This may seem harsh but I was really let down by RU losing this game. There are no moral victories for the Big East during the bowl season and ASU was by no means a world beater. Given they were playing on the oppositions home field this game was no different than the game RU opened the season with and no less disappointing. In my recollection the Illinois loss was a carbon copy. A mediocre team was able to come back from a large deficit against RU and get the victory.

Schiano has the players; I simply haven't been impressed with his coaching. He reminds me of some past characters that coached up the road at UK. They might play an important game tough and get a nice lead but they would always find a way to lose. Some seem happy that Rutgers was competitive with a 6-5 PAC-10 team. For me it's hard to find the silver lining any time your team gives up a two touchdown lead in a loss.

The bowls only get tougher for the league from here on out. Looking at ASU's season I thought RU was about as close to a lock as we could get for a BE win this postseason. Louisville has key injuries heading into the Gator Bowl and while I expect us to compete I can't say I expect us to win. WVU has a huge task in taking out Georgia and the EER's history of bowl performances in recent history leaves much to be desired. USF is a crapshoot. They could win but they also have the potential of being blown out if their erratic play this season is any indicator.

Rutgers needed this game to be taken seriously. The Big East needed this game for some momentum and positive press.

As Greg S admitted his players did not have the skills of ASU.Too many 2 star players not enough 3/4 and no 5 star players.The pass defense stinks (too small and too slow).Time for a replaement in coaching at this position as well as bigger,faster and better players.Also the run game died in the second half due to ASU adjustments.The only winning program Rutgers beat all year was Navy.

I think Rutgers played about as well as they were capable of playing last night....I have watched Eastern football for a while and I have never seen a Rutgers offense look as good

-- I'm not sure the fans of the newer schools appreciate how far Rutgers has come in a very short amount of time....for the past couple decades Rutgers and Temple were basically at the same level talent wise...and through much of the 80s and 90s...I would say Temple was the better of the two football programs more often then not....For RU to make a bowl and send 7k (or whatever it was) to a game in Arizona is amazing and a good sign for the future


Jackson

tigersharktwo Wrote:As Greg S admitted his players did not have the skills of ASU.Too many 2 star players not enough 3/4 and no 5 star players.The pass defense stinks (too small and too slow).Time for a replaement in coaching at this position as well as bigger,faster and better players.Also the run game died in the second half due to ASU adjustments.The only winning program Rutgers beat all year was Navy.

So Schiano blamed the loss on the talent level of his players? Impressive.

I was very disappointed... Rutgers could have really blew open the game in the 1st half but they had too many penalties (false starts, roughing the passer, holding, all at crucial times). They could have been up 28-7 if it weren't for dumb plays...

mlb Wrote:I was very disappointed... Rutgers could have really blew open the game in the 1st half but they had too many penalties (false starts, roughing the passer, holding, all at crucial times). They could have been up 28-7 if it weren't for dumb plays...

Agreed. Rutgers played a GUTSY game, but they had too many opportunities pass them by. A few penalties here and there and they would have put the game out of reach. They had this team in the first half. ASU was flat and listless on defense. Rutgers was steamrolling.

But you could tell in the 2nd half that ASU believed it would win, and Rutgers was just trying to hang out. They did respond with a couple long field goals and that late score, but ASU played to win and they got it done. Give them credit.

Nice job by Rutgers, but not enough. They should have won that game.

wvucrazed Wrote:

mlb Wrote:I was very disappointed... Rutgers could have really blew open the game in the 1st half but they had too many penalties (false starts, roughing the passer, holding, all at crucial times). They could have been up 28-7 if it weren't for dumb plays...

Agreed. Rutgers played a GUTSY game, but they had too many opportunities pass them by. A few penalties here and there and they would have put the game out of reach. They had this team in the first half. ASU was flat and listless on defense. Rutgers was steamrolling.

But you could tell in the 2nd half that ASU believed it would win, and Rutgers was just trying to hang out. They did respond with a couple long field goals and that late score, but ASU played to win and they got it done. Give them credit.

Nice job by Rutgers, but not enough. They should have won that game.

You could sense it near the end of the second quarter. I posted at half out of frustration. IMO Coach S started playing not to lose about mid way though the second quarter and the kids sensed it. Going away from the running game was mind boggling. I also maintain that being content to run out the clock at the end of the half when you are kicking off to start the second with 0 momentum is unacceptable. You have to continue to fight not conceed.

