Rutgers Scarlet Knights

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Athletics at Rutgers University

On the sidelines at the Rutgers vs. University of New Hampshire football game played on 11 September 2004 at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.
University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Conference Big East Conference
NCAA Division I-A
Athletics director Robert E. Mulcahy III
Location New Brunswick and Piscataway New Jersey USA
Varsity Teams 27
Stadium Rutgers Stadium
Arena Louis Brown Athletic Center
Mascot Scarlet Knights
Nickname Scarlet Knights
Colors Scarlet
Homepage http://www.rutgers.edu
http://www.scarletknights.com

The impact of Athletics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (also known as Rutgers University) is associated chiefly to its heritage as the "Birthplace of College Football"—hosting the first ever intercollegiate football game on 6 November 1869 in which Rutgers defeated a team from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) with a score of 6 runs to 4.[1][2]

Among the first American schools to participate in intercollegiate athletics, Rutgers' flagship campus in New Brunswick—Piscataway presently fields 27 teams in the Big East Conference which participates in Division I-A competition as sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletics Association in the following sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Swimming and Diving, Wrestling, Volleyball.[3] The athletic programs compete under the name Scarlet Knights, after the Rutgers University mascot which was chosen in 1955 by the student body.[2] Rutgers campuses in Newark and Camden field fewer teams and participate in intercollegiate competition sanctioned by the NCAA's Division III under the name Scarlet Raiders and Scarlet Raptors, respectively.[4][5]

Contents

[edit] Athletic heritage

Main article: History of Rutgers University

Rutgers was among the first American institutions to engage in intercollegiate athletics, and participated in a small circle of schools that included Yale University, Columbia University and long-time rival, Princeton University (then called The College of New Jersey). The four schools met at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan on 19 October 1873 to establish a set of rules governing their intercollegiate competition, and particularly to codify the new game of football. Though invited, Harvard chose not to attend.[6] In the early years of intercollegiate athletics, the circle of schools that participated in these athletic events were located solely in the American Northeast. However, by the turn of the century, colleges and universities across the United States began to participate.

The first intercollegiate athletic event at Rutgers was baseball game on 2 May 1866 against Princeton in which they suffered a 40-2 loss.[1] Rutgers University is often referred to as The Birthplace of College Football as the first intercollegiate football game was held on College Field between Rutgers and Princeton on 6 November 1869 in New Brunswick, New Jersey on a plot of ground where the present-day College Avenue Gymnasium now stands. Rutgers won the game, with a score of 6 runs to Princeton's 4.[1][7][2] According to Parke Davis, the 1869 Rutgers football team shared the national title with Princeton.[8]

Since 1866, Rutgers remained unaffiliated with any formal athletic conference and was classified as "independent". From 1946 to 1951, the university was a member of the Middle Three Conference, and from 1958 to 1961, was a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference.[9] Because of its age, being one of the nine colonial colleges, Rutgers was invited to join the Ivy League at the formation of that conference in 1954. However, the university declined.[10] For a time Rutgers was a member of the Atlantic 10 conference for most sports while being an Eastern Independent in football. Rutgers remained independent until 1991 when it joined the Big East Conference for football. All sports programs at Rutgers subsequently became affiliated with the Big East in 1995.[11]

Since joining the Big East, the Scarlet Knights have won two conference tournament titles: men's soccer (1997) and baseball (2000). Several other teams have won regular season titles but failed to win the conference's championship tournament.[12] Most recently, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights' football team has achieved success on the gridiron after several years of losing seasons, being invited to the Insight Bowl on 27 December 2005 in which they lost 45 to 40 against Arizona State University's Sun Devils,[13] This was Rutgers' first bowl appearance since the 16 December 1978 loss against Arizona State, 34 to 18, at the Garden State Bowl. The following season, the Scarlet Knights were invited to the inaugural Texas Bowl, in Houston, Texas in which they defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 37 to 10.

The first intercollegiate competition in Ultimate Frisbee (now called simply "Ultimate") was held between students from Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1972 to mark the one hundred third anniversary of the first intercollegiate football game. Rutgers won 29-27.[14]

[edit] School spirit

Rutgers Scarlet Knights fullback No. 23 Brian Leonard (class of 2007), pumping the crowd at Senior Day events during the Rutgers vs. Syracuse football game, 25 November 2006.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights fullback No. 23 Brian Leonard (class of 2007), pumping the crowd at Senior Day events during the Rutgers vs. Syracuse football game, 25 November 2006.
Main article: Traditions at Rutgers University

