After the last couple weeks, all I can say is thank you Lord Baby Jesus* for Rutgers Football. They have yet to fail me in picking up my spirits after watching another Eagles or Flyers debacle.
For once in my life as a sports phan, I feel like I'm being paid back for my allegiance and sacrifice to a team. (We all know our Philly teams sure haven't paid back any of our blood, sweat and tears.) All the those games I attended, watched or listened to when Rutgers was getting pulverized by every program in the Big East conference, finally doesn't feel like time wasted. I was there sitting on those cold, hard bleachers attending games up at RU when the stadium was only slightly more filled than Temple games. Now, the remaining home games are sold out!
I'm guessing Red Sox fans had a similar feeling back in 2004. Relax, I hear you. I realize there's no comparison between the two teams. The Sox won the World Series and RU hasn't won a thing yet, but guess what? I don't care. After all the years of losing, heartbreak and putdowns, I finally have a team to be proud of. I supported them when they were at absolute rock bottom, when friends and family openly laughed at and mocked me for caring. For some unknown reason, people just don't warm up to the State University of NJ. Rutgers is not a loveable loser(ala the Cubs), nor are they the little guy underdogs (ala St. Joe's hoops) that peole rally around. Previously, Good ol' RU received nothing but scorn and ridicule from the media and most football fans in the state. Now, those same people, and ESPECIALLY the media, are giving my alma mater props for their season. And believe me....it feels really freakin' good.
To make matters even better, this is a team to be proud of. All indications are that these are good kids like the St. Joe's Elite Eight team a few years back. They don't have a team full of thugs like Va Tech or FSU. Their Head Coach, Greg Schiano, is a man of integrity who isn't interested in recruiting that kind of kid. That's why the Schiano to "The U" rumors are so laughable to me. I will be absolutely shocked if he leaves for a big time pay day. I don't think he could do it to the kids he recruited.
Plus, All America Fullback Brian Leonard is my all time favorite Rutgers athlete. When he gets drafted, that NFL team, no matter who it is, will automatically become my second favorite team. How he selflessly gave the spotlight to current Heisman contender Ray Rice this year, after starting the year as a Heisman hopeful himself, is not seen very often in today's world of "me first" athletes like T.O. and Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson. All I had to see was one picture with Leonard spending time with a group of developmentally disabled children and I knew this guy was not just a special athlete, but a great person.
All this being said, I never in my wildest dreams thought the team would be ranked at any point this season, let alone undefeated and #12 in the BCS rankings. I figured they'd do slightly better than last year's 7-5 finish. After their remarkable start, Rutgers is now playing to figure out how good a bowl game they will be invited to. Since I realize that my Knights are likely outclassed by Louisville and West Virginia (although I can't wait to see how tough we play the 'Ville in front of a sold out Rutgers Stadium), I'm just begging for 2 more wins (home against Syracuse and at Cincy) to get to 10 wins. That should assure them a spot in a decent bowl.
How ever it turns out, I'm along for the ride, smiling all the way. As my wife said on Sunday night when things got tense during the third quarter against UConn: "This ain't the Same Old Rutgers." Amen, Lord Baby Jesus*, Amen.
*This is a reference to the Talladega Knights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby...I highly recommend the movie if you like goofy comedies.
1 comment:
The Rutgers coach doesn't have to go anywhere else, he is already the highest paid NJ state employee.
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