MISSION STATEMENT
RUTGERS (2-1) at MARYLAND (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 26 3:30 p.m.
Byrd Stadium, College Park, Md.
Series Record: Maryland leads, 6-3
Last Meeting: Maryland 34, #10 Rutgers 24
Television: None
Internet Broadcast: ESPN360.com
Radio: Rutgers Football Radio Network
Affiliates: WOR 710-AM (New York City); WCTC 1450-AM (Central Jersey) Pre-game show begins at 2:30 p.m.
Gametracker Statistics: ScarletKnights.com
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7 FM
Satellite Radio:Sirius Channel 125; XM Channel 241
In a series that began in 1904, Rutgers will travel to Maryland’s home field in College Park for the first time Saturday as the Scarlet Knights visit the Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. Maryland leads the all-time series 6-3 as Rutgers visits the Old Line State for the first time since 1942.
Rutgers looks to extend its winning streak to three games Saturday after last week’s 23-15 victory over Florida International at Rutgers Stadium. Maryland looks to bounce back from a tough 32-31 setback to Middle Tennessee State after the Blue Raiders kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired.
There is no live television for Saturday’s game, but ESPN360.com will broadcast the game live via the Internet. Jim Barbar and Jeremy Bloom have the call.
The Rutgers Radio Network has pre-game coverage at 2:30 p.m. Chris Carlin, Ray Lucas and Anthony Fucilli will call the action.
Rutgers to Participate in Coach to Cure MD Saturday at Maryland
Coach to Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a professional organization for over 10,000 college football coaches and staff, and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One reason the AFCA was drawn to Coach to Cure MD was because of the unique parallels between Duchenne, a disorder which robs young men of precious muscle strength, and college football, a game where young men are at the peak of their muscle strength.
The goals of Coach to Cure MD are simple: raise national awareness of the disorder and raise money to fund research for a cure. On September 26, thousands of coaches nationwide in all levels of collegiate football will come together by wearing a Coach to Cure MD patch on their left arm in support of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most prolific genetic killer diagnosed in childhood.
Rutgers players and coaches will wear the patch Saturday at Maryland.
Series Information
Maryland holds a 6-3 advantage in the series. The two teams last met in 2007 as the Terps upset then 10th-ranked Rutgers 34-24 at Rutgers Stadium. Prior to the 2007 meeting, the last time the two schools met was in 1942.
The two games Rutgers has played at Maryland were at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Md.
Rutgers is 20-56-1 all-time vs. current ACC members.
Rutgers-Maryland Series
Date Result Location
11/12/1904 L, 10-0 Neilson Field
10/2/1920 W, 6-0 Neilson Field
10/1/1921 L, 3-0 Neilson Field
10/10/1925 L, 16-0 Philadelphia, Pa.
10/21/1939 W, 25-12 Rutgers Stadium
11/30/1940 L, 14-7 Baltimore, Md.
11/1/1941 W, 20-0 Rutgers Stadium
10/10/1942 L, 27-13 Baltimore, Md.
9/29/2007 L, 34-24 Rutgers Stadium
Opening on the Road in Maryland Again
For the second straight year, Rutgers’ first road game of the season is in the state of Maryland. Last season, Navy upset the Scarlet Knights 23-21 in Annapolis.
Rutgers is 3-5 under Greg Schiano in the first road game of the season. The Scarlet Knights are 2-1 in their first road game of the season over the last three seasons.
Road Openers vs. the ACC
For the fourth time in school history, Rutgers will play its first road game of the season at an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The last time Rutgers played its first road game of the season at an ACC foe was Sept. 2, 2006 at North Carolina. The Scarlet Knights stopped the Tar Heels 21-16.
Road Openers vs. the ACC
Date Opponent/Result Location
9/2/2006 UNC/W, 21-16 Chapel Hill, N.C.
9/9/1995 Duke/L, 24-14 Durham, N.C.
9/4/1991 Duke/L, 42-22 Durham, N.C.
Game #100 is in the Win Column
Greg Schiano became the fourth coach in 140 years of Rutgers football to coach at least 100 games for the Scarlet Knights. John Bateman guided the Scarlet Knights for 13 seasons and has coached the most games in school history - 124.
