, will produce another sellout, of about 43,000.

This week a block of tickets, typically set aside for the visiting team to Rutgers Stadium, were returned by Norfolk State and were made available to members of the Rutgers Alumni.
The block of tickets sold out in less than half an hour, according to athletics department officials, who in prior years had tens of thousands of tickets available for some games.

"Gone are the old days of being able to pick up game-day tickets," said Brian Crockett, head of the Rutgers Foundation, which oversees the alumni programs.

"Everywhere I go in the state it's so much easier to bring Rutgers football into the conversation. When you mention Rutgers you get a new sparkle," said Crockett.

Next week: Rutgers has a bye before hosting Maryland.

Big Game: Rutgers vs. Norfolk State University

by Star-Ledger Staff

We gave our Rutgers writers six questions heading into Rutgers' game tomorrow against Norfolk State. Here's what they had to say:

1. Is there any cause for concern with Norfolk State? What can you tell us about them?

TOM LUICCI: Cause for concern? Norfolk State lost 13-10 to Howard last year -- a Howard team Rutgers beat 56-7. Norfolk State hasn't had a winning season since 1996 and has never faced a 1-A team before. This is Norfolk State, not Appalachian State. But why hear it from me? Take it from Spartans coach Pete Adrian.

"We're talking apples and oranges here," Adrian said of the Appalachian State comparisons. "Appalachian State won two national championships back to back, they've played a Division 1-A team for the last 20 years, every other year or whatever, and this is our first endeavor in playing a Division 1-A team. Like I've said, we haven't had a winning season in 10 years. There's a lot of Division 1-A teams that don't want to play Appalachian State with the speed they have."

STEVE POLITI: The only concern is a Rutgers injury. Norfolk State is 289-288-12 since 1938 in football, and this game will drop the Spartans to .500. Rutgers is past the days where it has to worry about Division 1-AA teams. Just make sure Ray Rice gets 200 yards and gets off the field without hurting himself, and this will be a successful day.

ALEX DELANIAN: I don't know how to be polite with this question. I think we all learned a nice lesson from Appalachian State never to underestimate, but this is going to be like a New Rochelle High School gym class and you just happen to have Ray Rice, Glen Lee and Courtney Greene on your side. With the wind at your backs. And you get to wear cleats while the other team plays barefoot. And their quarterback, a natural lefty, broke his hand and has to throw righty. And the cornerbacks are only named that because they prefer to sit in the corner and watch than play. I told you I didn't know how to be polite.

2. Assuming the game is a rout and leads to more reps for backups, who plays more: Young at RB or Lovelace at QB?

TL: I asked Rutgers coach Greg Schiano after practice on Thursday if there was any chance we would see redshirt freshman Chris Paul-Etienne, the No. 3 QB, if the game gets out of hand. Paul-Etienne hasn't played a down yet. Schiano indicated he wanted to get Jabu Lovelace as much work as possible. "We need to get him ready," he said. Kordell Young will get plenty of time at tailback, but I also think the coaching staff wants to see a little of true freshman Mason Robinson there. So Robinson could be in most of the fourth quarter -- working with Lovelace.

SP: I think you'll see more Lovelace, because they're more likely to work him earlier to use his speed against the Norfolk State defense. Here's one thing Rutgers fans should want to see: Lovelace throw some passes. Much like the Jets and Giants this weekend, the Scarlet Knights do not want to find out what life is like without their starting (and red hot) quarterback in a season like this.

AD: Lovelace. If only because if both of them are in the game, Young might not see the ball. From what we saw against Buffalo, the offensive package when Lovelace is in the game consists of snapping the ball to him and getting out of the way. Young can't catch a break, whether it's Rice in front of him on the depth chart or Tim Brown stepping in front of him on kickoff returns. We will see more of Lovelace, but it'd be nice for the backup running back to get some reps, just in case.

3. There's a fine line between getting your stats and running it up. What should be the goal of Rutgers for Ray Rice (100, 150, 200 yards) and how long should he play?

TL: The score and the tenor of the game -- not Rice's rushing yardage -- will dictate how long Rice plays. The fine line really is between getting your starters enough work to stay sharp, especially with a bye week coming up, and making sure you get out of a game like this healthy. Rice may play the first series of the second half if the games goes as I expect it will. Then he will get a nice ovation and take the rest of the day off. He may not need 20 carries to pile up solid rushing numbers.

SP: I'd say go for 200. There's no reason Rice shouldn't play well into the third quarter no matter what the score is. Look around the country -- these games are getting out of hand everywhere. The big boys in college football, a club Rutgers belongs to now, pay for the right to beat up on 1-AA teams. As long as Rutgers isn't throwing into the end zone in the fourth quarter, there won't be any hard feelings. Norfolk knows the drill.

AD: The goal is to get him a few carries and get him out of there. I can't fathom the backlash if Rice stays in one series too long and gets even a minor injury that keeps him out for one game.

4. The defense didn't bring its 'A' game in either of the first two games - though you could excuse both (they didn't force a turnover against Buffalo but held them to three points and Navy is Navy - an offense you only see once a year). Give me a way to measure their success in this one; should we look at points, total yards, turnovers ... you tell us.

