It’s Rutgers week. Time for a quick history lesson.
No one likes Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights used to be really bad. But it didn’t really make any sense because they had bonkers talent all around them. They were only a hop-skip from Manhattan. Then Crazy Eyes Schiano came along and basically did the bare minimum to make RU good. He kept a few local kids at home. He competed in a watered-down Big East after the ’04 defections. He won a few games, and players who felt like playing for their neighborhood team did. And in his long and storied career at RU, Schiano finished in the top 25 once. Yep, once. And they had like one big game on an ESPN Thursday night when people paid attention, and the Empire State Building was lit red. But suddenly he acted like he invented football, was the second coming of Nick Saban, and the attitude of Rutgers fans grew to be insufferable. Maybe you RU peeps don’t remember, but you sucked royally for like a century and that only ended like ten years ago. And the peak of all that Schiano success was somewhere between a Texas Bowl and a Beef O’ Brady’s one. So, let’s get off the high horse.
That’s Rutgers history.
So now it’s Rutgers week, and RU’s athletic department is trying to get #chopcuse to catch on – which is pretty damn lame. And the Knights have an undefeated team that’s wearing silvery helmets that make them look like Shredder wants to play some Pee Wee football.
Guess what happened when Rutgers started begging to get into the Big 10? Sorry, no vacancy. When the ACC was looking to expand? Yeah – we’ll take Miami, and Virginia Tech and BC – and then Syracuse and Pitt – and yeah, Notre Dame. Hell, the Big 12 took West Virginia. “Sir, Rutgers is on line 4.” “Uh, tell them I’m busy.” Conferences have been staying away from the Knights like they had farmer B.O.
And it’s pretty great that players from around the conference all realize how shady and arrogant RU is. Here’s actual quotes from the UConn Husksies (maybe the only time I’ll ever applaud them) before their game last week.
Dwayne Gratz, corner (Piscataway):¬†“I don’t like Rutgers.¬†I never have. I never will.¬†The funny thing is, Rutgers didn’t offer me until UConn did. I kind of built a little hatred for them.”
Ryan Wirth, defensive tackle (Medford, NJ):¬†“I committed to UConn after prep school. And you know what? Rutgers was in the door the next weekend. Since high school, it’s always been that kind of deal for everybody on my team. I think everybody wants to let them know, ‘I bet you wish you did [chase them hard with an offer].’ But everybody here is happy to be where they are. I know I would never trade it for the world. It’s just letting it be known – you know.”
Nick Williams, senior captain (East Windor, NJ) on RU’s all-black uniforms. “I don’t know how you have a black-out at noon. But, hey, it’s Jersey.”
Posted: D.A.
117 responses to “Ugh, It’s Rutgers Week: A Brief History & UConn Players Blast the Knights”
@Ron,Carlton,I really don’t expect a high scoring affair Saturday in NJ but the typical low scoring defensive struggle these wars of attrition always bring us and I won’t make a prediction except it’ll be close either way!!I expect a full house in Piscataway!!52G+…weather permitting..Heck the week we drew 38G in Metlife they had 50G+ against Howard!!
My mistake, though this was a sports channel……not a school yard.
Enjoy yourselves…..children!
@Russell MacEachern;Big Syracuse weekend coming up this week Russell. We have Midnight Madness on Friday and the football game against Rutgers on Saturday.
Looking forward to Friday Night. It’s going to be interesting to see the new recruits on both teams play on Friday. Look for an uptempo game this year from the women. The girls are telling me the team is really good and that the 5 freshmen players are not only good but very fast.
Word is one of the girls from the women’s team is going to participate in the slam dunk contest during Midnight Madness. Can’t wait.
Back to football,no Russell I won’t be going out to the Michigan State Game. when I went to order the tickets,my son said there wasn’t any left to be had because I waited to long to order them. Sometimes you just lose out. What else can I say other than will try again at a later date.
So Ron we have to use our real names to blog?
Russell, do you have a split personality?
I’m a die hard ‘Cuse fan and read this site daily. I usually write a post every article or so. I look forward to Saturday’s game and i think we have a very good chance of winning.
@Orange Crush27,I don’t know what you mean,I think we have a good chance too?I was alluding to “Cuse 17”..I read and enjoy ur posts!!and also OC22s!!
@OrangeCrush27.my comment to all is,if your going to come onto a web site and trash someone or something,then be accountable for your actions and what you say. if you or anyone else can’t stand and defend your stupid comments then you ought stay off of any and all websites.
