The place where college football was invented, the team that played in
the very first ever college game 137 years ago against Princeton, is
undefeated, upsetting third ranked Louisville last night 28-25.
Wow. What a comeback, and congratulations to Head Coach Greg Schiano,
and his Scarlet Knights. They just threw a monkey wrench the size of a
gorilla into the gears of the BCS rankings, and are positioned to win
the Big East (a maligned conference, allegedly, on strength of schedule
by many schools, including Florida's Urban Meyer).
They were 13th in the BCS rankings before the Louisville game, where
they climb to, one of four unbeaten teams left in the country (Ohio
State, Michigan and Boise State are the others), remains to be seen?
One would think they could climb as high as - well - third? Not going to
happen. They will come in perhaps about 9th at best, even though
everybody else above them has one loss except the top two in the poll,
and one of those will lose and drop out.
I can't imagine the BCS having an Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the
national champion****p in New Orleans. Who would go? Once one of them is
knocked out, down they go, there are too many 1-loss clubs available to
climb.
In the BCS system, you cannot lose late in the season, without dropping
4-5 places in the poll.
Meanwhile, back to gritty - tiny Rutgers, a fine school. New York City
just may have discovered something called college football.
Their only real experience with it in decades and decades is Columbia
and Princeton of the Ivy League, which doesn't allow after season bowl
bids, besides, the Ivy League is Division 1-AA anyways, VMI, Citadel,
Delaware level.
Now comes the Scarlet Knights (and of course a horde of South Florida
speed legs and muscle).
When he returned to Rutgers', his alma-mater, Greg Schiano started
recruiting desperately in South Florida, UM's backyard. 99% of the
Rutgers roster is South Florida players. The most fertile ground in the
nation for recruits.
New York, New Jersey? Good players go to Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Penn
State, West Virginia or Boston College up there. Now Rutgers is on the
scene.
If nothing else, that big win over Louisville last night will be a major
recruiting tool for the Scarlet Knights. Good for them, and Greg Schian,
former UM offensive coordinator.
As to where they may end up in the final polls, and perhaps a BCS Bowl
bid, who knows? To win the Big East, Rutgers will now have to knock of
Louisville's neighbor Cincinnati, then Syracuse and West Virginia in
their finale. Could be a daunting task.
But kudos to the New Jersey darlings now - that was one great win by
Rutgers last night. I would keep an eye on the AP polls, Rutgers could
end up possibly as high as third in the nation if they go undefeated.
If they are the only unbeaten team, the AP will vote them the National
Champion****p, as they did to Brigham Young one year, making for duel
champions. Well deserved.......Stan
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