Scarlet Knights Game Preview - North Carolina
Sep 20 | Football
NORTH CAROLINA (0-2) at RUTGERS (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 25 • 3:30 p.m. • ESPNU
Rutgers Stadium (52,454) • Piscataway, N.J.
Series: Rutgers leads,3-1
TV: ESPNU Pam Ward (play-by-play), Danny Kanell (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), Bruce Beck (color), Anthony Fucilli (sideline)
Satellite Radio: Sirius channel 91
The Game
Rutgers returns to action after a bye week as the Scarlet Knights host ACC-foe North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Rutgers Stadium. With a win vs. the Tar Heels, Rutgers would be 3-0 to start the season for just the fifth time since 1980.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. with live coverage in HD on ESPNU. Pam Ward (play-by-play) and former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell (color) have the call.
The Rutgers Radio Network begins pre-game coverage at 2:30 p.m. as Chris Carlin calls the action with WNBC-4 sports anchor and reporter Bruce Beck (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.
Sirius Satellite Radio will broadcast the Rutgers Radio Network feed nationally on channel 91. 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 (57-55).
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 North Carolina are not ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.
North Carolina Series
Rutgers holds a 3-1 series advantage over North Carolina. Saturday's meeting is the third of a scheduled four-game series with the Tar Heels as Rutgers will make the return visit to Chapel Hill next season.
The Rutgers-UNC series began in 1894 after the Scarlet Knights captured a 5-0 victory in New Brunswick. The two schools met again in 1919 (19-0 Rutgers win) before resuming the series this decade. The Scarlet Knights captured their first of 11 wins in 2006 with a 21-16 victory over UNC before the Tar Heels won their first in the series with a 44-12 win in 2008 on ESPN Thursday night college football.
Next Game
It will be Homecoming Weekend 2010 on Saturday, Oct. 2 as the Scarlet Knights host Tulane at Rutgers Stadium.
Rutgers vs. the ACC
The Scarlet Knights are 21-56-1 all-time vs. schools in the ACC. Rutgers has winning records against two ACC opponents - North Carolina (3-1) and NC State (1-0).
Coming off the Bye Week
Rutgers is 9-9 during the Greg Schiano era after a bye week, but the Scarlet Knights are an impressive 8-2 following an idle week since 2005.
The Scarlet Knights have won four straight games following a bye, including a pair of shutouts in 2009.
Rutgers is averaging 37.6 points per game following the bye week over its last 10 games.
Rutgers After a Bye Week (Under Schiano)
Texas Southern (Oct. 10, 2009) W, 42-0
#23/24 USF (Nov. 12, 2009) W, 31-0
Syracuse (Nov. 8, 2008) W, 35-17
Louisville (Dec. 4, 2008) W, 63-14
Maryland (Sept. 29, 2007) L, 34-24
at Louisville (Nov. 29, 2007) L, 41-38
at Navy (Oct. 14, 2006) W, 34-0
#3/4 Louisville (Nov. 9, 2006) W, 28-25
Pittsburgh (Sept. 30, 2005) W, 37-29
Cincinnati (Nov. 26, 2005) W, 44-9
at Syracuse (Oct. 2, 2004) L, 41-31
at Navy (Nov. 20, 2004) L, 54-21
Navy (Sept. 27, 2003) W, 48-27
at Connecticut (Nov. 8, 2003) L, 38-31
West Virginia (Oct. 12, 2002) L, 40-0
Temple (Nov. 16, 2002) L, 20-17
#9/9 Virginia Tech (Sept. 22, 2001) L, 50-0
at West Virginia (Nov. 3, 2001) L, 80-7
Schiano vs. the ACC
Under Greg Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are 3-2 against ACC competition. Rutgers has wins over Maryland (2009), NC State (2008) and North Carolina (2006). Schiano's teams have lost to ACC members in 2008 (North Carolina) and Maryland (2007).
Rutgers vs. Non-Conference BCS Opponents
Since taking over the Rutgers program, Greg Schiano has guided the Scarlet Knights to a 6-7 record vs. non-conference BCS opponents.
Since the start of the 2006 season, Rutgers is 5-2 against non-conference BCS teams.
Starting Strong in September
Rutgers is 21-14 (.600) overall under Greg Schiano in the month of September. Over the last five years - all seasons that concluded with bowl appearances - Rutgers is 16-6 (.727) in September.
