2007 Season Notebook
Jan 11 | Football
For the first time in 138 seasons of football at Rutgers University, the Scarlet Knights played in a bowl for the third consecutive season with their appearance in the 2008 International Bowl.
Rutgers won its second straight bowl - another first in school history - with a 52-30 victory over Ball State in the International Bowl.
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The 2007 Scarlet Knights are the first team in NCAA history to have a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in the same season.
Rutgers, 2007
Mike Teel (3,147 passer)
Ray Rice (2,012 rusher)
Kenny Britt (1,232 receiver)
Tiquan Underwood (1,100 receiver)
Only two other teams in NCAA history have had a 2,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher and one 1,000-yard receiver.
Oklahoma St., 1988
Mike Gundy [2,163 passer)
Barry Sanders [2,628 rusher)
Hart Lee Dykes [1,278 receiver]
Texas, 1998
Major Applewhite [2,453 passer]
Ricky Williams [2,124 rusher]
Wane McGarity [1,087 receiver]
Eight Wins 'On the Banks'
Rutgers finished the season with an 8-5 record after the International Bowl victory vs. Ball State. For just the second time since 1980, the Scarlet Knights recorded an eight-win season. It was also the 12th time in 138 seasons of football at Rutgers the Scarlet Knights reached the eight-win plateau.
Starting a Bowl Tradition
Before head coach Greg Schiano's arrival at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights played in one bowl game in 131 seasons of football. In seven seasons at the helm of the program, Schiano has guided Rutgers to three straight bowl games.
The Scarlet Knights are one of 34 teams to play in three consecutive bowls. Among BCS members, Rutgers was one of 25 schools to play in three straight bowl games and just one of three BIGEAST programs to play in three consecutive bowls (Rutgers, West Virginia, USF). All-time, Rutgers is 2-2 in postseason play.
Rutgers Bowl History
1978 Garden State Bowl - Arizona St. 34, Rutgers 18
2005 Insight Bowl - Arizona St. 45, Rutgers 40
2006 Texas Bowl - Rutgers 37, Kansas St. 10
2008 International Bowl - Rutgers 52, Ball State 30
Best Three-Year Run in BIG EAST Play
Since the BIG EAST Football Conference was formed in 1991, Rutgers has enjoyed its best three-year stretch from 2005-07.
The Scarlet Knights have won 12 conference games over the last three seasons, equaling their total of 12 victories combined from 1993-2004.
Thanks for the Memories
The 2007 senior class recorded the seventh-most victories for a senior class in school history.
Senior Class Win Totals
1. 1978 - 37, 1 bowl appearance
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2. 1979 - 36
3. 1977 - 35
4. 1976 - 33
5. 1980 - 32
6. 1961 - 31
7. 2007 - 30, 3 bowl appearances
New Attendance Record at Rutgers
For the second consecutive season, Rutgers established new single-game and season attendance records at Rutgers Stadium. The most fans in school history - 349,306 - entered the gates at Rutgers Stadium in 2007 to watch the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers averaged a school-record 43,663 fans per game in 2007. It marked only the second time in school history the Scarlet Knights averaged over 40,000 fans per game. The 2006 season featured a single-game average of 41,112 fans.
The Scarlet Knights have played in front of 10 consecutive sell-out crowds at home, the longest streak of consecutive sell-outs in school history.
Rutgers 500
In 2007, Rutgers posted five of the top 10 total offensive performances during the Greg Schiano era.
Top Total Offense Games of the Schiano Era
Date Opponent Total Offense
1/5/08 vs. Ball State 595
11/26/05 Cincinnati 574
8/30/07 Buffalo 563
10/13/07 at Syracuse 538
9/15/07 Norfolk State 537
10/20/01 Navy 533
12/27/05 vs. Arizona State 532
9/3/05 at Illinois 517
10/18/03 Pittsburgh 516
11/3/07 at Connecticut 511
Rice Opts for NFL Draft
Two-time Rutgers All-America running back Ray Rice has elected to forego his final year of eligibility and enter the 2008 NFL Draft. The nation's third-leading rusher in 2007, Rice rushed for 2,012 yards and scored 25 touchdowns this season to lead Rutgers to its second-consecutive bowl victory.
. Rice's career 'On the Banks' will go down in the history books as one of the best in Rutgers and BIG EAST history. In 38 career games, Rice rushed for 4,926 yards and scored 50 touchdowns (49 rushing). He is the second-leading rusher in BIG EAST history and the all-time leading rusher in Rutgers' history.
Rice became the first player in Rutgers and BIG EAST history and the 13th player in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season with 2,012 in 2007.
In his final game as a Scarlet Knight, he saved his best performance for last, rushing for a school-record 280 yards and four touchdowns, including a 90-yard touchdown run.
Rice leaves Rutgers as the school's all-time leader in 100-yard games (25), 200-yard games (6), career rushing yards (4,926), career rushing attempts (910), career rushing touchdowns (49), single-season rushing yards (2,012 in 2007), single-season rushing touchdowns (24 in 2007), single-season rushing attempts (380 in 2007), single-game rushing yards (280 vs. Ball State, 2008 International Bowl), single-season scoring (150 points in 2007), single-season all-purpose yards (2,251 in 2007), consecutive 100-yard games (8 in 2007), longest rushing touchdown (90 vs. Ball State, 2008 International Bowl) and tied the school record for longest run from scrimmage (90 vs. Ball State, 2008 International Bowl).