Like your question to Russell,asking if he has a split personality? Don’t you think that that’s getting a little personal? A statement like that should never had made a sports web site,NEVER.
Russell has gone through a hell of a lot more(tough experiences) than you and I have in our life times. There for he’s earned my total respect and I give him some latitude when he makes his post. I would never have asked him a question of that nature. I do know one thing though. I know his name(Russell MacEachern)and I believe he’s the only one using his full name on this or any web site and I know damn well he’s man enough to stand behind what he writes wither you like it or not.
I hoping for a big win this weekend.
GO Cuse;
@Orange C27,I went over the posts and still don’t understand what u mean?I never said how anyone should post just that some “Cuse17” use anynominity to blab anything they want but ur a respected poster whom I respect and enjoy!Cuse17 shows up last week and deigns to have all the answers…get rid of HCDM and hire “one of them”?
Ron ,who is this “Cuse17” getting in between our conversation with all his childish playround bs?
Calls the posters children??What a clown!!Im gonna ignore “Loose17″s posts as hes a johnny come lately andvery childish!!
@Russell MacEachern;I don’t know Russell and really don’t care. As far as I’m concerned he’s a wanna-be who is never going to be a be.
Ron if anyones a “regular poster” then they should know just who we are no?I mean who is more regular than us?
@Russell MacEachern,ESPN has the Mike & Mike talk show on tv every day. Wouldn’t it be grand Russell if you and I got together and had our own Russ & Ron radio talk show. I think it would be great to answer some of these fools on the air.
Russell can you imagine it? A daily dose of the RUSSELL AND RON SHOW. HaHaHa!
Ron,I guess u’ll miss a game for once “huh”!!Are you working or watching this weekend?Most of these guys come and go but were always here!!HaHa..
Ron I also think if we ran one of these blogs we’d be very popular..agree with us or not HaHa..I remember when if their were 4/5 comments it was a lot!!
Ron,I’ll be back later I have to go for a blood test!!
Funny Ron I was watching Greenie and Golic this morning!!
The saga in the lives of Ron & Russell continue. People are treating these two men as if they had just entered the 2012 Presidential Race. Both men becoming ICONS and vastly becoming LEGENDS within the blogging community.
Russell, just think next year when we move to the ACC. We’re going to have all of the Southerner’s getting upset with us. Boy that ought to be fun.
And of course the Orange Fizz will travel along and provide us all with new information concerning the new programs with in the ACC. Delightful!!!!!
Ron,are u watching or working Saturday?I guess if ur working u could listen on theradio but I can’t imagine u not paying 100% attention to the big opportunity!!I hear tickets at the game are gonnna be tough to get except thru scalpers??
Ron,did u hear about the Pitt homer Beano Cook?I know he lived for yrs in a hotel in Pittsburg but was nice enough to take care of his mom in her old age!!Complex personality!!Pretty much a curmudgeon!Stayed in the business much to long!!RIP “Boston Beano”…I think he was born there!
Russell, I met and talked with Beano Cook in the Pittsburgh hotel where he had lived. He said during the conversation that it was a shame that Syracuse/Penn State didn’t play each other on a October Saturday afternoon and that the college football world and the Northeast needed that rivalry to renew itself. He also told me to look for Louisville to enter the BE for all sports. He also told me that Syracuse didn’t belong on the same field as WVA because of how strong they were. Syracuse ended up winning that ball game 42-0 and the only people left in that stadium at half time were the Syracuse fans. That I believe was the last season for Don Neilen as head coach of the mountaineers.
God Bless and Rest In Peace Beano Cook.
Russell I don’t work on football Saturday’s and yes I will be watching the game at noon.
I will also be watching the Louisville/Pittsburgh game starting at 11:00 am.
Are you still going to the game on Saturday? If you are then enjoy it.
Russell, we really know how to fire up the crowd,don’t we? This will be the 73rd response to the original post.
Ron,I’ll also have to watch on SNY saturday cause my nephew and his fiance were gonna take me but her “fiance” grandma passed away and had to go to Montreal yesterday!!…Im already worrying about the game and will till its over!!the RU and UConn games are extremely stressful as u can throw ot the records and usually lots of injuries we can’t afford esp at QB..were gonna need Nassib to make a bowl!We could and should beat Mizzou,USF,Temple,UConn,….and 1 of the Big 3…what do u think?…
Im still waiting for OC27s explanation?I have no idea what he’s alluding too?I get a lift out of these guys who act like they know us if he was really a regular he would know me and u are the Fizz board!!HaHa..if he can’t take a joke..F him!!HaHa..
