Scarlet Knights Game Preview - Connecticut
Oct 04 | Football
CONNECTICUT (3-2) at RUTGERS (2-2)
Friday, October 8 • 7:30 p.m. • ESPN
Rutgers Stadium (52,454) • Piscataway, N.J.
Series: Rutgers leads, 20-9
TV: ESPN Brad Nessler (play-by-play) Rod Gilmore (color)
Internet Broadcast: ESPN3.com
Radio: Rutgers Radio Network
WOR-710 AM (New York City)
97.5 The Fanatic (Philadelphia)
ESPN 950-AM (Philadelphia)
WCTC-1450 AM (New Brunswick)
Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (color), Anthony Fucilli (sideline)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 122, XM 143
The Game
The first BIG EAST game of the 2010 season is on tap Friday as Rutgers (2-2) hosts Connecticut (3-2) at Rutgers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with national television coverage on ESPN.
Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Rod Gilmore (color) will be the game announcers for ESPN.
The Rutgers Radio Network begins pre-game coverage at 6:30 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 950 AM ESPN Radio in Philadelphia and South Jersey.
The Rutgers Radio Network feed is available nationally on Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 122) and XM Satellite Radio (channel 143). 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 is tied with Tom O'Brien (Boston College) as the fifth-winningest coach all-time in victories in the BIG EAST (57-57).
Schiano will tie former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez for fourth place in BIG EAST history in coaching victories with three 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 Connecticut are not ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.
UConn Series
Rutgers has more wins vs. UConn than any other active BIG EAST opponent with 20 victories all-time. The Scarlet Knights hold a 20-9 advantage in a series that first began in 1940.
Rutgers is 4-1 vs. UConn over the last five games played between the two schools. The two schools have met eight times since 2001, with six of the games decided by seven points or less.
Last season, QB Tom Savage hit WR Tim Brown with a 81-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining as Rutgers secured a thrilling 28-24 victory in East Hartford.
Up Next
Rutgers hosts Army at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Closer Look at the UConn Series
Rutgers leads, 20-9 Home: 13-3,Road: 7-6
1940 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 45-7
1941 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 32-7
1956 at Memorial Stadium L, 7-27
1957 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 14-7
1959 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 20-8
1960 at Memorial Stadium W, 19-6
1961 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 35-12
1962 at Memorial Stadium L, 7-15
1964 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 9-3
1965 at Memorial Stadium W, 17-8
1968 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 27-15
1969 at Memorial Stadium L, 22-28
1972 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 21-13
1973 at Memorial Stadium L, 19-27
1974 "Old" Rutgers Stadium L, 7-9
1975 at Memorial Stadium W, 35-8
1976 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 38-0
1977 at Memorial Stadium W, 42-18
1978 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 10-0
1979 at Memorial Stadium W, 26-14
1983 "Old" Rutgers Stadium W, 22-5
2001 Rutgers Stadium L, 19-20
2003 at Rentschler Field L, 31-38
2004 Rutgers Stadium L, 35-41
2005 at Rentschler Field W, 26-24
2006 Rutgers Stadium W, 24-13
2007 at Rentschler Field L, 19-38
2008 Rutgers Stadium W, 12-10
2009 at Rentschler Field W, 28-24
Over the last four meetings, the team with the most yards of total offense has lost the game. The last time the winning squad had more yards of total offense in the series was 2005 when Rutgers defeated UConn 26-24 and outgained the Huskies, 508-293.
Greg Schiano is 4-4 all-time vs. Randy Edsall. Rutgers is 4-2 vs. UConn in BIG EAST play.
Friday Night ESPN Lights
Rutgers has enjoyed playing under the Friday
night lights on ESPN/ESPN2, going 5-2. Last season, Rutgers split its two Friday night appearances, losing to Pitt and winning at Army.
In those seven Friday night contests, Rutgers has had a running back rush for more than 100 yards five times.
Rutgers is a perfect 5-0 on Friday night when a player has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game.
Last season, RB Joe Martinek rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-10 victory at Army.