He is second in BIG EAST history in career rushing attempts, career rushing yards, 100-yard games and third in career touchdowns. He is the BIG EAST single-season record holder with 2,012 yards in 2007 and is the only running back in BIG EAST history to lead the conference in rushing in two consecutive seasons.
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Rutgers wide receivers Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt each went over the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards this season with their total in the first half at Louisville. It marked just the 26th time in NCAA history and the first time in BIG EAST history two players from the same team had 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
The pair also became the second and third players in Rutgers history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season. The first Scarlet Knight to achieve the feat was Tres Moses, who posted 1,056 yards in 2004.
The 1,232 yards receiving by Britt led the BIG EAST in 2007 and was the fifth-best total in single-season history by a BIG EAST player. Underwood ended the season second in RU history with 1,100 yards receiving.
2007 Season in the Record Books
The 2007 season for the Rutgers offense will go down as one of the most prolific in school history. The Scarlet Knights this season were just one of eight teams in 138 years of football at Rutgers to score 300 points in a season.
Rutgers set school records for scoring (426), first downs (294) and total offense (5,841) in 2007.
The Judge Closes Out Stellar Career
Senior PK Jeremy Ito tied his career long and set an International Bowl record with a successful 53-yard field goal. It was the second-longest in school history, two yards shy of the school record. It is also the fifth-longest in BIG EAST history.
Ito also broke the school single-season record for field goals with his 23rd field goal of the season vs. Ball State.
Ito is one of six players in NCAA history to record at least 80 career field goals. The all-time scoring leader in Rutgers and BIG EAST history, Ito finished with his career with 400 points (fifth in NCAA history).
Airing it Out
Junior QB Mike Teel set a new school record with 20 touchdown passes in 2007. He also finished second in single-season school history with 3,147 yards passing.
Teel is the second player in Rutgers history with three consecutive 300-yard passing games. Ryan Hart (2002-05) holds the school record for consecutive 300-yard passing games with seven during the 2004 season.
Teel is second in Rutgers history with six, 300-yard passing games.
The 'Chop Shop'
A school-record crowd of 44,267 were in attendance as the Scarlet Knights upset No. 2 USF 30-27 on Oct. 18. The Scarlet Knights have posted the eight largest crowds in school history over the last two seasons.
Currently, the growing waiting list for season tickets is over 9,500. The Scarlet Knights sold-out all of their home games in 2007 and have played in front of 10 consecutive sell-outs at Rutgers Stadium.
Top Crowds in Rutgers Stadium History
1. RU 30, #2 USF 27 (10/18/07) 44,267
2. #14 RU 28, #3 Louisville 25 (11/9/06) 44,111
3. Maryland 34, #10 RU 24 (9/29/07) 43,803
4. #15 RU 38, Syracuse 7 (11/25/06) 43,791
5. #20 Cincinnati 28, #21 RU 23 (10/6/07) 43,768
6. #6 WVU 31, #25 RU 3 (10-/27/07) 43,620
7. #13 RU 59, Norfolk State 0 (9/15/07) 43,712
8. RU 20, Pitt 16 (11/17/07) 43,531
9. #15 RU 44, Navy 21 (9/7/07) 43,514
10. #16 RU 38, Buffalo 3 (8/30/07) 43,091
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RAY RICE - Doak Walker Finalist, Maxwell Award Semifinalist, Unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST selection, Walter Camp Foundation Second Team All-American, The Sporting News Second Team All-American, Associated Press Second Team All-American, SI.com Second Team All-American, Rivals.com First Team All-American, Scout.com Second Team All-American, College Football News All-BIG EAST, Rivals.com First Team All-BIG EAST
ERIC FOSTER - First Team All-BIG EAST selection, The Sporting News Second Team All-American, Rivals.com Second Team All-BIG EAST
COURTNEY GREENE - Second Team All-BIG EAST selectionKENNY BRITT - Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, College Football News First Team Sophomore All-American, College Football News All-BIG EAST, Rivals.com Second Team All-BIG EAST
ANTHONY DAVIS - FWAA Freshman All-American, The Sporting News First Team Freshman All-American, College Football News Second Team Freshman All-American, Rivals.com First Team Freshman All-American, Scout.com Second Team Freshman All-American, Rivals.com Freshman All-BIG EAST
JOE LEFEGED - The Sporting News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American, Scout.com Honorable Mention Freshman All-American, Rivals.com Freshman All-BIG EAST
PEDRO SOSA - Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, College Football News All-BIG EAST, Rivals.com First Team All-BIG EAST
JEREMY ZUTTAH - First Team All-BIG EAST selection, College Football News All-BIG EAST, Rivals.com Second Team All-BIG EAST
TIQUAN UNDERWOOD - First Team All-BIG EAST selection
BRANDON RENKART - National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete, Draddy Trophy Finalist, Robert A. Simms National Scholar-Athlete, ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-American
MIKE FLADELL - Rivals.com First Team All-BIG EAST
JEREMY ITO - Rivals.com First Team All-BIG EAST
