Notebook: Johnson to Address Team
Dec 24 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
DETROIT, MICH. - Rutgers will be able to count on at least two familiar faces as the Scarlet Knights put the finishing touches on preparations for Friday's Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field against North Carolina.
Head coach Kyle Flood said today that former Rutgers defensive end standout George Johnson - currently with the Detroit Lions - will address the team and that Lions assistant coach Ron Prince, the Scarlet Knights' offensive coordinator a year ago, was planning to take in the game.
Johnson, a Glassboro, N.J. native, played for Rutgers from 2006-09. The 6-4, 263-pounder had bounced around the NFL since 2010 before finally finding a home with the Lions. He has appeared in every game this season and has 28 tackles and six sacks.
"I have his cell phone number and George and I are going to catch up before the game. I'm going to give him a chance to talk to the players," Flood said. "I think that will be a great experience for our team, knowing that one of our own right here, that played for us, (is) playing with the Detroit Lions.
"Hopefully George will be able to be in attendance. I know coach Prince is going to be in attendance. I've spoken to him about that. There are certainly some allies in the Lions' organization for us."
Prince is Detroit's assistant head coach and tight ends coach.
The 11-4 Lions, the NFC Northern Division leaders, play an important game at Green Bay on Sunday, but that hasn't taken away from the way the organization has operated the inaugural Quick Lane Bowl, according to Flood.
"I'm really thankful for how we've been treated," he said. "I think the people here at the Quick Lane Bowl, the Detroit Lions, have really created a first-class experience for our players. I know they're enjoying it."
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One advantage Rutgers has this year compared to previous bowls is the ability to practice at the game venue. That wasn't the case for the 2011 or 2013 Pinstripe Bowl, with the Scarlet Knights practicing on campus both times, or the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl. Rutgers practice at a high school facility in Orlando, Fla., for the Russell Athletic Bowl and practiced at a high school in Birmingham, Ala., for the 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl.
"It's a pro stadium so it's a great venue," Flood said. "You've got great sight lines for the cameras in terms of filming practice. Sometimes there are different challenges when you go to high school stadiums or different places. From that standpoint the setup is really good.
"We have our locker room set up here the same way we do at home. And it gives the players a chance to get acclimated to the game situation being an indoor game. The punt returners get a chance to catch punts indoors. I think those things are helpful."
Quarterback Gary Nova said there's a benefit to practicing where a game will be played. Even on the road during the regular season, that's not something Rutgers does.
"It's been great," Nova said. "It's a little different playing indoors. You've just got to get used to it with the lights and the ceiling. Obviously, it's a tremendous facility and it keeps us away from the cold.
"For some of the younger guys it helps them not to be in awe of the place. But you also have everything you need here. You're not restricted to a high school field where it might limit some of the drills we do. It's great being here."
Nova, meanwhile, is doing his best to keep his emotions in check as he prepares for his final college game, though he said it will be tough to do so at Thursday's final practice of the season. Rutgers tradition calls for departing seniors to be carried off the field by players in their position group following the final practice.
"I'm kind of just trying to embrace every moment and take it all in." he said. "I'm sure emotions will be running high at tomorrow's practice when I get carried off."
Flood said Nova has come through his senior season as well as he could have hoped after being benched for the final three games of his junior year.
"I'm really proud of Gary. I really am," Flood said. "And I think Gary will perform well on game day. He's had a lot of ups and downs in his career but that's the nature of being a quarterback. You're always going to have the spotlight on you and you're going to have to deal with the adversity - sometimes the adversity of disappointment, sometimes the adversity of success.
"This year he has handled both of those better than he has his entire career, which is what you would hope for in a senior quarterback. Having somebody like (offensive coordinator) Ralph (Friedgen) here to mentor him in his senior year I think has really been a perfect situation for Gary to excel in."
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There were no injury updates, but Flood again expressed confidence in placekicker Nick Borgese and kickoff specialist Nick DeLouisa if both are pressed into service with Kyle Federico listed as questionable with an upper body injury.
Borgese has not attempted a field goal since a 42-yard miss in overtime to end the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl. DeLouisa's only career appearance came in 2012 as well.
"Very confident," Flood said when asked about Borgese. "Nick has kicked for us in games before. He's a senior. He's got tremendous leadership skills. The things you guys don't always see in the offseason, when we go through a winter program Nick excels at those. I know he's got the respect of his teammates and I have a lot of confidence in him."
He also felt certain DeLouisa would be up to the task of handling kickoffs.
"We've got confidence in Nick. He does it every day in practice for us," Flood said. "So we know what his leg can do and given the opportunity we expect him to perform."