Former All-America RB and current NFL All-Pro Ray Rice loved the Friday night stage. He rushed for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the victory at Army in 2007 and eclipsed the 200-yard mark with 202 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the 22-20 victory at USF in 2006.
Rice also cracked the century mark on Friday night in 2007 vs. Navy (175 rushing yards, two touchdowns) and in 2005 vs. Pittsburgh (114 rushing yards).
Rutgers' Friday Night Results
at Army (10-23-09) W, 27-10 ESPN2
Pittsburgh (10-16-09) L, 17-24 ESPN
at Army (11-9-07) W, 41-6 ESPN2
Navy (9-7-07) W, 41-24 ESPN
at USF (9-29-06) W, 22-20 ESPN2
at Louisville (11-11-05) L, 5-56 ESPN2
Pittsburgh (9-30-05) W, 37-29 ESPN2
Performing Well at Night on ESPN/ESPN2
Since 2005, Rutgers is 7-3 in home games
at night on ESPN or ESPN2. Over the 10-game span, Rutgers has defeated the nation's No. 2 ranked team (USF in 2007) and the No. 3 ranked team (Louisville in 2006) in ESPN night games at Rutgers Stadium.
Defense Tough to Score Against
Through four games, Rutgers has allowed a total of 48 points - the second fewest points through four games under Greg Schiano. Only the 2006 team allowed fewer points - 30 - through four games.
Since 1960, 11 times the Scarlet Knights have yielded 48 or fewer points through four games.
The perfect 11-0 squad in 1976 gave up the lowest point total through four games - 24 points.
In the Month of October
Rutgers is 17-18 (.490) overall under Greg Schiano in the month of October. Over the last five years - all seasons that concluded with bowl appearances - Rutgers is 13-7 (.650) 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 0-1
Total 17-18
Scoring Defense Leaders
Rutgers is fourth nationally (first in the BIG EAST) in scoring defense, allowing 12.0 points per game. Last season, Rutgers finished the year 16th in the nation and also led the conference allowing just 17.9 points per game.
NCAA Scoring Defense Leaders
Rank Points per game
1. Alabama 9.0
2. Iowa 10.2
3. Arizona 11.0
4. Rutgers 12.0
5. LSU 12.4
5. TCU 12.4
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 25th nationally (first in the BIG EAST) in kickoff returns, averaging 24.8 yards per return.
Senior DB Joe Lefeged is 48th in the NCAA and third in league play with an average return of 25.6 yards. Lefeged's numbers would be even better if a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Tulane was not called back due to a holding penalty.
Rutgers is 36th nationally in punt returns (10.9). Last season, the Scarlet Knights averaged just 5.9 yards per punt return.
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 third in the nation in third down defense. The Scarlet Knights have limited the opposition to 12-of-51 conversions (23.53 %) on third down this season.
NCAA Third Down Efficiency Defense
Rank Percent
1. Penn State (12-of-57) 21.05
2. West Virginia (12-of-54) 22.22
3. Rutgers (12-of-51) 23.53
4. San Diego State (15-of-60) 25.0
5. Alabama (18-of-69) 26.09
Not Moving the Chains
Rutgers has allowed the second-fewest amount of first downs in the nation with 51 this season. The Scarlet Knights rank fourth nationally, allowing just 12.75 first downs per game.
NCAA First Downs Allowed
Rank First downs allowed First downs per game
1. West Virginia 46 11.5
2. Ohio State 60 12.0
3. Iowa 63 12.6
4. Rutgers 51 12.75
5. TCU 66 13.2
Cover That Kick!
The Scarlet Knights have covered kickoffs extremely well in 2010, allowing just 15.3 yards per kickoff return.
Rutgers is second nationally in kickoff yardage allowed, trailing only UAB (14.4).
NCAA Kickoff Return Yardage Defense
Rank Yardage per return
1. UAB 14.4
2. Rutgers 15.3
3. Washington State 15.6
4. San Jose State 15.8
5. Kent State 16.5
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.
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 and Colorado are the only schools 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. Colorado 5 0
1. Colorado State 4 0
1. San Diego State 4 0
Six other schools have not allowed a first down with three or less fourth down attempts.