Schiano’s 100th game was a 23-15 victory over Florida International. The game was also the first for Schiano vs. a former assistant in Mario Cristobal of FIU. Cristobal served on Schiano’s staff at Rutgers from 2001-03.
Rutgers Head Coaches with 100 Games
Head Coach Record Years at RU Games
John Bateman 73-51 1960-72124
Frank Burns 78-43-1 1973-83122
Harvey Harman 74-44-2 1938-41. 46-55 120
Greg Schiano 48-52 2001-present 100
Inside the 100
Greg Schiano has had a remarkable turnaround during his tenure at Rutgers. After starting 15-35 overall in his first 50 games, Schiano is 33-17 in his last 50 games, including four consecutive bowls for the Scarlet Knights.
Overall BIG EAST
Games 1-50 15-35 4-24
Games 51-100 33-17 16-12
Total 48-52 20-36
Going Back Home
Saturday’s game will be a special one for nine Scarlet Knights that call the Maryland/Washington, D.C. metropolitan area home.
Seven Scarlet Knights are from Maryland, including two starters - RB Jourdan Brooks and SS Joe Lefeged.
In addition, Rutgers has a pair of players from Woodbridge, Va., just a short drive around the Beltway.
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BROOKS
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Scarlet Knights from Maryland
Jourdan Brooks - Germantown, Md. (Seneca Valley HS)
Andrew DePaola - Parkton, Md. (Hereford HS)
Nick DePaola - Parkton, Md. (Hereford HS)
Darrell Givens - Fort Washington, Md. (Lackey HS)
Joe Lefeged - Germantown, Md. (Northwest HS)
Tyrone Putman - Fort Washington, Md. (Gonzaga HS)
Wayne Warren - Salisbury, Md. (Wicomico HS)
Scarlet Knights from Virginia
Morgan Carter - Woodbridge, Va. (C.D. Hylton HS)
De’Antwan Williams - Woodbridge, Va. (Woodbridge HS)
September Success
Rutgers is 21-15 under Schiano during the month of September, including a 14-6 mark since 2005.
The Scarlet Knights are 11-4 at home in the month of September since 2005.
Shutout in Three Straight Seasons
Rutgers is one of five teams in the nation to record a shutout in each of the last three seasons. In 2006, Rutgers blanked Illinois and Navy. In 2007, Norfolk State was shutout and Morgan State was held scoreless in 2008.
Rutgers - (2006: Illinois and Navy; 2007: Norfolk State; 2008: Morgan State)
Boise State - (2006: Sacramento State; 2007: New Mexico State and Utah State; 2008: New Mexico State)
Southern California - (2006: Stanford; 2007: Notre Dame; 2008: Arizona State, Washington State and Washington)
Troy - (2006: Alabama State; 2007: Arkansas State; 2008: Alcorn State)
Virginia - (2006: Duke and North Carolina; 2007: Miami; 2008: Richmond and Maryland)
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SAVAGE
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Savage Era Begins in Impressive Fashion
Tom Savage was the fifth quarterback in school history to start as a true freshman for the Scarlet Knights and became just the second true freshman QB to win a game for the Scarlet Knights in RU’s 45-7 win over Howard. He joined Ryan Hart (2002/4 starts), Ryan Cubit (2001/11 starts), Mike McMahon (1997/5 starts) and Jacque LaPrairie (1981/1 start) as the only true freshmen to start at quarterback in school history for Rutgers.
True Freshman Quarterbacks During the Schiano Era
Greg Schiano has played three true freshmen at quarterback during his tenure as head coach - Tom Savage in 2009, Ryan Cubit in 2001 and Ryan Hart in 2002.
Savage made his Scarlet Knight debut vs. Cincinnati in the season-opener. The true freshman was 15-of-23 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown vs. the Bearcats.
Savage, a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at quarterback for head coach Dan Algeo at Cardinal O’Hara High School, was rated as the No. 3 pro style quarterback in the nation by Tom Lemming -MaxPreps.com and the No. 8 pro style quarterback nationally by SuperPrep Magazine.