Ron,how about Mr Namedropper C17?He talks about the ACC like were lucky they took us..HaHa..like their a power conference on the SEC or Big 12 level..and telling us Marrone who has’nt been in the East in yrs till he got the job as some NE experiment?I thought Grob was our Western adventure??HaHa..no offense to C’ton but Fla ain’t the answer to all our problems but at least C’ton has earned our respect!!I’ll listen intently to our friend but C17 has’nt built the cache!I miss Malones input…a bright and likeable fella!!I like comments from Carlton,Dipper,Malone,Derek,Smitty,bgogo,Norma,CDL,you and basically our core group some of whom have been MIA lately?who am I forgetting?Oh BRKLN too!
@Carlton,btw if ur online,I’d hate to be BC this weekend as FSU is gonna run it up on them this week!!…I also think u were spot on on ND…I think they have a real shot at the big game this yr!!
@Russ, Yea just woke up fell asleep as soon as i hit my chair at 8. Having dinner or early breakfast now lol. Been a long 2weeks. What a sad sat. around here last weekend. I was at a party all FSU fans and everybody was like “its gonna happen again!” an bam! they lost a game to a team they shouldn’t have once again! Jimbo seemed to be calling the game not to loose and he got beat. Sucks such a really good team but cant play and coach like that and loose to a team like NC.State. ND is pretty good team.Reason because their o-line and D-lines are good. Its not just ND’s starting front 7. They can rotate in quality d-linemen off the bench like ishaq and day. It’s crazy how strong, fast and quick they are up front. Even crazier is they are so young!
This is a statement game for the program this weekend. ‘Cuse need to ingrain to the downstate HS ballers that this team is a player again at the national level. Wont be able to watch the game until later sat. night but looking forward to it!
@Russell MacEachern;I agree with your assessment of what needs to be done as far wins go for Syracuse the rest of the season.
I really don’t care where certain individuals are,I don’t visit this web site hoping to see people like “Cuse17” putting their thoughts on it.
@Carlton;it sounds like you’ve had a hard time after the loss last weekend. Now all you need is for a guy like Terrie to start posting that Jimbo Fisher should get fired for losing that game and again tell everyone that he can’t recruit either.
Carlton,I still think FSU as long as they run the table could end up in the big one this yr!!Would’nt it be wild if ND/FSU somehow both played for it all?…SU/RU is gonna be a war and always “recently” hotly contested games…I don’t want to jinx us by making any prediction exept it will go down to the wire!!…FSU49-BC6…ND38-Stan16..good luck!
Ron,as u seen I wont predict Saturdays game..too nervous but know we have to beat RU or UConn or wait till next yr for a bowl…if we win one of them I think we’ll at least go 6-6 or 7-5 and go to Pinstripe bowl instead of UConn who’s also trying to go 6-6…Im not worried about Mizzou,USF or Temple!!I think its us or UConn??
Carlton,don’t forget Cocoa,fla HS plays Bergen Catholic,NJ HS tonight on tv I think!!MSG in NY/NJ,Im not sure what station in Tally!!should be good!!
Hey Fizzers….@ron&russ- the proverbial fire has been lit! Holding people responsible for their mouthy ways..lol..I never tire of you two, chewing a “newby” out! “I come in peace! Lofl….
@Carlton…fsu is as talented as any “bigboy”…except Cb/kr Greg Reid got kicked out of school, like taking Mathieu from Lsu. Jimbo has work to do….I’m not a fan of either school, but they dont seem as powerful this season, both lacking 3rd & 4th playmakers. Jimbo is good, obviously a players coach. I like Stanford over ND…cardinal will be more aggressive.
@russ- classic RM lines….” hasnt built the cache.” & “f’m HaHa” when i need to laugh, you guys are the fix! We need to take it one game at a time, all hands on deck for RU! Inspiring performance last week, may lead to a national shocker on saturday. 1. they lose, bye top20 ranking
2. Su could be batting .500 at 3-3 record 3. Lets crush their BCS hopes
4. RECRUITING..we beat RU, going ACC, a big look for SU in the
tri-state.
* I’m not M.I.A…..just a tad busier! I’m sure the entire FF will chime in prior to game time!
* Midnight madness tonight….WALE (wa-lay) is coming: contemplate, chillin,nike boots, no hands,lotus bomb, ambition…songs of his to name a few!!!!!
* HipHop rocking the Dome! Meek Mill did it last year “Church..”