In September home games since 2005, Rutgers is 12-4 (.750) overall. Last season, Rutgers was 3-1 in September.
The 21 wins in September are the most for any one month for Rutgers during the Schiano era.
Year-by-Year in September Under Schiano
Year Overall
2001 0-3
2002 1-3
2003 2-1
2004 2-1
2005 3-1
2006 5-0
2007 2-1
2008 1-3
2009 3-1
2010 2-0
Total 21-14
Rutgers-UNC Connections
After facing one of his former assistants last time out in FIU head coach Mario Cristobal, Greg Schiano goes up against a head coach he worked under in North Carolina's Butch Davis this week. Schiano was the defensive coordinator on Davis' staff at Miami from 1999-2000.
While none of the players in Saturday's game were teammates in high school, Rutgers has one player from the state of North Carolina in place-kicker San San Te (Conover, N.C.). UNC has two Garden State natives on its roster - punter C.J. Feagles of Ridgewood and fullback Devon Ramsay of Red Bank.
Shutout in Five Straight Seasons
Rutgers is the only team in the nation to record a shutout in each of the last five seasons.
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)
Scoring Defense Leaders
Rutgers is third nationally (first in the BIG EAST) in scoring defense, allowing 7.0 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. Oregon 4.3
2. Alabama 6.3
3. Rutgers 7.0
4. Central Michigan 9.0
5. Arkansas 11.3
5. LSU 11.3
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 downs in 2010.
Rutgers is second in the nation, trailing only Oregon, in third down defense. The Scarlet Knights have limited the opposition to 3-of-25 conversions (12 %) on third downs this season.
Freshmen Debuts
Five true freshmen and 12 redshirt freshmen saw their first career action versus Norfolk State on Sept. 2:
True freshmen (5)
WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.)
QB Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.)
RB Jordan Thomas (Endicott, N.Y.)
DE Marcus Thompson (Oakland Park, Fla.)
OL Betim Bujari (Secaucus, N.J.)
Redshirt freshmen (12)
TE Malcolm Bush (Englewood, N.J.)
TE Paul Carrezola (Langhorne, Pa.)
WR Aaron Hayward (Carneys Point, N.J.)
DL Isaac Holmes (Hoboken, N.J.)
LS Robert Jones (West Caldwell, N.J.)
DL Michael Larrow (Union, N.J.)
OL Antwan Lowery (Miami, Fla.)
OL Matt McBride (Hicksville, N.Y.)
OL David Osei (Abington, Pa.)
DL Jamil Merrell (Bear, Del.)
DB Logan Ryan (Berlin, N.J.)
H Kyle Sullivan (Hockessin, Del.)
Protecting the Pigskin
Rutgers is +31 in turnover differential over its last 22 games (18-4). 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 22 games, Rutgers has gained a total of 57 turnovers.
In 2010, the Scarlet Knights lead the conference and are 13th in the nation in turnover margin at +1.5 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.
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 48
2. Rutgers 46
2. Texas 46
4. Louisiana-Laf. 41
5. Florida 39
Senior Silvestro Stepping it Up
Rutgers senior DE Alex Silvestro is saving his best football of his career for his final season in Piscataway. The South Jersey native leads the BIG EAST and is tied for ninth nationally with 2.0 tackles-for-loss per game.
In 39 career games played (second most on team), Silvestro has 104 tackles, including 25 behind the line of scrimmage. The 25 TFLs are the most of any player on the roster.
Tough Against the Run
Rutgers has held seven opponents since 2009 to less than 50 yards rushing in a game, going 7-0 in those contests. The Scarlet Knights ranked 15th nationally and second in the BIG EAST in 2009 allowing just 103.2 rushing yards per game.
The Scarlet Knights have held the following opponents under 50 yards rushing over their last 15 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) 16
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. 16 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. 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. 147 vs. Norfolk State (9/2/10)
8. 152 at Army (11/9/07)
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)
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).
Sweet Te
Rutgers junior PK San San Te is 14th among active career kickers in the nation with 35 made field goals. The North Carolina native is 5-for-8 on the season.
With his next field goal, Te will tie Tom Angstadt (1983-85) for fourth place in school history with 36 career field goals.
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.