[edit] Colors and mascots

Rutgers University's school color is scarlet. Initially, students sought to make orange the school color, citing Rutgers' Dutch heritage and in reference to the Prince of Orange. The Daily Targum first proposed that scarlet be adopted in May 1869, claiming that it was a striking color and because scarlet ribbon was easily obtained. During the first intercollegiate football game with Princeton on 6 November 1869, the players from Rutgers wore scarlet-colored turbans and handkerchiefs to distinguish them as a team from the Princeton players.[2] The Board of Trustees officially made scarlet the school color in 1900.[2]

In its early days, Rutgers athletes were known informally as "The Scarlet" in reference to the school color, or as "Queensmen" in reference to the institution's first name, Queen's College.[2] In 1925, the mascot was changed to Chanticleer, a fighting rooster from the medieval fable Reynard the Fox (Le Roman de Renart) which was used by Geoffrey Chaucer's in the Canterbury Tales.[2] At the time, the student humour magazine at Rutgers was called Chanticleer, and one of its early arts editors, Ozzie Nelson (later of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet fame) was quarterback of the Rutgers team from 1924 to 1926.[15] The Chanticleer mascot was unveiled at a football game against Lafayette College, in which Lafayette was also introducing a new mascot, a leopard.[16] However, the choice of Chanticleer as a mascot was often the subject of ridicule because of its association with "being chicken."[17] In 1955, the mascot was changed to the Scarlet Knight after a campus-wide election, beating out other contenders such as "Queensmen", the "Scarlet", the "Red Lions", the "Redmen" and the "Flying Dutchmen."[2][18] Earlier proposed nicknames included "Pioneers" and "Cannoneers". When Harvey Harman, then coach of the football team, was asked why he supported changing the Rutgers mascot, he was quoted as saying, "You can call it the Chanticleer, you can call it a fighting cock, you can call it any damn thing you want, but everybody knows it's a chicken."[19] Harman later is said to have bought the first "Scarlet Knight" mascot costume for the 1955 season, which was to be his final season as football coach at Rutgers.[20]

[edit] School songs and chants

Several school songs are connected with the school's athletic heritage. The alma mater of Rutgers University is On the Banks of the Old Raritan with words written by Howard Fullerton (Rutgers Class of 1874) and adapted to an old Scottish melody On the Banks of the Old Dundee.[21][22] It is typically performed at the close of athletic events by the university's marching band, the Marching Scarlet Knights (also called "The Pride of New Jersey"), at Rutgers University Glee Club concerts, commencement and other important school events. The university's fight song, The Bells Must Ring, is performed often during athletic events especially in recognition of notable scores. Written in 1931 for entry in a student song contest, pianist Richard M. Hadden (Rutgers Class of 1932) composed the song with W. E. Sanford (Rutgers Class of 1930). Between the verses of the fight song, the spirit chant is rhythmically shouted.[23]

R-U Rah Rah!
R-U Rah Rah!
Whoo-Rah! Whoo-Rah!
Rutgers Rah!
Upstream Redteam
Redteam upstream
Rah! Rah! Rutgers Rah![24][23]

This chant is one of many recited during Rutgers athletic events. Another popular chant, where one side of the crowd yells out "R" and the other "U" antiphonally, is often performed. Though has not been performed in the modern era, the original spirit chant used at Rutgers was "Rah! Rah! Rah! Bow-wow-wow! Rutgers!"[25][1]

Other notable songs include Nobody ever died for Dear Old Rutgers composed by Jule Styne to lyrics by Sammy Cahn from the 1947 musical High Button Shoes parodies an 1892 game in which Frank "Pop" Grant, a Rutgers football player, was being taken from the field because of injuries and stated that he would "die for dear old Rutgers." Other's sources state that the player stated "I will die if somebody does not give me a cigarette."[26] The song Loyal Sons which exhorts Rutgers athletes (particularly football players) to "hit the line and run the ends boys...Score once more. Oh score once more."

[edit] Athletic rivalry

Rutgers maintains athletic rivalries with other collegiate institutions. The university has a historic rivalry with Princeton University and Columbia University (formerly King's College) originating from the early days of college football. While they maintain this rivalry in other sports, neither of them have met in football since 1980. Rutgers has a Baskeball rivalry with Seton Hall University,[27] and has developed a growing rivalry with the University of Connecticut.

[edit] Football

Rutgers' Scarlet Knights' tight end Clark Harris catches a pass from Quarterback Ryan Hart in a game against the Navy Midshipmen (United States Naval Academy), on 20 November 2004.
Rutgers' Scarlet Knights' tight end Clark Harris catches a pass from Quarterback Ryan Hart in a game against the Navy Midshipmen (United States Naval Academy), on 20 November 2004.

