Scarlet Knights Game Preview - Army
Oct 11 | Football
ARMY (4-2) at RUTGERS (3-2)
Saturday, October 16 • 2:00 p.m. • ESPN3.com
New Meadowlands Stadium (82,566)
East Rutherford, N.J.
Series: Tied 18-18
TV: None
Internet Broadcast: ESPN3.com Bob Picozzi (play-by-play) Curt Warner (color)
Radio: Rutgers Radio Network
WOR-710 AM (New York City)
97.5 The Fanatic (Philadelphia)
WCTC-1450 AM (New Brunswick)
Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (color), Anthony Fucilli (sideline)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 129
The Game
Rutgers (3-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) closes out its 2010 non-conference schedule with a trip to the New Meadowlands Stadium Saturday to face Army (3-2). Saturday's game marks the first time since 1993 that both teams enter the game with winning records. The two teams will meet for the 37th time in a series that began in 1891. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN3.com.
Bob Picozzi (play-by-play) and Curt Warner (color) will be the game announcers for ESPN3.com.
The Rutgers Radio Network begins pre-game coverage at 1 p.m. as Chris Carlin calls the action with former Rutgers QB Ray Lucas (color analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline). The Rutgers Radio Network includes WOR-710 AM in New York City, WCTC-1450 AM in Central Jersey and 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia and South Jersey.
The Rutgers Radio Network feed is available nationally on Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 129). In addition, WRSU has complete coverage of the game on 88.7 FM in New Brunswick.
Head Coach Greg Schiano
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano (Bucknell '88) is in his 10th season with the Scarlet Knights. Schiano will be just the fourth coach in BIG EAST history to coach 10 seasons at the same school, joining Paul Pasqualoni (Syracuse, 14 years), Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech, 13 years) and Don Nehlen (West Virginia, 10 years). Schiano passed former Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien as the fifth-winningest coach all-time in victories in the BIG EAST (58-57) with the 27-24 victory over Connecticut.
Schiano will tie former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez for fourth place in BIG EAST history in coaching victories with two more victories.
The 2006 National and BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Schiano has guided Rutgers to a school-record five consecutive bowl appearances, including four straight bowl victories. Rutgers is just one of four schools in the nation to win four consecutive bowl games.
Rankings
Rutgers and Army are not ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.
Army Series
Two Eastern Football schools that are separated by just 76 miles will take to the field Saturday when Rutgers hosts Army at the New Meadowlands Stadium. The winner of the game will take the series lead after the two schools have split all 36 meetings (18-18).
Rutgers has won nine of the last 11 meetings, including six straight victories. Over the six-game winning streak vs. Army, Rutgers has outscored the Black Knights 185-55. Rutgers has scored 30 or more points in seven of the previous 11 meetings vs. Army.
Greg Schiano is 5-0 all-time vs. Army.
Up Next
Rutgers returns to BIG EAST play Oct. 23 at Pittsburgh. Kickoff is set for 12 noon with live television coverage on SNY as the BIG EAST Television Game of the Week. Additional TV clearances will be announced next week.
Rutgers Resumes History of Playing at the Meadowlands
Rutgers will add to its long history of playing at the Meadowlands as the Scarlet Knights host Army in the first college football game between Football Bowl Subdivision members Oct. 16.
The Scarlet Knights have played more games at the Meadowlands than any other collegiate team. The Scarlet Knights are 20-28 all-time at the Meadowlands, and played their entire 1993 home schedule in East Rutherford as Rutgers Stadium was renovated.
Today's matchup between the Scarlet Knights and the Black Knights represents the 37th matchup between the teams and their 10th game in the Meadowlands.
The Scarlet Knights last played at the Meadowlands on Oct. 12, 1996 vs. Army. Rutgers and Army have met nine times in East Rutherford, the most games vs. any opponent for the Scarlet Knights. In total, Rutgers has played 17 different opponents at the Meadowlands.
The New Meadowlands Stadium, home to the New York Jets and New York Giants, sets the standard for venue excellence, with state-of-the-art technology, comfort and amenities. The only active venue to serve as the home stadium for two NFL teams, the New Meadowlands hosts 20 NFL games per season, more than any other complex.