True Freshman QB Debuts During the Schiano Era
QB Result/Opponent A-C-I Yards TDs
Ryan Cubit W/Buffalo (8/30/01)* 23-11-2 157 2
Tom Savage^ L/Cincinnati (9/7/09) 23-15-0 135 1
Ryan Hart# L/Syracuse (10/26/02) 6-0-0 0 0
* First game coached by Greg Schiano at Rutgers
^ Played, but did not start vs. Cincinnati
# Played, but did not start vs. Syracuse
Record-Setting First Start for Savage
Tom Savage finished the Howard game 8-for-13 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Savage set a Rutgers school record for yards per completion by a true freshman QB with 27.8 yards per completion. He broke the single-game record set by Ryan Cubit vs. Navy in 2001, when Cubit passed for an average of 25.1 yards per completion vs. the Mids (13-of-20, 327 yards).
The 223 yards passing was the fifth-best single-game total in school history by a true freshman.
One of Four True Freshmen Nationally
Tom Savage is one of four true freshman QBs to serve as the primary starter in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He leads all true freshmen nationally with 543 passing yards in 2009.
2009 True freshman QB starters in the Football Bowl Subdivision
QB/School GP C-A-I Pct. Yards TD Long
Tom Savage – Rutgers 3 34-64-0 53.1 543 3 68
Tate Forcier – Michigan 3 43-66-1 65.2 487 5 44
Matt Barkley – USC 2 30-50-1 60.0 428 1 44
Trent Steelman – Army 3 7-18-0 38.9 94 1 24
What Can Brown Do for You?
Tim Brown has continued to get better and better as his career has progressed at Rutgers. The senior WR leads the team with 349 yards receiving in 2009. Brown also leads RU in yards per reception (24.9) and receiving yards per game (116.3).
Brown leads all BIGEAST receivers in yards per reception and ranks second in the conference in receiving yards per game.
Below is a year-by-year breakdown of Brown’s receiving yards per game:
Tim Brown Year-by-Year
Year GP Rec. Yards Avg. TD Yards Per Game
2006 10 8 202 25.2 3 20.2
2007 12 24 340 14.2 2 28.3
2008 13 27 565 20.9 6 43.5
2009 3 14 349 24.9 1 116.3
Sensational Start for Sanu
Mohamed Sanu became the first true freshman to start at wide receiver for the Scarlet Knights in his first game in the Greg Schiano era. Sanu is also the only player on the current roster to start as a true freshman in his first game as a Scarlet Knight.
Sanu caught the most passes by a true freshman WR in his first career start at Rutgers with 10 receptions for 101 yards vs. Cincinnati.
Sanu is just the fourth true freshman to start at wide receiver for Rutgers since Greg Schiano became head coach in 2001.
True Freshmen WR in First Career Start during Schiano Era
WR Opponent Rec. Yards TD
Mohamed Sanu Cincinnati (9/7/09) 10 101 0
Kenny Britt Pitt (10/21/06) 0 0 0
Tim Brown K-State (12/28/06) 4 101 2
Shawn Tucker WVU (10/12/02) 1 17 0
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BROWN
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Touchdown Brown
Tim Brown is tied for eighth in school history with 12 career touchdown receptions. The big-play threat from Miami ended the 2008 season with six touchdown catches, the 10th-best single-season total in RU history.
Brown has averaged 42.1 yards per touchdown reception during his career. Labeled the “most dangerous deep threat in the BIGEAST” by Lindy’s, Brown finished second on the team in 2008 with 27 receptions for 565 yards.
He has averaged 19.2 yards per reception for his career, including 20.9 per reception in 2008 and 24.9 in 2009.
Brown is also tied for fourth in school history with six career 100-yard receiving games.
Rutgers Career 100-Yard Receiving Game Leaders
1. Kenny Britt (2006-08) 14
2. Tres Moses (2001-05)7
2. Marco Battaglia (1992-95) 7
4. Tim Brown (2006-present) 6
4. Tiquan Underwood (2005-08)6
Quick Strike Attack
Rutgers had four touchdown drives of two plays or less in the first half, both in the second quarter vs. Howard. The Scarlet Knights had two, two-play drives encompassing 67 yards and six yards and two, one-play drives encompassing 68 and 57 yards.