I say congratulations to Rutgers on a fine season. It was an entertaining game until the end.

Now it's time to shore up the defense during the offseason.

I was very proud of the way Rutgers represented the conference. They were originally a 13 1/2 point underdog playing ASU 8 MINUTES AWAY from their campus.

It was fun and entertaining. Great job IMO.

Rutgers played a good game. I was very impressed with the ASU passing game,man that kid was hitting his WR on the numbers consistently.

Rutgers seems to have a hard time finishing out games this year. The big offensive mistake was taking their foot off the gas. The also seemed to have now way to punch it in during the second half.

The only problem on defense seems to be the lack of good reserves. They just flat out got tired in the second half. RU just doesn't half the horse to pound out long drives (even though they tried) and this kept their under-manned defense on the field too much.

The big mistake was putting their good big-play / quick-strike ability on the shelf in the 3rd quarter. This wouldn't have saved their defense, but they needed to recognized their limitations and go with the game plan that works for the personnel that they have.

They could have won by putting points on the board instead if trying to run the clock, which they had no ability to do anyway.

All these things considered, this was still a good showing by Rutgers.

I didn't see ASU as a better team than Rutgirls. I just saw them as the team ahead when the clock ran out. Rutgirls made a good showing for itself.

Now, because of the lose, it gives the media more room to rampantly continue to disprespect the Big East. We can afford no loses, especially against 6-5 teams.

All in all, I want to congradulate the Queenies on a winning season and making it to a bowl game. I never thought you'd do it, but you did. Way to earn some respect. I hope you can build on it.

Their original nickname was "Queensmen?"

Ouch!

Seriously, props to RU for the effort last night.

I was pretty chapped that RU wasn't ahead 28-10 (or 28-13 minimum). The Moses (GET THAT DANIELSON, MOSES NOT MORRIS lmfao ) drop on their first FG, then the ASU end of the half TD drive was ridiculous defense. Then one of the other FGs they had to settle for, a WR commits a totally unnecessary holding foul (the one on Leonard's run down to the 2 YL). Another four points left out there.

I won't blame RU or Neil for the late hit, and in fact, I'm glad that ASU had to settle for 3 on that drive. It was an officiating error, plain and simple. The irony is, that they were hitting the QB much later than that throughout the game without call.

Agree with Jackson about how far RU has come. They should be happy with the progress they made. But, I fully agree with L-Yes that they should in no way be satisfied, neither should the conference.

RU needs to capitalize on the opportunity presented by this entertaining game, and parlay their bowl appearance into a top-notch recruiting class. Otherwise, all for not.

As for this being the most likely bowl win for the BE, I don't agree with that at all. I think USF has the best chance. NC St isn't a real good team. ASU was a very good team that happened to have a crappy middle of the season. I do agree that RU should have done much more vs. their defense. I do think UL has a better chance vs. VT than most think, and I'll be impressed if WVU can hang with UGa.

This atracted the attention of one of the Gold mines of recruits. Jersey kids now know Rutgers is good and won't ditch them to go to USC from now on

army56mike Wrote:Now, because of the lose, it gives the media more room to rampantly continue to disprespect the Big East. We can afford no loses, especially against 6-5 teams..

Rutgers was the underdog but many thought they deserved a bowl and they proved those people correct.. They beat the point spread. They played a pretty good team with a great offense (4th nationally) right to the end and easily could have won. They represented themselves and the BE very well. If the BE ends up with a couple more tough loses like this there is no doubt BE fans will need their flak jackets for the attacks but those that study football should be able to see that they represented themselves very well.

Good game Rutgers. One of the more entertaining games of the year. Some bowl will want you again next year if you are bowl eligible.

L-yes Wrote:

tigersharktwo Wrote:As Greg S admitted his players did not have the skills of ASU.Too many 2 star players not enough 3/4 and no 5 star players.The pass defense stinks (too small and too slow).Time for a replaement in coaching at this position as well as bigger,faster and better players.Also the run game died in the second half due to ASU adjustments.The only winning program Rutgers beat all year was Navy.

So Schiano blamed the loss on the talent level of his players? Impressive.

Go ahead rag on us. We haven't been in this position ever. And trust me this is only our beginning. 10 years from now we will be one of the premier football teams of the east with Pitt, West Virginia, Louisville, and Penn State. Honestly, I feel we proved we belonged last night if any of you don't feel that way, I just don't care anymore.