Despite being the "Birthplace of College Football" and sharing the 1869 national championship with Princeton University in the first year of intercollegiate play, Rutgers has not had an overly successful heritage in the sport through the years.[28] Especially in the last three decades, Rutgers was regarded as one of the worst teams in Division I-A, posting several losing seasons in a row and raising discussion of possibly reducing the team to Division I-AA competition.[29][30] For most of its existence, the football team was not associated with any formal football conference and remained independent even when the first football leagues were forming.[28][9] At present, Rutgers participates in Division I-A and is a member of the Big East Conference (since 1991).[9] The current coach of the football team is Greg Schiano.

[edit] 2006: Rutgers' "Cinderella Season"

In 2006, Rutgers boasted its best season in three decades, beginning its first nine games undefeated. Sports commentators and writers began referring to the 2006 season as Rutgers' "Cinderella season" as each week passed in victory, and Rutgers gained nationwide attention and raised discussion of a possible national championship appearance.[31][32] Rutgers ascended the major college football polls from starting the season unranked to achieving its highest ranking ever after the Scarlet Knights' 9 November 2006 victory over the third-ranked, undefeated Louisville Cardinals. The 28-25 contest was won by kicker Jeremy Ito, who hit the game-winning field goal at the end of the game. After this game, Rutgers jumped to seventh in the AP Poll, eighth in the USA Today/Coaches poll, seventh in the Harris Interactive Poll, and sixth in the Bowl Championship Series rankings.[33][34] Finishing the regular season with a record of 10-2, with losses against only University of Cincinnati's Bearcats and West Virginia University's Mountaineers. With a 37–10 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats in the inaugural Texas Bowl, Rutgers finished the 2006 with a record of 11–2 and were ranked twelfth in the nation in final season polls.[35] This was Rutgers' highest rankings in the football polls since they were ranked fifteenth in 1961.[36][37]

The 2006 team featured players such as Maxwell Award finalist, All-American halfback Ray Rice, quarterback Mike Teel, fullback Brian Leonard, tight end Clark Harris, wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, All-American defensive tackle Eric Foster, safety Courtney Greene, kicker Jeremy Ito, and punter Joe Radigan, who holds the longest-punt record (78 yards) in Rutgers history. Rice, who during the season broke several Rutgers football records, and with 1,794 rushing yards set the Big East's single-season record, came in seventh in elections for the 2006 Heisman Trophy.[36] Head Coach Greg Schiano was awarded the 2006 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award from the Football Writers Association of America.[36] Results for the 2006 season are, as follows:[38]

Date Special Event Opponent Result Score
2 September 2006 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels Win 21 – 16
9 September 2006 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Win 33 – 0
16 September 2006 Ohio University Bobcats Win 24 – 7
23 September 2006 Howard University Bison Win 56 – 7
29 September 2006 University of South Florida Bulls Win 22 – 20
14 October 2006 United States Naval Academy Midshipmen Win 34 – 0
21 October 2006 University of Pittsburgh Panthers Win 20 – 10
29 October 2006 University of Connecticut Huskies Win 24 – 13
9 November 2006 University of Louisville Cardinals Win 28 – 25
18 November 2006 University of Cincinnati Bearcats Loss 30 – 11
25 November 2006 Syracuse University Orange Win 38 – 7
2 December 2006 West Virginia University Mountaineers Loss (3OT) 41 – 39
28 December 2006 Texas Bowl Kansas State University Wildcats Win 37 – 10

[edit] Championships and bowl games

The Rutgers College football team in 1882.
The Rutgers College football team in 1882.

In 1869, when Rutgers and Princeton met for the inaugural intercollegiate football game, they were the only two teams playing. Rutgers won the first game with a score of six runs to Princeton's four, on 6 November 1869.[28] However, Princeton was victorious in the next game, played the following week, with a score of eight to zero.[28] A planned third game, scheduled 29 November 1869, did not occur as the faculties of both schools presumably thought that the game would interfere with the studies of the respective school's student bodies.[39] Other sources claim that it may have been cancelled due to disagreement over what set of rules to play under.[40] While some might consider the awarding of a championship in the 1869 "season" to be disingenuous—as there were only two teams playing "football" at the time, both showing 1-1 records—Princeton and Rutgers have been regarded as having shared the 1869 national championship.[2][41]