Rutgers last had four touchdown drives of two plays or less at Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, 2008. QB Mike Teel orchestrated three, one-play drives and one two-play TD drive versus the Panthers.
200 On the Ground
For the 20th time since Kyle Flood joined the squad in 2005 as offensive line coach, the Scarlet Knights rushed for 200 yards in a game with 245 yards on the ground in the Howard victory.
The Scarlet Knights averaged 5.6 yards per carry vs. the Bison, including 7.3 yards per carry for sophomore RB Jourdan Brooks (124 yards, 3 TDs).
Brooks equaled a career-high with the three touchdowns and posted his third career 100-yard game in the win.
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JEFFERSON
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The Rocket
True freshman De’Antwan Williams started his collegiate career on a good note with 89 rushing yards on 14 carries vs. Howard. The Woodbridge, Va., native averaged 6.4 yards per carry vs. the Bison.
DC to TE
Redshirt freshman D.C. Jefferson has made a successful transition from quarterback to tight end for the Scarlet Knights. After moving to tight end in preseason camp, Jefferson earned the starting job vs. Howard and is currently listed as the starter on the depth chart.
Jefferson hauled in a 46-yard pass from Tom Savage on the first football thrown his way.
Jefferson has two receptions on the season for 81 yards.
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DAVIS
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AD Preseason All-American
Junior Anthony Davis arrived at Rutgers as the No. 1 recruit in the state of New Jersey and a five-star recruit according to several recruiting services. The Piscataway, N.J., native has not disappointed during his time “On the Banks” and was named a Preseason All-American by Athlon Sports in 2009.
Regarded as the “best pass-blocking tackle in the nation” by The Sporting News, Davis was a Second Team All-BIGEAST selection in 2008.
Just 19 years old, Davis started as a 17-year old true freshman for the Scarlet Knights at right guard before moving to left tackle in 2008.
Continued Success in the BIG EAST
The 2008 senior class for Rutgers was 17-11 in BIG EAST play over the last four seasons.
The 17 wins are the most over a four-year span in Rutgers’ BIG EAST history.
Last season’s winning record in the league marks the fourth time since joining the BIGEAST in 1991 that Rutgers finished with a winning record.
Greg Schiano has guided three of the squads with winning records in league play - 2005 (4-3), 2006 (5-2) and 2008 (5-2).
The Scarlet Knights finished tied for second in the BIG EAST with a 5-2 league record, with the two losses coming on the road in the first two conference games of the year at Cincinnati and at West Virginia by a combined 10 points.
BIG EAST Best Records since 2005
1. West Virginia 22-6
2. Rutgers 17-12
Cincinnati 17-12
4. Louisville 15-13
5. Pittsburgh 14-14
USF 14-14
7. Connecticut 11-17
8. Syracuse 3-25
Starting a Bowl Tradition
Before Greg Schiano’s arrival at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights played in one bowl game in 131 seasons of football. In his first eight seasons at the helm of the program, Schiano has guided Rutgers to four consecutive bowl games.
The Scarlet Knights are one of 31 teams to play in four consecutive bowls. Among BCS members, Rutgers is one of 21 schools to play in four straight bowl games and just one of three BIGEAST programs to play in four consecutive bowls (Rutgers, West Virginia, USF).
All-time, Rutgers is 3-2 in postseason play.
Three Bowl Victories in Three Seasons
Rutgers is one of 11 teams nationally to win three bowl championships over the last three seasons. The Scarlet Knights are one of only nine teams from a BCS conference to win three bowls over the previous three years.
In the BIGEAST, only Rutgers and West Virginia have won three straight bowls in the last three years.
The “Chop Shop”
A school-record crowd was in attendance on Labor Day as the Scarlet Knights opened the season vs. Cincinnati.
Over the last three years, Rutgers is 18-6 at home. Since taking over as head coach in 2001, Greg Schiano’s teams are 27-22 at Rutgers Stadium.