With Rutgers trailing 7-3 in the second quarter, Lefeged picked off FIU quarterback Wes Carroll and raced 29 yards on the interception return down to the FIU 32-yard line. Four plays later, Mohamed Sanu found D.C. Jefferson on a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Scarlet Knights a 10-7 advantage.
Lefeged's second punt block set up a 24-yard touchdown run by Sanu on the next play for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Rutgers trailed 14-13 in the fourth quarter when Lefeged broke through for his second blocked punt of the game.
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.
Jersey Joe
Rutgers junior RB Joe Martinek has become a steady force in the backfield for the Scarlet Knights. The New Jersey native leads the team with five career 100-yard games, including 109 yards on 20 carries in the season-opening victory against Norfolk State.
For his career, Martinek has rushed for 1,508 yards in 28 career games, including an average of 4.8 yards per rush. He has scored 14 rushing touchdowns during his time "On the Banks."
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, awarded 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.
Welcome Back to Rutgers Stadium
The renovation of Rutgers Stadium was completed for the season-opener in 2009 vs. Cincinnati. The expanded stadium features more than 11,000 new seats in the south end zone, including a new HD scoreboard and sound system.
Dedicated on November 5, 1938, the original Rutgers Stadium featured seating for 23,000 spectators from 1938-1992. All-time, Rutgers was 168-53-4 in the original stadium.
The "new" Rutgers Stadium was expanded to seat 41,500 fans beginning in 1994. The venue featured the most memorable game in Rutgers history in 2006 as the Scarlet Knights kept their undefeated season alive with a 28-25 victory over No. 3 Louisville. All-time, Rutgers was 39-45 in the expanded venue.
With the seating capacity of 52,454, Rutgers looks to continue its recent winning ways at Rutgers Stadium in 2010.
The Scarlet Knights have a streak of six straight winning seasons at Rutgers Stadium, including a 21-8 mark since 2006.
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.
Howard Lending a Helping Hand Off the Field
Howard Barbieri was selected to the 19th annual Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The team honors the distinguished group of college football players who stand out for the positive influence they have in their communities by the Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Barbieri is just one of several Scarlet Knights who are active in giving back to their local communities. The New Jersey native is active in Special Olympics New Jersey, Read Across America and visiting children in local hospitals in the New Brunswick area. Last year, defensive back Billy Andrerson was named to the team while Tiquan Underwood earned the AFCA Good Works Team accolades in 2008.
Overtime Record
Rutgers is 1-4 all-time in overtime games. In their last overtime game, the Scarlet Knights lost 41-39 in triple overtime at West Virginia on Dec. 2, 2006. Four of the five overtime games have come versus BIG EAST competition. The lone overtime win in school history for the Scarlet Knights was a 24-21 victory over Syracuse (11/13/99).
Two First Round Selections in 2009 NFL Draft
For the first time in school history, Rutgers had two student-athletes selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft in April. Junior offensive tackle Anthony Davis became the highest-drafted Scarlet Knight in history after being selected with the 11th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers. Senior cornerback Devin McCourty followed Davis in the first round by going 27th overall to the New England Patriots.
Rutgers was the first BIG EAST school with two first round picks in the same draft since Miami and Virginia Tech in 2004.
For the second straight year, Rutgers had a player taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Former All-America wide receiver Kenny Britt was the first player in school history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft after the Tennessee Titans chose the New Jersey native with the 30th pick in last year's draft.
Davis was the third player in the Schiano era at Rutgers to leave school early and be selected in the NFL Draft.
Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice left Rutgers following his junior season in 2007 and was a second round draft selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft. Britt declared for the 2009 NFL Draft and was a first round pick of the Tennessee Titans.
Freshman All-America QB Tom Savage
Tom Savage was named Rutgers' offensive MVP following the 2009 season. Savage, a FWAA First Team Freshman All-America selection, finished the season with 2,211 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes. He finished sixth in Rutgers single-season history with 2,211 passing yards.
Savage joined an impressive list of quarterbacks who have been named the quarterback of the FWAA Freshman All-America squad. Some of the past FWAA Freshman All-America quarterbacks include Sam Bradford in 2007, Colt McCoy in 2006, Chad Henne in 2004 and Ben Roethlisberger in 2001.
He threw for the most yards by a true freshman in BIG EAST single-season history in 2009. He finished the season second nationally among all true freshman quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdowns.