From 1946 to 1951, Rutgers was a member of the Middle Three Conference, winning that conference's championship in the first four years as a member, in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949. Rutgers became an independent team again in 1952.[9] Rutgers was a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference from 1958 to 1961. The college won the conference championship in three of those four years (1958, 1960, and 1961). The 1961 season was particularly remarkable as it was the Scarlet Knights' first undefeated season (9-0)—with Alabama, one of only two undefeated teams in the nation—and the team was captained by future college football hall-of-famer Alex Kroll.[42] In 1961, Rutgers was considered a contender for the Rose Bowl, but was not selected because university president Mason Welch Gross did not express interest with the Rose Bowl's organizers.[43][44] The following year, Rutgers once again went independent, and remained so until it joined the Big East Conference in 1991[9] In 1976, Rutgers declined an invitation to play an unranked McNeese State University at the Independence Bowl, feeling snubbed by more prestigious bowls despite its undefeated 11–0 season.[45] Rutgers has gone to three bowl games in its 137-year history in college football of which it has won one. The results are, as follows:[28]

Date Bowl Opponent Result Score
16 December 1978 Garden State Bowl Arizona State University Sun Devils Loss 34 – 18
27 December 2005 Insight Bowl Arizona State University Sun Devils Loss 45 – 40
28 December 2006 Texas Bowl Kansas State University Wildcats Win 37 – 10

[edit] Head Coaches

Twenty-five men have served as head coach of the Rutgers football team since 1891, when the first coach was hired. From 1869 to 1890, and 1892 to 1894, there was no coach.[9]

Coach Dates Record (%) Coach Dates Record (%)
- No Coach - 1869–1890 34-59-8 (.376) - Howard Gargan 1910–1912 12-10-4 (.538)
William A. Reynolds 1891 8-6-0 (.571) - George Foster Sanford 1913–1923 56-32-5 (.629)
- No Coach - 1892–1894 7-15-1 (.326) - John H. Wallace 1924–1926 12-14-1 (.463)
H. W. Ambruster 1895 3-4-0 (.429) - Harry J. Rockafeller 1927–1930, 1942–1945 33-26-1 (.558)
John C. B. Pendleton 1896–1897 8-12-0 (.400) - Wilder Tasker 1931–1937 31-27-5 (.532)
William V. B. Van Dyke, Jr. 1898–1899 3-15-1 (.184) - Harvey Harman 1938–1941, 1946–1955 74-44-2 (.625)
Michael F. Daly 1900 4-4-0 (.500) - John R. Steigman 1956–1959 22-15-0 (.595)
Arthur P. Robinson 1901 0-7-0 (.000) - John F. Bateman 1960–1972 73-51-0 (.589)
Harry W. Van Hovenberg 1902 3-7-0 (.300) - Frank R. Burns 1973–1983 78-43-1 (.643)
Oliver D. Mann 1903, 1905 7-10-1 (.417) - Dick Anderson 1984–1989 27-34-4 (.446)
A. Ellet Hitchner 1904 1-6-2 (.222) - Doug Graber 1990–1995 29-36-1 (.447)
Frank H. Gorton 1906–1907 8-7-3 (.528) - Terry Shea 1996–2000 11-44-0 (.200)
Joseph Smith 1908 3-5-1 (.389) - Greg Schiano 2001–present 30-41-0 (.423)
Herman Pritchard 1909 3-5-1 (.389) - TOTAL 580-580-43 (.500)

[edit] Men's basketball

Interior of the Louis Brown Athletic Center, known also as the "RAC", during a game between Rutgers and Villanova, 11 January 2006
Interior of the Louis Brown Athletic Center, known also as the "RAC", during a game between Rutgers and Villanova, 11 January 2006

The Rutgers Men's Basketball Team was among the "Final Four" in the Division I NCAA Tournament and ended the 1976 season ranked fourth in the United States, after an 86-70 loss against the University of Michigan in the semifinal round, and a 106-92 loss against UCLA in the tournament's third-place consolation game.[46]

Also, this was the last men's Division I tournament to date to feature two unbeaten teams, as both Indiana and Rutgers entered the tournament unbeaten. Both advanced to the Final Four, with Indiana winning the title and Rutgers losing to Michigan in the semifinals and UCLA in the third-place game. Rutgers went 31-0 before losing in both the semifinals (to Michigan) and the third-place game (to UCLA).

[edit] Women's basketball

The Scarlet Knights Women's Basketball of late has been one of the more successful programs in the school. A notable season would be the 2005-2006 season, when Rutgers at one point was ranked 4th in the nation and reached the Elite Eight behind the shooting of Cappie Pondexter. In the 2006-07 season, Rutgers finished 2nd in the regular season behind UConn, but went on to defeat the Huskies in the Big East Championship game.

Rutgers beat 1st seeded Duke 53-52 in the 2007 NCAA tournament, and advanced to the 2007 Women's Final Four.

