Today, I received sad news when I found out that the best athlete my alma mater ever produced, Running Back Ray Rice , has decided to skip his Senior season and enter the 2008 NFL Draft. While I'm upset to see him go and give up a chance to break the all time rushing record (he is only 1500 yards shy of breaking Ron Dayne's record), I think it is the best move for Ray. Schiano has been riding Ray like a horse since his freshman year. A running back only has so many carries in his body and it would be a shame to see Ray's used up on the college level.
I think he's a late 2nd round pick at best due to his lack of break away speed, but he has the best vision I've seen in a college back in a long time. I'd rather have a back with vision and decent speed, than a speed burner like Tatum Bell that continually runs into his own blockers and only picks up yards when his line opens up big holes. I just pray that Ray is drafted by the Broncos, or any other team that asks their back to make "one cut and go". Should he end up on such a team, I see him as a feature back in the NFL.
However, today is a day to remember Ray's contribution to Rutgers football. As much as Brian Leonard was seen as the face of Rutgers' climb out of perpetual obscurity, it was really Ray Rice that put this team on the map on his way to becoming RU's all time leading rusher. From the time he became the feature back early in his freshman year, he finally gave the Knights the running game that Schiano so desperately craved. I'll never forget how we wore down Louisville on the way to RU's historic victory. There was also Ray's huge game changing run against Pitt last year and the 181 yards he racked up to help RU knock off the then 2nd ranked So. Fla. Bulls. He ended his career on an up note by rushing for 280 yards in RU's International Bowl victory last Saturday.
There's not many people that can say they had a hand in single handedly changing the fate of an organization. Ray is one of them and as Rutgers alum, I'll always be thankful
6 comments:
Good post PSP; I just see him going higher in the draft. We'll see how things pan out, but he certainly has the potential to be an explosive back in the NFL.
TF
It definitely was fun watching him play while he was here.
hey ray.....we look forward to seeing your little midget ass standing on the sidelines watching the big boys play on sundays.....
although, i would like to thank you ray for giving my boy TW a few years of exciting football because his alma mater is about to take a serious nosedive....that dumbbell coach should have took the money and ran when he could......
I need to see where he ends up...if he ends up in a good situation, I'd bet you he ends up w/ more yards than any rookie in the draft...better yet, I'll put my money where my mouth is. I'll force Vinny to let me draft him in the 6th round next year...Geez, he's been making draft Cowboys for years...I finally get my turn.
BTW, I also bet you that RU has a better year next year than this year's disappointing 8-5.
you must be tipping 'em back this evening
Well spoken Tone. He (and B.L. and of course Coach) are the reasons why the RU football tailgates went from empty lots/empty stadium to having to buy season tickets just to go to even one game, and having to get to campus 4 to 5 hours beforehand to get a tailgating spot, and actually wanting to rush to the stadium so we didn't miss the opening drive. In our 17 years (yikes!) of RU football games, from the time when we fit like 10 people in Kev's Escort, to this season where we ate and drank like kings and had a portable dartboard, this was a season I'll remember forever. Hopefully this is the start of something big for RU football! Coach did promise a national championship!
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