Scarlet Knights Game Preview - Florida International
Sep 06 | Football
RUTGERS (1-0) at FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 11 • 8 p.m. • ESPN GamePlan
SNY • WPVI-DT2
FIU Stadium (18,000) • Miami, Fla.
Series: Rutgers leads, 1-0
TV: ESPN GamePlan, (SNY, WPVI-DT2)
Mike Gleason (play-by-play), John Congemi (color)
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), Bruce Beck (color), Anthony Fucilli (sideline)
Satellite Radio: Sirius channel 130
The Game
Week two of the 2010 season has Rutgers going to Miami to face the FIU Golden Panthers. The Scarlet Knights look to improve to 2-0 on the young season while the game for FIU is the season-opener for the Golden Panthers.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. from FIU Stadium in Miami.
ESPN Regional will produce the game. The contest will be televised live on SNY (New York City DMA) and WPVI-DT2 (Philadelphia DMA) and nationally on ESPN GamePlan. Mike Gleason (play-by-play) and John Congemi (color) have the call.
The Rutgers Radio Network begins pre-game coverage at 7 p.m. as Chris Carlin calls the action with WNBC-4 sports anchor and reporter Bruce Beck (color analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline) on WOR-710 AM in New York City, WCTC-1450 AM in Central Jersey and 97.5 The Fanatic and WPEN ESPN 950 AM in Philadelphia and South Jersey. Ray Lucas is scheduled to miss the first month of broadcasts as he recovers from neck surgery.
Sirius Satellite Radio will broadcast the Rutgers Radio Network feed nationally on channel 130. 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 the sixth-winningest coach all-time in victories in the BIG EAST (56-55).
Schiano will tie former Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien for fifth place in BIG EAST history in coaching victories with a win Saturday at FIU.
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.
Rankings
Rutgers and FIU are not ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.
FIU Series
Rutgers leads the all-time series 1-0 after last season's 23-15 victory over FIU at Rutgers Stadium on Sept. 19. Joe Martinek rushed for 121 yards on 23 carries and Tim Brown caught four passes for 131 yards in the victory. The Scarlet Knights' defense registered five sacks and limited the Panthers to just 42 yards rushing in the victory.
BIG EAST schools are a perfect 16-0 all-time vs. Sun Belt institutions.
Next Game
Rutgers is off next week before returning to action Saturday, Sept. 25 at home vs. North Carolina.
Road Openers Under Schiano
Rutgers is 4-5 in the first road game of the season under head coach Greg Schiano. The Scarlet Knights have won three of their previous four road openers, including a 34-13 victory at Maryland last season.
8/30/01 at Buffalo W, 31-15
9/21/02 at Pittsburgh L, 23-3
9/6/03 at Michigan State L, 44-28
10/2/04 at Syracuse L, 41-31
9/3/05 at Illinois (ESPN2) L, 33-30 OT
9/2/06 at North Carolina (ABC) W, 21-16
10/13/07 at Syracuse W, 38-14
9/20/08 at Navy L, 23-21
9/26/09 at Maryland W, 34-13
Starting Strong in September
Rutgers is 20-14 (.588) overall under Greg Schiano in the month of September. Over the last five years - all seasons that concluded with bowl appearances - Rutgers is 15-6 (.714) in September.
In September home games since 2005, Rutgers is 12-4 (.750) overall. Last season, Rutgers was 3-1 in September.
The 20 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 1-0
Total 20-14
Rutgers-FIU Connections
Greg Schiano faces one of his former assistant coaches Saturday as Mario Cristobal leads his FIU squad vs. Schiano for the second time in their coaching careers.
Phil Galiano coached at FIU from 2007-09 as the defensive coordinator, but returns to FIU Stadium as Rutgers' tight ends coach in 2010.
One matchup to watch Saturday is between Rutgers CB David Rowe and FIU QB Wayne Younger. Both players were high school teammates at perennial power Cocoa HS in Cocoa, Fla. The following is the list of high school teammates that will be on the field Saturday:
Carol City HS - Miami
RU - Gareef Glashen
FIU - Jarvis Wilson
Christopher Columbus HS - Miami
RU - Antonio Lowery; Antwan Lowery
FIU - Michael Cal
Cocoa HS - Cocoa
RU - David Rowe
FIU - Wayne Younger
Gulliver Prep - Miami
RU - Sorie Bayoh
FIU - Darrian Mallary
Back-to-Back Shutouts
Rutgers has opened the season 13 times in school history with consecutive shutouts, with the last time coming in 1943 after the Scarlet Knights shutout three straight opponents to open the season.
