By Mark Pszonak
Most casual college football fans have a few engrained thoughts in mind. Two are that good teams are always good, like Alabama and Ohio State, and that bad teams are always bad, like Rutgers and Vanderbilt. But a funny thing is happening in Piscataway, New Jersey, as Rutgers is 4-0 and making waves. And full credit should be given to Greg Schiano, who is making Rutgers relevant for the second time this century.
First, a history lesson. Rutgers did have some success in the 1970’s under head coach Frank Burns, including an 11-0 season in 1976, but this was when the Scarlet Knights were Independent and playing schools like Bucknell, Lehigh, Colgate and Princeton. Dick Anderson followed that up with two winning seasons in the 1980’s before Doug Graber helped transition the program into the Big East. Graber’s time showed some potential, including going 13-9 in his first two seasons, but when he was let go in 1994 in favor of Terry Shea everything completely derailed.
In five seasons in Piscataway, Coach Shea, a Californian with limited ties to the region, won 11 games and lost 44. At this point officially a national joke, after becoming an annual whipping boy for Miami, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Boston College, Rutgers turned to Greg Schiano in 2001, a 35-year-old defensive coordinator with Miami.
After starting 3-20 during his first two seasons, signs of improvement began emerging in 2003 and 2004 when the Scarlet Knights went 9-14, which included wins over Syracuse and Michigan State. Tangible signs of success arrived in 2005 when Rutgers finished 7-5 and made their first bowl since 1978.
Next was the most successful and important season in Rutgers’ history. The Scarlet Knights finished 11-2, which included a memorable home victory over #3 Louisville and their first bowl win ever. Four more bowls followed, all wins, in the next five seasons. But then the unexpected happened – Coach Schiano bolted to the NFL days before the 2012 National Signing Day.
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Coach Kyle Flood took over the program, with three more bowl games over the next four seasons. He was also in charge when Rutgers officially became a member of the Big Ten, something that never would’ve happened if not for Coach Schiano’s success at the program. However, as Coach Schiano’s players gradually saw their eligibility run out, a decline began. And when Coach Flood was replaced by Coach Chris Ash, everything completely derailed once again.
Coach Ash quickly brought the program back to the Coach Shea years in the 1990’s. The Scarlet Knights went 8-32 during his time in charge and the program lost everything it had gained during Coach Schiano’s tenure.
So, suddenly in 2020, Rutgers was back to where it was in 2001. And they decided to bring back the man who dug them out of an immense hole the last time. Not surprisingly, it once again hasn’t been a smooth road, but suddenly light appeared at the end of the tunnel with a bowl game and victory last season.
After being able to retain most of their important players, which is no easy task in the age of the transfer portal, expectations were suddenly high around Piscataway that the 2024 season would resemble 2006.
And now at 4-0, with consecutive hard-fought victories at Virginia Tech and against Washington at home, fans in New Jersey are believing again. It hasn’t been pretty at times, but the talent is there to keep the momentum train moving in the right direction for the remainder of the season.
Part of that belief is because of Rutgers’ schedule this season. They avoid playing Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Oregon, Iowa and suddenly a sneaky good Indiana. But tests are coming, including this Saturday afternoon at Nebraska, but if the Scarlet Knights can navigate those hurdles, another special season is looming in Piscataway.
And all of that, once again, is because of Greg Schiano. Rutgers has never been an easy job, but somehow, he has figured out how to navigate all the difficulties successfully. And to do it twice deserves more attention and respect. For Rutgers fans, enjoy the rest of this season and your rejuvenated program, because you again have one because of one man.