[edit] Other sports

[edit] Championships

  • Women's Basketball, AIAW National Champions (1982)
  • Men's Basketball, Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Champions (1989)
  • Cheerleading, Dance Team, UCA National Champions (1996)
  • Soccer, Big East Conference Champions (1997)
  • Baseball, Big East Conference Champions (2000)
  • Women's Basketball, Big East Tournament Champions (2007)

[edit] Controversy and debate

[edit] Regarding "bigger time" athletics

Rutgers University's seventeenth president, Edward J. Bloustein (1925–1989) envisioned a drive for success at Rutgers that involved participation in "bigger-time" athletics. Several of the nation's colleges became associated with Division I-AA when that designation was established in the late 1970s, including many of Rutgers' historic rivals like Princeton, Columbia, Lehigh and Lafayette College. Bloustein decided that Rutgers ought to pursue developments that woud place the university on par with comparable state universities both academically and athletically. This led to Rutgers opting for inclusion among Division I, and later, under president Francis L. Lawrence, to join the Big East Conference in 1991.

William C. Dowling, a University Professor in the Department of English, and a few other like-minded faculty, students and alumni organized a group known as "Rutgers 1000"[47] in 1993, favoring downgrading the school's football team to Division I-AA. This group disbanded in 2003 after Professor Dowling expressed dismay at President Richard McCormick's decision to continue supporting the athletic program.

Rutgers efforts to upgrade the quality of its football program have raised criticism of several alumni, faculty and students regarding the size of athletic department's budget, wishing to divert its funds elsewhere. The athletic department's budget is $35.5 million[48] compared to a $1.6 billion budget for the entire university.[49] A large portion of the athletics budget comes from mandatory student fees enacted in recent years. The rest comes from self-generating revenue (ticket sales, merchandise, broadcast rights) and from the general university budget. In addition, many argue that having a very visible football program increases the connection of alumni and members of the community at large, thus increasing donations to the athletic department and even the university as a whole. For this reason it is difficult to quantify the positive impact that a strong football program has on the university in a variety of areas.

Critics claim that the focus on Division I-A athletics lowers admissions and academic standards. However, at 980, Rutgers team had the third-highest Academic Performance Rate (APR) score of any Division I-A football team in 2005.[50] Critics also claim that off-the-field criminal incidents will damage the university's reputation, believing that big-time athletics inevitably fosters corruption. These concerns have not been empirically tested, and incidents have been less frequent at Rutgers than at other major state universities. A final complaint was that the upgraded football schedule would prevent competing against long standing rivals Princeton, Columbia, Lehigh, and Lafayette. However, supporters of the move claim it would make Rutgers more comparable to large, prestigious state universities such as the University of Michigan and University of California and private institutions such as Stanford University which have been touted for balancing their academic reputation with athletic success.

[edit] Budget cuts and lean times

In the writing of New Jersey's 2006 state budget, the state legislature cut $66 million from the government's appropriations to Rutgers. The university responded by reducing several classes, laying off staff and junior faculty, and closing several programs. The athletic department announced that it would be ending six athletic programs beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year. These athletic programs affected are the lightweight and heavyweight Crew, the swimming and diving team, mens' tennis teams.

[edit] Venues

A panorama view of Rutgers Stadium, as seen from its southeastern corner
A panorama view of Rutgers Stadium, as seen from its southeastern corner

[edit] New Brunswick/Piscataway

Main articles: Rutgers Stadium, Louis Brown Athletic Center, and College Avenue Gymnasium

Rutgers University fields 27 sports teams from their New Brunswick-Piscataway Campus for NCAA Division I-A competition. Most of the university's 14 athletic venues and facilities are currently located in Piscataway on the Busch and Livingston campuses, with two facilities in New Brunswick (the College Avenue Gymnasium and the Class of 1914 Boathouse). Though the College Avenue Gymnasium has hosted a large variety of athletic events—including memorable games in the 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in which Rutgers advanced to the "Final Four", subsequently ending the season fourth in the nation—it was also the site of conventions to revise the New Jersey State Constitution in 1947 and 1966.[51]

One hundred and twenty-five years after Rutgers and Princeton first inaugurated the tradition of American football, Rutgers Stadium, a 42,000 seat facility, was opened during the 1994 football season. The field at Rutgers Stadium is large enough to host national and international soccer matches.[52] The Louis Brown Athletic Center, commonly known as the RAC (for its original name of Rutgers Athletic Center), is home to the Rutgers men’s and women’s basketball programs and has a capacity of 8,000 seats. The RAC is often considered one of the toughest places to play by opponents because of the shape of the facility and the volume and intensity of the crowd.[53]