@BigDip, Don’t see stanford beating ND. They are a smash mouth football team and they wont be able to line up and run it down this teams throat. Nunes isn’t a great passer. I think if ND drops a game it will be up in norman in 2weeks. Think ND handles USC this yr.
Midnight Madness tonight pumped for it. Big night and big list of names gonna be their! It be great if Vonleh would sign after this weekend. UK racking top 10 kids up we need to catch up! Everyone is freaking out that Chris McCullough isn’t coming to MM anymore and is heading to WVU on sat b/c of having class in the am on sat. I don’t see it as that big of a deal. Yes it be nice if he would be in attendance but its not the end of the world. Noel was at our madness last yr and he didn’t sign /w us did he? The fan base needs to take a deep breath! I don’t know how many times i’ve seen morons on syracuse.com and few other blogs say we should write the kid off he isn’t coming. Just wow. He’s a class of ’14 guy! He gots an entire yr before he picks. Relax! I’d like the ’13 class to have 4 guys. Don’t know if will have the scholarships though. Ennis, Vonleh, Seldon and Lawrence. Lawrence looking like a long shot now though.
@bigdip;your not one the idiots that give me headaches all of the time. I welcome input from you because you articulate your point well and at times have disagreed with a lot of what Russell and I have had to say. Your not the issue here,when someone posts speaking of Coach Marrone in the past tense and says that they’re nothing but a NE experiment that has failed just tends to get my dandruff up.
Everyone has to realize that Russell and I are NOT THE(ORANGEFIZZ)PROGRAM. We love the banter back and forth. Is that so wrong to answer a question from a person that I’ve come to call friend? We both had different views on what was said and made them public and I guess our responses to each other made some people upset. I say “Oh Well” life goes on.
The news broke this morning on the radio that Nancy Cantor will be stepping down as chancellor when her contract is up in 2014.
My wish is I hope they replace her with a person who has vision and decides to put some time and effort into the athletic department.
@Carlton;I posted before all you needed now was to hear from Terrie and you did. Read the power rankings post.
I am taking my son and his 2 kids to Mid Night Madness tonight,looking to have a great time. I think one of the McDonald All-Americans(Brittney Sykes or Brianna Butler)is going to participate in the slam dunking contest tonight. It should be fun.
@Carlton;if it’s any consolation FSU wasn’t the only ranked team that lost last weekend. I guess 9-10 of the top 25 lost. That’s called upset. It happens,you have a good team down there be proud and excited that you are able to watch them live on any given Saturday. I know I would be watching them live if I were there.
To my friend Russell MacEachern,never in my mind(wildest dreams) did I ever think that two ordinary guys like you and I could ever have dominated a web site by having 88 posts generated about it’s participator’s.
Russell, your still the “King of the One Liners”. Keep up the good work bud.
We’ll Ron,Id of thought we’d uv built some cache by now no?HaHa..HaHaH..F em..”I hung out with Czonka and Little in the 70s”..HaHa..”Im origanaly from Fla and we need one of them”….”well be playing with the elite”HaHa…snob!!! .@Hey Dip,Im glad ur ol uncle is still keepin ya laughing!!
Hey Dip,don’t worry about us unless u need a laugh and concentrate on ur homework and watchin Leo w/ur little squeeze..HaHa..HaHaHa..
Hey Pom-Pom Ron lets keep pissing em off…keep up the good work!!!Instead of Pom-Poms now were hitting them with “Webster”HaHa..
russell, I can’t belief your using the catch phrase “your little squeeze”. I use that with my grandson who is only in the 7th grade. I ask him every day if he had his squeeze for the day. His reply an emphatic “YES”. That’s my boy, his mother and father get upset with me every time I ask.
He smiles when I say that’s my boy.
I have to go to dinner,then to Midnight madness.
@Terrie;this post is just for you ok. Russell and Carlton,I just got home from “Midnight Madness” and boy was it impressive.Attendance was anywhere from 23,500 to 25,000 people. The women’s team looks real good and is going to be able to run the floor in a uptempo game. The roster tells me that the 5 freshmen will get quite a bit of playing time this year. In center is 6’4″ Kayla Alexander with backup 6’3″ Shakeya Leary sharing the duties. Starting forwards will be 6’4″ Karen van den Nieuwendijk and 6′ freshmen Taylor Ford. guards is anyones choice but I imagine the two Mcdonald-All-Americans will get some playing time as well.
Brittney Sykes was the girl who entered the slam dunk contest. She was ABOVE THE RIM on a couple of her tries but just couldn’t finish it off.