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)
South Florida Scarlet Knights
Eight Scarlet Knights who played their high school football in South Florida return to the area this weekend to face FIU.
Five Miami natives - DE Sorie Bayoh (Gulliver Prep), DB Gareef Glashen (Carol City), LB Antonio Lowery (Columbus), OL Antwan Lowery (Columbus) and TE/DE Fabian Ruiz (Miami Sunset) return to their home city.
On the two-deep, four Scarlet Knights who played high school football in South Florida are listed:
DE Justin Francis (Miramar)
DE Jonathan Freeny (Coconut Creek)
LB Antonio Lowery (Columbus)
OL Antwan Lowery (Columbus)
Sunshine State Streak
Rutgers has won three consecutive games in the state of Florida, dating back to the 2006 season. The Scarlet Knights defeated UCF 45-24 last season in the St. Petersburg Bowl in St. Petersburg.
Road wins in Tampa at USF in 2008 and 2006 are also included during the three-game winning streak in Florida. The last loss for Rutgers in Florida was Nov. 22, 2003 at No. 14/13 Miami (34-10).
Rutgers plays at FIU (Sept. 11) and at USF (Nov. 3) in 2010.
Red Zone Success
Rutgers is a perfect 5-for-5 in red zone scores to open the 2010 season after the 31-0 victory over Norfolk State.
The Scarlet Knights also defended well in the red zone, holding the Spartans (0-for-2) in the red zone in the season opener.
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 started the 2010 campaign right where they left off.
Rutgers leads the nation in third down efficiency defense after limiting Norfolk State to 0-for-12 on third down conversions.
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.)
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 44 kicks during the Schiano era, including two in the first game of the 2010 season by Brandon Bing against Norfolk State.
Bing blocked a pair of punts, with the second block recovered by Joe Lefeged and returned three yards for a touchdown.
Rutgers is 20-14 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 2
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 14 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)
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 1,480 yards in 27 career games, including an average of 4.9 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.
Welcome to 2010
Rutgers returns 16 starters and 45 letterwinners from last season's team that finished the year 9-4, including a 45-24 victory over UCF in the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl. Three of Rutgers' four losses were to teams that combined to win 31 games (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, West Virginia) a season ago.
Rutgers Returns in 2010 ...
Category Percent Returning
Starters 66.7% (16-of-24)
Letterwinners 64.3% (45-of-70)
Passing Yards 90.1% (2,249-of-2,495)
Rushing Yards 80.1% (1,412-of-1,747)
Receiving Yards 45.5% (1,134-of-2,495)
Passing Touchdowns 100.0% (15-of-15)
Rushing Touchdowns 76.2% (16-of-21)
Receiving Touchdowns 26.6% (4-of-15)
Receptions 55.2% (91-of-165)
Tackles 55.2% (485-of-879)
Sacks 71.3% (28.5-of-40.0)
Tackles for Loss 64.6% (73-of-113)
Interceptions 60.0% (9-of-15)
Looking Back at a Successful 2009
• Rutgers finished the season 9-4 after a 45-24 victory December 19 vs. UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl
• Defensively, Rutgers was ranked in the top 20 nationally in six different categories
• Rutgers was first nationally in fumbles recovered and tackles for loss and ranked second in turnover margin
• The Rutgers defense was also fourth in the nation in sacks, fifth in turnovers gained, ninth in first downs allowed, 10th in third down efficiency defense and 10th in fourth down efficiency defense
• Rutgers led the BIG EAST in total defense, scoring defense, turnover margin and tackles for loss
• With a true freshman starting at quarterback, Rutgers won nine games in a season for just the sixth time in school history, including a
31-0 victory over then 23rd-ranked USF
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.
Protecting the Pigskin
Rutgers is +29 in turnover differential over its last 21 games (17-4). 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 21 games, Rutgers has gained a total of 52 turnovers.
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.
FWAA Freshman All-America Honors for Vallone
Rutgers landed two players on the prestigious Football Writers Association of America 2009 Freshman All-America Team. Quarterback Tom Savage and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Scott Vallone were named to the team.
Rutgers was one of just two schools to have two players named to the team, along with Oregon. Of the 28 players honored, the team was exactly split between true freshmen and redshirt freshmen.
Savage and Vallone were the first Scarlet Knights named to the FWAA Freshman All-America Team since Anthony Davis in 2007. Courtney Greene was also selected as a FWAA Freshman All-America in 2005.
Vallone was a major force on Rutgers' defensive line in his first year as a starter. The New York native started all 13 games and finished 2009 with 41 tackles, including nine behind the line of scrimmage. He was a key cog in a Rutgers defense that is first nationally in fumbles recovered and tackles for loss and ranks second in turnover margin.