With a full seating capacity of 82,500, the New Meadowlands is the third-largest stadium in the National Football League, with wider concourses and more HD square footage than any other in North America.
Rutgers Results at the Meadowlands
Record: 20-28
Date Result
10-23-76 Rutgers 47, Columbia 0
11-18-76 Rutgers 17, Colgate 9
9-2-77 #13 Penn State 45, Rutgers 7
9-30-78 Rutgers 24, Princeton 0
10-28-78 Rutgers 69, Columbia 0
12-6-78 Arizona State 34, Rutgers 18*
11-10-79 Rutgers 20, Army 0
10-11-80 #1/1 Alabama 17, Rutgers 13
9-19-81 Rutgers 3, Virginia 0
11-7-81 #1/1 Pittsburgh 47, Rutgers 3
9-4-82 Syracuse 31, Rutgers 8
10-9-82 Rutgers 24, Army 3
11-11-82 #19/17 West Virginia 44, Rutgers 17
9-17-83 #20 Boston College 42, Rutgers 22
10-1-83 Penn State 36, Rutgers 25
10-29-83 Tennessee 7, Rutgers 0
10-13-84 Rutgers 14, Army 7
11-10-84 #19/18 West Virginia 23, Rutgers 19
9-28-85 #9/6 Penn State 17, Rutgers 10
10-5-85 Boston College 20, Rutgers 10
10-19-85 Pittsburgh 38, Rutgers 10
10-18-86 Florida 15, Rutgers 3
10-25-86 Rutgers 35, Army 7
11-8-86 West Virginia 24, Rutgers 17
9-26-87 Rutgers 19, Kentucky 18
10-3-87 Rutgers 7, Duke 0
11-7-87 Pittsburgh 17, Rutgers 0
9-17-88 Vanderbilt 31, Rutgers 30
10-22-88 Army 34, Rutgers 24
11-12-88 #4/4 West Virginia 35, Rutgers 25
9-16-89 Rutgers 9, Boston College 7
10-7-89 Penn State 17, Rutgers 0
9-8-90 Rutgers 24, Kentucky 8
9-29-90 #22/20 Michigan State 34, Rutgers 10
11-10-90 West Virginia 28, Rutgers 3
10-5-91 Rutgers 14, Army 12
10-26-91 #18/18 Syracuse 21, Rutgers 7
10-3-92 #8/6 Penn State 38, Rutgers 24
10-17-92 Rutgers 45, Army 10
9-4-93 Rutgers 68, Colgate 6
9-11-93 Rutgers 39, Duke 38
10-2-93 Rutgers 62, Temple 0
10-28-93 Pittsburgh 21, Rutgers 10
11-26-93 Syracuse 31, Rutgers 18
10-8-94 Rutgers 16, Army 14
9-23-95 #6/6 Penn State 59, Rutgers 34
10-12-96 Army 42, Rutgers 21
* Garden State Bowl
Closer Look at the Army Series
Series tied at 18 Home: 10-5,Road: 8-13
1891 aW 27-6
1900 aL 0-23
1911 aL 0-18
1912 aL 0-19
1913 aL 0-29
1914 aL 0-13
1965 aL 6-23
1966 hL 9-14
1967 aL 3-14
1968 hL 0-24
1971 aL 17-30
1972 hL 28-35
1979 gsW 20-0
1980 aW 37-21
1981 aW 17-0
1982 gsW 24-3
1983 aL 12-20
1984 gsW 14-7
1985 aL 16-20
1986 gsW 35-7
1987 aW 27-14
1988 gsL 24-34
1989 aL 14-35
1990 aL 31-35
1991 gsW 14-12
1992 gsW 45-10
1993 aW 45-38
1994 hW 16-14
1996 gsL 21-42
1997 aL 35-37
1998 hW 27-15
2002 hW 44-0
2003 aW 36-21
2007 aW 41-6
2008 hW 30-3
2009 aW 27-10
Rutgers-Army Series at the Meadowlands
(Rutgers leads 7-2)
10-10-79 Rutgers 20, Army 0
10-9-82 Rutgers 24, Army 3
10-13-84 Rutgers 14, Army 7
10-25-86 Rutgers 35, Army 7
10-22-88 Army 34, Rutgers 24
10-5-91 Rutgers 14, Army 12
10-17-92 Rutgers 45, Army 10
10-8-94 Rutgers 16, Army 14
10-12-96 Army 42, Rutgers 21
Game-Winning Field Goal
For the second time under Greg Schiano, Rutgers converted a game-winning field goal with less than 30 seconds remaining in the 27-24 victory over UConn.