TL: We will probably only be able to judge the defense off the first half, because that's as long as most of the starters figure to play. You want to see dominance in a game like this. You want to see some turnovers, but sacks and stuffing the run and making it nearly impossible for Norfolk State to function is what you want to look for. If Norfolk State has more than 140 yards of offense in the first half, the defense probably won't be happy. I think Rutgers will welcome the change back to a more traditional offense.

SP: This is another tough one to measure, but I'll throw one criteria out there: Get a shutout. Rutgers narrowly missed one last year against Howard, and playing a complete game (even if it's against an overmatched team) would be a confidence builder heading into the bye week.

AD: Keep an eye on penalties. There's no doubt that this is a talent mismatch, but stats can pile up in weird ways in a blowout. These guys are human, they will inevitably let up a little bit if they're winning by 30-40 points. You'll have a good idea of whether the players are doing their respective jobs the right way if the yellow flags stay in the referees' pockets. The 20 penalties accumulated in the team's first two games are very uncharacteristic, and not a good sign for tougher opponents. If we see the disciplined Rutgers again, it bodes well for the future.

5. Scrimmages (and games against 1-AA teams) are chances to work on different things. Anything we should look out for?

TL: The Norfolk State band. Rutgers' band has a score to settle after being soundly whipped by Howard's band last year. Reports are this was a good recruiting year for Norfolk State in brass section.

Injuries will be one thing to monitor. Seeing some backups get extensive time is another. It will be interesting to watch MLB Ryan D'Imperio if he plays for the first time since breaking his leg in three places in the spring. If he shows the mobility he needs, he could wind up as the starter by mid-season. Try not to blink too much in the first half. Rutgers should be able to break off some big plays that fans will not want to miss.

SP: For starters, look for more players to rotate in and out of this game than anyone all year. This is a good chance for the third stringers to get some valuable time on the field. If there's a starter who I'd like to see get passes thrown his way, it's Tim Brown, who is still recovering from a broken hand. He would have had his first touchdown against Navy if not for pass interference -- look for him to get his first this weekend.

AD: I've heard people questioning how "for real" Mike Teel's first two games were, playing against lesser defenses and throwing to superior talent. If it's smoke and mirrors, then that's fine, but every statistically impressive game he puts up can only help his confidence. If Teel and his crew of receivers continue to put up big numbers, even against this defense, it's a good sign.

6. Give us a score: at the half ... and a final.

TL: Rutgers 45, Norfolk State 0 at the half; Rutgers 62, Norfolk State 7 as the final.

SP: I'll go with Rutgers 31-7 at the half and Rutgers 52-7 final.

AD: Halftime: 35-0. Final: 45-0. Um, I'm picking Rutgers, by the way.

Rutgers taking Norfolk State very seriously

Photo: NSU celebrating win over VSU.

Scarlet Knights remember loss to I-AA New Hampshire

By KEITH SARGEANT, Courier News

PISCATAWAY -- If Greg Schiano is looking to warn his players not to letdown against Norfolk State this week, he won't use Appalachian State as proof that teams from the former Division I-AA ranks can upset major-league competition.

There's no need. The Rutgers University football coach has his own experience to draw back on, and it's right there in the memory banks of his veteran players as well.

"What was New Hampshire, three years ago?'' defensive tackle Eric Foster asked, not knowing exactly when the 35-24 setback to New Hampshire happened but remembering the details nonetheless.

"It's happened here before,'' the fifth-year senior added. "I was here for that. It was a tough loss. It didn't feel good at all, so I can imagine how those guys at Michigan feel.''

It's a feeling that Foster certainly doesn't want to experience again. That's why Rutgers' captain isn't shying away from reminding teammates of the New Hampshire defeat, even though it happened in the days when Rutgers wasn't far from Division I-AA caliber.

It's different now, of course, and Mike Teel believes one reason why is because the team's mind-set has changed.

"The biggest thing that's changed in this program is how we're competing against ourselves,'' Rutgers' quarterback said. "It doesn't matter if it's Norfolk State, if it's Louisville or if it's Maryland. We're playing our football team and we're trying to be the best that we can be.''

In Foster's mind, the Scarlet Knights are facing a Top 25 opponent this Saturday, one that hasn't lived up to its No.‚13 ranking despite decisively winning the past two weeks.

"It's Rutgers vs. Rutgers,'' he said. "We didn't play Buffalo, we didn't play Navy. We competed against ourselves. The ball is in our hands. We control our own fate. And we're not going to let overconfidence get in the way of Norfolk State because they're a I-AA team. We're competing against ourselves and we evaluate ourselves based on how we compete.''

Mistakes were evident in the form of a Big East-high 20 penalties through two games, several missed defensive assignments and a couple dropped passes for touchdowns, Schiano said.

"We haven't played to the level that we expect of ourselves,'' he offered. "So that's the challenge, but I don't think it's because we're playing a Division I-AA opponent. I think if we play our best, we can have the chance to beat any team in the country.

"The problem,'' he added, "is we haven't played our best, yet. Our task at hand is to play the best that we can be and see where that puts us.''

While he acknowleged a game plan exists for Norfolk State, one that includes tendencies of what the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe does well and what Rutgers will try to exploit, linebacker Brandon Renkart said it's how the Scarlet Knights compete that will determine their Homecoming success.

"It really doesn't matter what league a team is from because any team on any given day can win,'' Renkart said. "I mean, on paper everyone says, 'Yeah, they should blow them out,' but if you have an off day, anything can happen. We're really in competition with ourselves.''