Soccer and Lacrosse are both played at Yurcak Field, which accommodates over 5,000 fans. Built in 1994, this site, recognized as one of the premiere collegiate venues for these two sports in the United States, was named in honor of Rutgers alumnus Ronald N. Yurcak, a 1965 All-American Lacrosse player.[54] Rutgers also operates an 18-hole 6,000-yard, par 71 golf course, designed by Hal Purdy and awarded four stars in 2004 by Golf Magazine and ranked by Golf Digest as "Best Place to Play".[55]

[edit] Newark

Rutgers-Newark fields teams for NCAA Division III competition in Men's and Women's Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball (women), Baseball (men) and Softball (women). The Men's Volleyball team is the only NCAA Division I sport on the campus. Their teams are known as the "Scarlet Raiders."[56] Built in 1977, the Golden Dome Athletic Center is the hub of Rutgers-Newark athletics, seating 2,000. Soccer and softball games are held on Alumni Field, while the Rutgers-Newark baseball team plays at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, a 6,200-seat ballpark that is home to the Newark Bears, a minor-league professional baseball franchise.[57]

[edit] Camden

Rutgers-Camden fields teams for NCAA Division III competition in Men's and Women's Crew, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Indoor Track, Baseball (men), Softball (women), and Track and Field. In 2006, Rutgers-Camden won the NCAA Division III Softball championship, defeating two-time defending champion St. Thomas, 3-2 to capture the school's first national title.[58] Rutgers-Camden basketball also holds the unfortunate distinction of the longest losing streak in college basketball, set in 1997. The team was disbanded, but student outcry lead to a re-instatement. Then Athletic Director "Pony" Wilson coached the team to its first win in 117 games over Iona College. Though yet to post a winning season, the team has returned somewhat to respectability.

[edit] Notable athletes from Rutgers University

Main article: List of Rutgers University people

Several alumni who participated in athletic programs during their undergraduate years at Rutgers University have continued their athletic careers professionally. A few became coaches, managers or owners of professional teams, including Alexi Lalas, Class of 1991, a former U.S. Soccer National Team member who is the current President & General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Eddie Jordan, Class of 1977, who was Head Coach of the Washington Wizards, Sonny Werblin, Class of 1932, who was founder of the New York Jets in the National Football League, and Jeff Torborg, Class of 1963, a Major League Baseball Catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels who went on to manage several teams in Major League Baseball[59] and coaches of college athletic teams, including Jim Valvano, Class of 1967, who while coach at North Carolina State University won 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Also notable, David Stern, a member of the Class of 1963, who is the current commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA)—a post he has occupied since 1984.

John Conway, Class of 1999, is the current goalkeeper for Red Bull New York and Josh Gros, Class of 2003 is a midfielder for D.C. United in American Major League Soccer. Players that went on to the National Football League include: Deron Cherry, Class of 1980, (Kansas City Chiefs) member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Quarterback Ray Lucas, class of 1996, (New York Jets, Miami Dolphins 1996-2002), Quartback Mike McMahon, Class of 2001 (Minnesota Vikings),[60] Center Shaun O'Hara, Class of 2000, (New York Giants),[60] Tight End L.J. Smith, Class of 2003, (Philadelphia Eagles)[60] and Tight End Marco Battaglia, Class of 1996, (Pittsburgh Steelers)[60] Current Rutgers football players Brian Leonard (Class of 2007), and Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice (Class of 2009) have been regarded by sportswriters as being potential in-demand by teams in the National Football League. David DeJesus is currently a center-fielder for Kansas City Royals.[59] Rutgers' successeful Women's Basketball program have sent several women to the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), including Sue Wicks, Class of 1988, who played for the New York Liberty from 1997 to 2002, and was a member of the American team in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and most recently Cappie Pondexter, Class of 2006, of the Phoenix Mercury and Tammy Sutton-Brown, Class of 2001, with the Charlotte Sting. Among Rutgers Men's Basketball, Roy Hinson, class of 1982, has been a long-time player in the league, and recent student Quincy Douby is currently a Guard for the Sacramento Kings.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and References