Junior PK San San Te drilled a 34-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining to secure the three-point victory. He was named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 11 for his performance vs. UConn.
The only other game-winning field goal with less than 30 seconds to play came via the right foot of Jeremy Ito in 2006 vs. No. 3 Louisville. Ito booted a 28-yard field goal - with also 13 seconds remaining - to give Rutgers a thrilling 28-25 victory over Louisville.
A Debut for the Ages
True freshman quarterback Chas Dodd had one of the greatest debuts of any QB in school history with his 322-yard performance in the 27-24 victory over Connecticut.
Dodd was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week by the league office and the BIG EAST Player of the Week by Rivals.com following the UConn game.
He completed six passes of 20 yards or longer in the contest. Dodd had career-bests in completions (18), yards (322) and touchdowns (2), while he completed a career-long pass of 52 yards.
Dodd threw for the third-highest yardage total in a single-game by a true freshman QB in school history.
The 322 passing yards for Dodd were the most ever by a quarterback making their first career start in the Greg Schiano era. It was the second-most passing yards by a quarterback in his first career start in school history, trailing only Mike McMahon with his 386 yards on 26-for-42 passing at Army in 1997.
It also marked the first 300-yard passing performance since Mike Teel (319 yards) against NC State in the PapaJohns.com Bowl on Dec. 29, 2008.
The 322 yards passing by Dodd were also the most by any player in the BIG EAST in 2010.
Notable First Starts for Rutgers QBs
Year Player Opponent C-A-I Yards TD Long
2009 Tom Savage* Howard 8-13-0 223 2 68
2009 Domenic Natale Cincinnati 8-12-3 108 0 20
2005 Mike Teel at Syracuse 13-27-2 203 2 37
2002 Ryan Hart* #1/1 Miami 9-23-2 110 0 40
2002 Ted Trump Buffalo 16-38-3 166 1 22
2001 Ryan Cubit* at Buffalo 11-23-2 157 2 39
1997 Mike McMahon* at Army 26-42-1 386 1 40
1981 Jacque LaPrairie* at Boston College 2-16-2 38 0 N/A
*True freshman
Highest-Rated True Freshman QB in the Nation
Chas Dodd is the top true freshman quarterback in the nation in passing efficiency (134.81). On the season, Dodd is 32-of-61 passing for 504 yards and three touchdowns in four games.
NCAA True Freshman Passing Efficiency Leaders (Min. 15 attempts/game)
Player Comp.-Att.-INT-Yards-TD Efficiency
1. Chas Dodd, Rutgers 32-61-1-504-3 134.81
2. Pete Thomas, Colorado State 141-209-8-1,333-5 121.28
3. Ryan Williams, Memphis 83-138-6-889-5 117.52
4. Tanner Price, Wake Forest 64-109-3-631-5 116.98
5. Rob Bolden, Penn State 96-171-4-1,177-4 113.49
In the Month of October
Rutgers is 18-18 (.500) overall under Greg Schiano in the month of October. Over the last five years - all seasons that concluded with bowl appearances - Rutgers is 14-7 (.667) in October.
Year-by-Year in October under Schiano
Year Overall
2001 1-2
2002 0-3
2003 1-3
2004 2-3
2005 3-1
2006 3-0
2007 2-2
2008 2-2
2009 3-1
2010 1-1
Total 18-18
Scoring Defense Leaders
Rutgers is ninth nationally (second in the BIG EAST) in scoring defense, allowing 14.4 points per game. Last season, Rutgers finished the year 16th in the nation and led the conference allowing just 17.9 points per game.