Top Crowds in Rutgers Stadium History
1. Cincinnati 47, Rutgers 15 (9/7/09) 53,737
2. Rutgers 23, FIU 15 (9/19/09) 45,273
3. Rutgers 30, #2 USF 27 (10/18/07) 44,267
4. #14 RU 28, #3 Lou. 25 (11/9/06) 44,111
5. Maryland 34, #10 Rutgers 24 (9/29/07) 43,803
6. #15 Rutgers 38, Syracuse 7 (11/25/06)43,791
7. #20 UC 28, #21 RU 23 (10/6/07) 43,768
8. Rutgers 45, Howard 7 (9/12/09) 43,722
9. #13 Rutgers 59, Norfolk State 0 (9/15/07) 43,712
10. #6 WVU 31, #25 Rutgers 3 (10-/27/07) 43,620
Three Freshmen On ESPNU Top 150 List
Rutgers was the only school in the BIGEAST to have three of the nation’s top 150 recruits on the ESPNU150 Class of 2009. Freshman CB Darrell Givens was rated as the nation’s No. 61 recruit, Tom Savage was rated No. 125 and freshman DT Antwan Lowery was the No. 134 on the top 150 list nationally.
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BEAUHARNAIS
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2009 Recruiting Class Ranked Among Nation’s Top 25
Rutgers 2009 recruiting class was ranked as the best in the BIGEAST and the No. 21 class nationally according to ESPN’s Scouts, Inc.
Eight members of that recruiting class have played as true freshmen for the Scarlet Knights in 2009:
Steve Beauharnais, LB (Saddle Brook, N.J.)
Ka’Lial Glaud, LB (Atco, N.J.)
Duron Harmon, DB (Magnolia, Del.)
Mark Harrison, WR (Stratford, Conn.)
Mohamed Sanu, WR (South Brunswick, N.J.)
Tom Savage, QB (Springfield, Pa.)
Tony Trahan, TE (Coppell, Texas)
De’Antwan Williams, RB (Woodbridge, Va.)
Rutgers in the NFL
As of September 10, 17 former Scarlet Knights are on NFL rosters, including 16 Scarlet Knights who were coached by Greg Schiano.
Kenny Britt became the first Scarlet Knight in school history to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft after the Titans selected him with the 30th overall pick.
Five members of last season’s team are currently on NFL rosters, including four players on their respective team’s 53-man rosters.
Current Scarlet Knights in the NFL
Gary Brackett (1999-02)* Indianapolis
Kenny Britt (2006-08)* Tennessee
Eric Foster (2003-07) Indianapolis
Gary Gibson (2001-04) St. Louis
Nate Jones (2000-03) Miami
Brian Leonard (2002-06)Cincinnati
Jason McCourty (2005-08) Tennessee
Shaun O'Hara (1997-99)* N.Y. Giants
J'Vonne Parker (2004) Denver
Ray Rice (2005-07)* Baltimore
L.J. Smith (1999-02) Baltimore
Darnell Stapleton (2005-06) Pittsburgh
Cameron Stephenson (2003-06)Jacksonville
Mike Teel (2004-08) Seattle
Jamaal Westerman (2004-08) N.Y. Jets
Tiquan Underwood (2005-08) Jacksonville
Jeremy Zuttah (2004-07)* Tampa Bay
*Denotes starter
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SANU
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2009 First Time Starters
A total of 11 Scarlet Knights have made their debut in the starting lineup in 2009. Five of the 11 are freshmen, including a pair of true freshmen:
Player, Year, Position Start(s)
Brandon Bing, Jr., CB vs. Cincinnati, Howard
Marcus Cooper, R-Fr., WR vs. FIU
D.C. Jefferson, R-Fr., TEvs. Howard, FIU
Antonio Lowery, Jr., WLB vs. Cincinnati, Howard, FIU
Domenic Natale, 5th-Sr., QB vs. Cincinnati
Charlie Noonan, R-Jr., DT vs. Cincinnati, Howard, FIU
David Rowe, So., CB vs. FIU
Mohamed Sanu, Fr., WR vs. Cincinnati, Howard, FIU
Tom Savage, Fr., QB vs. Howard, FIU
Scott Vallone, R-Fr., DT vs. Cincinnati, Howard, FIU
Desmond Wynn, R-So., OG vs. FIU