[edit] Footnotes and citations

  1. ^ a b c d Rutgers Through the Years (timeline), published by Rutgers University (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tradition at www.scarletknights.com. Published by Rutgers University Athletic Department (no further authorship information available), accessed 10 September 2006.
  3. ^ Rutgers Athletics, accessed September 24, 2006
  4. ^ Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders, Website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Newark, accessed 25 January 2007.
  5. ^ Rutgers-Camden Athletics, website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Camden, Accessed 10 September 2006.
  6. ^ A History of American Football until 1889 accessed 10 September 2006.
  7. ^ NFL History at the National Football League website, accessed 10 September 2006.
  8. ^ College Football Past National Championships at the National Collegiate Athletic Association website, accessed 29 December 2006.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Rutgers football history database at NationalChamps.net, accessed 3 January 2007.
  10. ^ Several articles 1948-1956 in the The Daily Targum (Rutgers University's campus newspaper), located in The Targum, The Rutgers Targum and The Daily Targum (then printed weekly) Microfilm records (1) v.87-v.94:no.35 OCT 17,1945-APR 10,1953, and (2) v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972 (2 rolls) and Walton R. Johnson Papers (1949-2001), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  11. ^ Rutgers at BigEast.org (Official Site of the Big East Conference. Published by the Big East Conference (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  12. ^ Big East Championship Records published by the Big East Athletic Conference, accessed 8 August 2006.
  13. ^ Insight Bowl - December 27, 2005, accessed September 24, 2006
  14. ^ "Discography" from Failure Magazine, accessed 4 August 2006.
  15. ^ Scarlet Letter 1924 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  16. ^ Scarlet Letter 1924 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  17. ^ November 1948 in Fifty Years Ago: Class of 1951 at published by the Princeton Class of 1951, edited by J. Sprigg Duvall (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  18. ^ Series of articles in the spring of 1955 issues of the Rutgers Targum (then printed weekly), the Rutgers University campus newspaper. Microfilm records v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972, Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  19. ^ Quoted in the Rutgers Targum (8 April 1955). Microfilm records v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972 (1 roll) Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  20. ^ Editorial in the Rutgers Targum (9 September 1955). Microfilm records v.94:no.36-v.104:no.58 APR 17,1953-DEC 5,1972, (1 roll) Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  21. ^ George J. Lukac (ed.), Aloud to Alma Mater. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1966), 70-73. (No ISBN)
  22. ^ "Singing Songs of Scarlet" from the Daily Targum 18 May 2006.
  23. ^ a b Richard M. Hadden RC'32, November 20, 1910 - July 9, 2003: Composer of "The Bells Must Ring" at Rutgers Alumni News, published by Rutgers University Office of Alumni Relations (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.
  24. ^ "The Bells Must Ring" at Traditional Rutgers Songs, published by Rutgers University (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007
  25. ^ Scarlet Letter 1890 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Archibald S. Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
  26. ^ History and Tradition published by the Rutgers Touchdown Club (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007
  27. ^ "Rivalry Rising: With both teams lagging behind in the Big East, a new coach looks to revitilize Rutgers-Seton Hall" by Brian Johnson in The Daily Targum (26 January 2007). Accessed 28 January 2007.
  28. ^ a b c d e Rutgers Historical Scores at Division I-A Historical Scores, published by James Howell. Accessed 12 January 2007.
  29. ^ Army vs. Rutgers in USA Today 14 September 2002. (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.
  30. ^ Futility "U" - The Worst Football Programs of Division I-A 2006 by John Fuentes (4 January 2007), published by College Football Channel. Accessed 12 January 2007
  31. ^ "Rutgers' Route to Championship" by Randy Youngman, Orange County Register (13 November 2006), accessed 12 January 2007.
  32. ^ "Rutgers is reaping rewards of winning - Football glory draws visitors, donations" by Rita Giordano, Philadelphia Inquirer (17 November 2006), accessed 12 January 2007
  33. ^ 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 12 citing the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, ESPNU Allstate Standings, the BCS Standings, the USA Today Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  34. ^ 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 12 citing the Harris Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  35. ^ 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 17 citing the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the USA Today Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  36. ^ a b c Rutgers Ranked 12th in Final 2006 football Polls - Highest Season-Ending Ranking in School History (Press Release 09 January 2007) at ScarletKnights.com (Official Website of Rutgers University athletics). Published by Rutgers University Athletics Department (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007
  37. ^ Texas Bowl "Rutgers Wins Inaugual Texas Bowl" (news item). Published by the Texas Bowl (no further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  38. ^ 2006 Scarlet Knights football schedule at scarletknights.com, Rutgers University athletics department website (no further authorship information available), accessed 3 January 2007.
  39. ^ Rutgers - The Birthplace of College Football: The First Intercollegiate Game - November 6, 1869 at scarletknights.com, published by the Rutgers University Athletic Department, accessed 12 January 2007.
  40. ^ NO CHRISTIAN END! The Beginnings of Football in America published by the Professional Football Research Association (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.
  41. ^ Sportswriter Parke Davis asserts that Rutgers shares the 1869 championship with Princeton at College Football Past National Championships at the National Collegiate Athletic Association website, accessed 29 December 2006.
  42. ^ "Doing for Dear Old Rutgers" in Time Magazine (1 December 1961) (No further authorship information available). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  43. ^ "Army, Navy May Hold Key to Rose Bowl" in The Washington Post (2 December 1961). Page A16. Only authorship information given "by a staff reporter".
  44. ^ "Son of former Rutgers coach sees Schiano as reincarnation of dad" by Rick Malwitz in The Home News Tribune (30 November 2006). Accessed 12 January 2007.
  45. ^ "Rutgers Votes to Skip Independence Bowl" in The Washington Post (23 November 1976). Page D6. (No further authorship information available).
  46. ^ 1976 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament at shrpsports.com, accessed 29 December 2006.
  47. ^ Rutgers 1000 website
  48. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2519938
  49. ^ The Daily Targum (4 April 2006) "Spending is Up, State Aid is decreasing"
  50. ^ NCAA's new scarlet letters are APR accessed 10 September 2006.
  51. ^ Reock, Ernest C. Unfinished Business: The New Jersey Constitutional Convention of 1966 (New Brunswick, New: Center for Urban Policy Research / Rutgers University Press, 2003), passim. ISBN 0882851756
  52. ^ www.scarletknights.com: Rutgers Stadium accessed 13 August 2006.
  53. ^ www.scarletknights.com: RAC accessed 13 August 2006.
  54. ^ www.scarletknights.com: Yurcak Field accessed 13 August 2006.
  55. ^ Golf Course Grows Over Time from The Daily Targum 14 April 2006, accessed 13 August 2006.
  56. ^ Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders, Website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Newark, accessed 25 January 2007.
  57. ^ Rutgers-Newark Athletic Facilities accessed 10 September 2006.
  58. ^ Rutgers-Camden Athletics, website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Camden, Accessed 10 September 2006.
  59. ^ a b MLB Player Search. Major League Baseball. Retrieved on 2006-08-09.
  60. ^ a b c d title= Rutgers Players in a College Search at NFLPlayers.com, website of a subsidiary company of the National Football League Players Association (no further authorship information available), accessed 12 January 2007.