NCAA Scoring Defense Leaders
Rank Points per game
1. Iowa 10.2
2. TCU 10.3
3. Missouri 11.2
4. Nebraska 12.8
5. Alabama 13.3
6. Ohio State 13.5
7. West Virginia 13.6
8. UCF 13.8
9. Rutgers 14.4
10. Arizona 14.6
Shutout in Five Straight Seasons
Rutgers and Boise State are the only teams in the nation to record a shutout in each of the last five seasons. Here is a look at Rutgers' shutouts over the last five years:
2006: Illinois (33-0); Navy (34-0)
2007: Norfolk State (59-0)
2008: Morgan State (38-0)
2009: Texas Southern (42-0); USF (31-0)
2010: Norfolk State (31-0)
Return to Sender
The return game has provided excellent results over the first part of the season for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers ranks eighth nationally (first in the BIG EAST) in kickoff returns, averaging 27.2 yards per return.
Senior DB Joe Lefeged is 23rd in the NCAA and third in league play with an average return of 28.3 yards. Lefeged had a season-long 75-yard kickoff return to setup at touchdown in the victory over UConn.
Stingy Third Down Defense
One year after finishing 10th in the nation in third down efficiency defense (54-of-178, 30.3 %), the Scarlet Knights have continued to play well on third down in 2010.
Rutgers is second in the nation in third down defense. The Scarlet Knights have limited the opposition to 15-of-65 conversions (23%) on third down this season.
NCAA Third Down Efficiency Defense
Rank Percent
1. TCU (17-of-75) 22%
2. Rutgers (15-of-65) 23%
3. Penn State (17-of-70) 24%
4. West Virginia (18-of-71) 25%
5. Louisville (17-of-65) 26%
Under 100 = W
In an odd statistical twist, Rutgers has won five consecutive games when passing for less than 100 yards in a game. At FIU on Sept. 11, the Scarlet Knights threw for 96 yards in the 19-14 victory.
Prior to the FIU game, Rutgers defeated Maryland 34-13 in 2009 after passing for 42 yards in the victory. Rutgers also threw for less than 100 yards in winning efforts versus Army in 2007 (42 passing yards), at Pittsburgh in 2006 (72 passing yards) and home against Ohio in 2006 (83 passing yards).
Not Moving the Chains
Rutgers has allowed the second-fewest amount of first downs in the nation with 62 this season. The Scarlet Knights rank fourth nationally, allowing just 12.4 first downs per game.
NCAA First Downs Allowed
Rank First downs allowed First downs per game
1. West Virginia 61 12.2
2. Ohio State 74 12.3
2. TCU 74 12.3
4. Rutgers 62 12.4
5. Iowa 63 12.6
All-Purpose Sanu
Sophomore WR and Wild Knight QB Mohamed Sanu joined an impressive list of Scarlet Knights who have totaled 190 yards or more of all-purpose yards during the Greg Schiano era. Sanu rushed for 121 yards and totaled 70 yards receiving vs. Tulane on Oct. 2.
Sanu also recorded the longest run in school history - 91 yards - when he scored on the game's second offensive play.
The South Brunswick native leads Rutgers in rushing yards (252), rushing touchdowns (4), receiving yards (245), receptions (23), receiving touchdowns (2), scoring (38) and all-purpose yards (497).
Below is the list of players under Schiano who have recorded at least 190 all-purpose yards in a game:
Single-Game All-Purpose Yardage Leaders (Schiano era)
Rank All-Purpose Yards
1. Ray Rice vs. Ball State (1-5-08) 295
2. Ray Rice at Army (11-9-07) 255
3. Tiquan Underwood vs. Buffalo (8-30-07) 248
4. Ray Rice at Syracuse (10-13-07) 225
4. Ray Rice at Pittsburgh (10-21-06) 225
6. Ray Rice vs. Navy (9-7-07) 215
7. Ray Rice at North Carolina (9-2-06) 214
8. Kenny Britt vs. Army (11-22-08) 213
9. Ray Rice vs. Buffalo (8-30-07) 205
10. Ray Rice at USF (9-29-06) 202
11. Brian Leonard at Illinois (9-3-05) 193
12. Mohamed Sanu vs. Tulane (10-2-10) 191
Freshmen Debuts
Six true freshmen have seen the field for the Scarlet Knights in 2010:
True freshmen
OL Betim Bujari (Secaucus, N.J.)
WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.)
QB Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.)
WR J.T. Tartacoff (Montgomery, N.J.)
RB Jordan Thomas (Endicott, N.Y.)
DE Marcus Thompson (Oakland Park, Fla.)
Turnover On Downs
The Rutgers defense has played some of its best football on fourth down in 2010. The Scarlet Knights lead the nation in fourth down efficiency defense after holding the opposition to an 0-for-5 conversion rate on fourth down.
Rutgers is the only school in the nation to not allow a fourth down conversion in five attempts.
NCAA Fourth Down Efficiency Defense
Rank Attempts Conversions
1. Rutgers 5 0
1. Arizona 3 0
Protecting the Pigskin
Rutgers is +32 in turnover differential over its last 25 games (19-6). The Scarlet Knights gained 34 turnovers in 2009, including at least one in 12 of the 13 games. Rutgers finished second in the nation in turnover margin in 2009 (+1.54). Over the last 23 games, Rutgers has gained a total of 57 turnovers. In 2010, the Scarlet Knights are first in the BIG EAST and 18th nationally in turnover margin at +0.8 per game.
Everyone Loves a Block Party
Greg Schiano has always preached the importance of special teams and the results have shown over his coaching career in Piscataway. Rutgers has blocked 46 kicks during the Schiano era, including two in the first game of the 2010 season by Brandon Bing against Norfolk State.
Joe Lefeged followed that effort up with two blocked punts of his own in the victory at Florida International.
Rutgers is 21-14 under Schiano when blocking a kick in a game.
NCAA Blocked Kick Leaders (Since 2002)
1. Fresno State 52
2. Rutgers 46
2. Texas 46
4. Louisiana-Lafayette 41
5. Florida 39
Sweet Te
Rutgers junior PK San San Te is 14th among active career kickers in the nation with 39 made field goals. The 39 field goals also place Te third in school history in career field goals made. The North Carolina native is 9-for-13 on the season.
Representing the 305
Antonio Lowery, a native of Miami, has been all over the field in 2010. Lowery leads the team in tackles (46) and ranks third in the league with 9.2 tackles per game.
The active linebacker has also recovered two fumbles and forced one fumble this season. He totaled a career-high 13 tackles vs. Tulane on Oct. 2.
No Ordinary Joe
Joe Lefeged has been a man on a mission in 2010 for the Scarlet Knights. The Germantown, Md., product has been all over the field on defense and special teams this season.
Lefeged became the first player in BIG EAST history to be named the Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, in the same week, the league office announced Sept. 13. Lefeged earned the two awards after an incredible performance in the victory at FIU.
The senior strong safety blocked two punts, forced two fumbles, recorded one interception, broke up a pass and had six tackles in the win.
It marked the second time in two weeks a Scarlet Knight was named Special Teams Player of the Week after Brandon Bing earned the award on Sept. 6.
Lefeged was also named the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week for his amazing performance at FIU. The Maryland product is second on the squad with 33 tackles and leads Rutgers with two forced fumbles and five pass breakups.
28-5
Under head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers is 28-5 when rushing for 175 yards or more in a game. Since the start of the 2006 season, the Scarlet Knights are 20-2 when going over the 175-yard mark on the ground in a game.
Rutgers is 1-0 when rushing for more than 175 yards in a game in 2010. The Scarlet Knights totaled 268 rushing yards in the 31-0 victory over Norfolk State.
Double Trouble
Rutgers had two players crack the century mark in receiving yards in a single-game as sophomore WR Mark Harrison (112 yards) and freshman WR Jeremy Deering (102 yards) topped the 100-yard mark in the 27-24 win over UConn. The last time two RU receivers went over 100 yards in the same game was Oct. 25, 2008 at Pittsburgh. Current NFL wideouts Kenny Britt (143 yards) and Tim Brown (132 yards) both broke the 100-yard mark in the 54-34 victory over the Panthers.
Captains Named for 2010 Season
Howard Barbieri, Joe Lefeged and Charlie Noonan have been named team captains for the 2010 season. Barbieri and Noonan have been part of Rutgers' four consecutive teams that have won bowl games while Lefeged has played in the previous three bowl victories for the Scarlet Knights.