The mens team looked to me to be even stronger than what they were last year. I see Brandon Triche at the point with Trevor Cooney at shooting guard.Starting in center will be Baye Moussa Keita with DeJaun Coleman coming off the bench to give him a break and I see Rakeem Christmas and C.J.Fair spliting time at the power forward spot jerami Grant and James Southerland splitting time at the small forward spot. James also told me that he might be putting time in at the shooting gaurd position too.
The team put a total of 74 points on the board tonight playing two eight minute periods.I see the team as stronger than last year and a run to the “FINAL FOUR” or even the “NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME”. If they go and win the National Championship Game the I look for Coach Boeheim to retire at the end of the season. He’s put together another great team people better go and watch them if you can.
Russell and Carlton,I forgot to tell Terrie that I ran into Adrian Autry in the hall way at the dome and he had I think the 2014 class 6″8″ power forward Tyler Lydon in tow. I’m just guessing and think that it was Lydon because he looked awful young to me.
Ron,I heard on my local news some violence broke out at the dome?They did’nt give much information were u witness to any trouble?I heard somebody was knifed?Ron,Terry don’t care much about hoops…he’s always telling Carlton to stop talking hoops its FB season?Did Terry ask about Adrian Autry in particular?I’ll see u b4 gametime about 930 or 1030!!I hope DipsyDoodle was’nt there!!HaHa..Dipper won’t like that nickname!!
@Russell MacEachern;I know Terrie doesn’t like to see anything on this web site about basketball,you know it’s football season and we’re not allowed to talk other sports according to him. By the way Russell that’s exactly why I put it on here. Just showing how sarcastic I can get sometimes.
We had a lot of the people from the South Side of Syracuse last night in the dome. I didn’t see any of the fights happen but knew something was up when all of the police and security staff went running to the area where the students normally set for a game.
The South side of Syracuse is where a lot of violence occurs,is 95% black,gang invested,shootings almost nightly,drugs out of control. Did I paint the South side good enough for everyone to understand? A large part of that local population was at the dome last night. I don’t understand with security at the doors why and how did a weapon get past them? For the last couple of years anyway the university brings in a rapper to start the event. That’s all that was needed to get things started a damn rapper. What a huge mistake.
@Russell MacEachern; With all of trash talk completed and out of the way “D DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED”. In preparation for the game Russell I went out and put up OTTO and my American and Syracuse Flags. I got my pom-poms ready,my diet Pepsi ready and my recliner in front of the tv ready. My wife is making me some snacks and lunch for the game.
I’m ready to give my neighbor’s some uneasiness today. SO BRING IT ON,LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
I’ll be watching football Russell until midnight. I hope you enjoy the day as much as I will.
GO CUSE;
Im getting edgy as gametime gets close as so much rides on it!!Altho I guess their would’nt be any shame if things don’t go right cause Im not as worried about UConn and USF,Temple!!Was anyone put in the hospital last night?I don’t no if its safe to bring a girl/wife!!….Ron,keep ur fingers crossed during game…toes too!@Carlton,the Cocoa-Bergen Catholic kick-off is 1pm today!!My mistake yesterday I thought it was last night!!I think u could stream it over the web at MSG varsity!!NJ!!
And ‘The Dougie’ comes unglued on TV having a bout of tourette syndrome . That looked pretty ugly on TV , and must win recruiting by the truckloads .
It’s apparent that there is a major discipline breakdown on this team . The same penalties every 2nd down , every game , to create 3rd and 12 or 3rd and 15 , etc;
The team we ‘beat’ in the Lamestripe Bowl 2 years ago ( Kansas State ) …. where are they now ?
Rutgers , West Virginia ?
Exactly . They have all progressed , while SU is simply spinning it’s wheels … on ice . And it’s not the talent , which SU does have ! They kicked the snot out of WV last year and sent them packing . They beat Pitt in a good old fashioned defensive grind .
Oh , and Nancy leaving in 2 years . So let me guess … we’re stuck with the ‘Daryl and Dougie Show’ for 2 more years , at least :/ Go FSU !
P.K.,I can’t believe some of these “characters” on the main page?Jimmy17 I believe thinks if Kinder or Loeb were playing we’d of won?He’s delusional tho I know how he feels!!How did we go from the big WV win last year to this?I hate to admit it but somebody “Hactckett”?has to go and we’ll lose our recruiting class if its HCDM but Im losing faith with every unneccessary loss!!What do u guys think?