Protecting the Pigskin
Rutgers is +31 in turnover differential over its last 24 games (18-6). 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 second in the BIG EAST and 27th nationally in turnover margin at +0.75 per game.
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).
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.
Year-by-Year Blocked Kicks in Schiano Era
2001 1
2002 6
2003 6
2004 5
2005 6
2006 5
2007 3
2008 4
2009 6
2010 4
NCAA Blocked Kick Leaders (Since 2002)
1. Fresno State 50
2. Rutgers 46
2. Texas 46
4. Louisiana-Lafayette 41
5. Florida 39
Tough Against the Run
Rutgers has held eight opponents since 2009 to less than 50 yards rushing in a game, going 7-1 in those contests. The Scarlet Knights rank seventh nationally and first in the BIG EAST in rushing defense (80.0 yards per game).
The Scarlet Knights have held the following opponents under 50 yards rushing over their last 17 games:
Opponent (Date) Rushing Yards Allowed
FIU (9-19-09) 42
at Maryland (9-26-09) 28
Texas Southern (10-10-09) -25
#23/24 USF (11-12-09) 30
at Louisville (11-27-09) 48
vs. UCF (12-19-09) 35
Norfolk State (9-2-10) 25
Tulane (10-2-10) 37
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed (Schiano Era)
1. -25 yards vs. Texas Southern (10-10-09)
2. -23 yards vs. Cincinnati (11-26-05)
3. -11 yards vs. Pittsburgh (9-30-05)
4. -6 vs. Ohio (9-16-06)
5. 10 vs. Norfolk State (9-15-07)
6. 25 vs. Norfolk State (9-2-10)
7. 28 at Maryland (9-26-09)
8. 30 vs. Kent State (9-18-04)
8. 30 vs. #23/24 USF (11-12-09)
10. 31 vs. Kansas State (12-28-06)
11. 32 vs. Morgan State (9-27-08)
12. 37 vs. Tulane (10-2-10)
12. 37 vs. Syracuse (11-29-03)
Fewest Total Yards Allowed (Schiano Era)
1. 109 vs. Morgan State (9-27-08)
2. 119 vs. Ohio (9-16-06)
3. 122 vs. Norfolk State (9-15-07)
4. 126 vs. Texas Southern (10-10-09)
4. 126 vs. Illinois (9-9-06)
6. 146 vs. Cincinnati (11-26-05)
7. 152 at Army (11-9-07)
8. 156 vs. Norfolk State (9-2-10)
9. 159 vs. #23/24 USF (11-12-09)
10. 161 at Navy (10-14-06)
11. 162 vs. Kansas State (12-28-06)
12. 168 vs. Syracuse (11-8-08)
13. 172 vs. Howard (9-23-06)
14. 191 vs. Syracuse (11-25-06)
15. 198 vs. Syracuse (11-29-03)
Tough to Reach the Century Mark
Rutgers has allowed just one running back to crack the 100-yard mark in a game vs. the Scarlet Knights over the last 15 games. Only Pitt's Dion Lewis (180 rushing yards) has been able to rush for more than 100 yards in a game against the RU defense over the last 15 games.
Sweet Te
Rutgers junior PK San San Te is tied for 13th among active career kickers in the nation with 37 made field goals. The North Carolina native is 7-for-11 on the season.
With his next field goal, Te will tie Alex Falcinelli (1980-82) for third place in school history with 38 career field goals.
Representing the 305
Antonio Lowery, a native of Miami, has been all over the field in 2010. Lowery leads the team in tackles (36) and ranks fourth in the league with 9.0 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.
Lowery is the older brother of Antwan Lowery, Rutgers' starting right guard.
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 28 tackles and leads Rutgers with two forced fumbles.
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.
Watch Out for These Knights
Three Scarlet Knights have been included on the preseason watch list for several individual awards.
Sophomore quarterback Tom Savage was named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, recognizing the nation's top player, and the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's best quarterback.
Sophomore wide receiver Mohamed Sanu was named to the preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation's most versatile player.
Redshirt sophomore tight end D.C. Jefferson was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, honoring the nation's top tight end.
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.