[edit] Books and printed materials

  • Demarest, William Henry Steele. History of Rutgers College: 1776-1924. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers College, 1924). (No ISBN)
  • Leitch, A Princeton Companion (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1978).
  • Lukac, George J. (ed.), Aloud to Alma Mater. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1966), 70-73. (No ISBN)
  • McCormick, Richard P. Rutgers: a Bicentennial History. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1966). ISBN 0-8135-0521-6
  • Schmidt, George P. Princeton and Rutgers: The Two Colonial Colleges of New Jersey. (Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand, 1964). (No ISBN)

[edit] Online resources

[edit] External links


Rutgers University

Academics

New Brunswick-Piscataway Campus
School of Arts and Sciences • School of Environmental and Biological Sciences • College of Nursing • Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy • Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy • Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology • Graduate School of Education • Mason Gross School of the Arts • Rutgers Business School • School of Communication, Information and Library Studies • School of Engineering • School of Management and Labor Relations • School of Social Work

Newark Campus
Newark College of Arts and Sciences • University College • Graduate School • College of Nursing • Rutgers Business School • School of Criminal Justice • School of Law

Camden Campus
Camden College of Arts and Sciences • University College • Graduate School • Rutgers School of Business - Camden • School of Law

Research

Rutgers University Press • Center for Alcohol Studies • Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine • Center for Urban Policy Research • Eagleton Institute of Politics • Institute of Jazz Studies • National Transit Institute • Waksman Institute of Microbiology • BioMaPS Institute for Quantitative Biology

Rutgersiana

History of Rutgers University • List of Rutgers University people • President of Rutgers University • Henry Rutgers • On the Banks of the Old Raritan • Rutgers-Princeton Cannon War • The Bells Must Ring • Traditions at Rutgers University

Campus & Student Life

Old Queens • Voorhees Mall • Rutgers Gardens • Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum • Busch Campus • Student Organizations • Greek Life • The Daily Targum • Rutgers Centurion • The Medium • Philoclean Society • Rutgers University Glee Club • Cap and Skull • Order of the Bull's Blood • WRSU • Grease Trucks •

Athletics

 Athletics at Rutgers University • Big East Conference • Louis Brown Athletic Center • Rutgers Stadium • College Avenue Gymnasium


Big East Conference
Football: Cincinnati • Connecticut • Louisville • Pittsburgh • Rutgers • South Florida • Syracuse • West Virginia
Non-football: DePaul • Georgetown • Marquette • Notre Dame • Providence • St. John's • Seton Hall • Villanova
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/u/t/Rutgers_Scarlet_Knights_26f5.html"