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Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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"Scarlet Knights" redirects here. For the comic book characters, see Scarlet Knights (Marvel Comics).

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Logo
UniversityRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
ConferenceBig East Conference, Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
Big Ten Conference starting in 2014
DivisionDivision I-A
Athletic directorTim Pernetti
LocationNew Brunswick, New Jersey
Varsity teams27
Football stadiumHigh Point Solutions Stadium
ArenaLouis Brown Athletic Center (RAC)
Baseball stadiumBainton Field
Soccer stadiumYurcak Field
Other venuesBauer Track & Field Complex, College Avenue Gym, Rutgers University Golf Course
MascotScarlet Knight
NicknameScarlet Knights
Fight songThe Bells Must Ring
ColorsScarlet
 
Websitewww.scarletknights.com

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (also known as Rutgers University). In sports, Rutgers is chiefly known for being 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' main campus in New Brunswick-Piscataway currently fields 27 teams in the Big East Conference which participates in Division I competition, as sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the following sports: baseball, basketball, crew, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving, wrestling, and 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]

The Rutgers campuses in Newark and Camden also participate in intercollegiate competition — under the names Scarlet Raiders and Scarlet Raptors, respectively — in NCAA Division III.[4][5]

Rutgers will be leaving the Big East Conference to join the Big Ten Conference in 2014.[6]

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.[7] 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 a 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 (although the game was based more on soccer than on rugby, unlike the current version of American football, which takes its rules from a rugby-based framework. [3]). Rutgers won the game, with a score of 6 runs to Princeton's 4.[1][2][8] According to Parke H. Davis, the 1869 Rutgers football team shared the national title with Princeton.[9]

For much of its athletic history starting in 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, along with Lafayette and Lehigh. Rutgers considered petitioning to join the Ivy League at the formation of that conference in 1954.[10] From 1958 to 1961, Rutgers was a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference.[11] From 1976 to 1995, 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.[12]

Since joining the Big East, the Scarlet Knights have won four conference tournament titles: men's soccer (1997), baseball (2000, 2007), and women's basketball (2007). Several other teams have won regular season titles but failed to win the conference's championship tournament.[13] Recently, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights' football team has achieved success on the gridiron after several years of losing seasons. They were invited to the Insight Bowl on 27 December 2005 but lost 45 to 40 against Arizona State.[14] This was Rutgers' first bowl appearance since the 16 December 1978 loss against Arizona State, 34 to 18, at the Garden State Bowl, which was the first bowl game in which Rutgers was a participant. In 2006, the Scarlet Knights were invited to the inaugural Texas Bowl, in Houston, Texas in which they defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 37 to 10. On 5 January 2008 Rutgers faced Ball State in the International Bowl held in Toronto, for their third straight bowl game for the first time in the program's history. They won the game 52-30. Following the 2008 regular season, Rutgers was invited to the Papajohns.com Bowl, where on 29 December 2008 they defeated the North Carolina State University Wolfpack by a score of 29 to 23 for their third straight bowl win. On 19 December 2009, the Scarlet Knights won their fourth straight bowl game by defeating the University of Central Florida 45-28 in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

School spirit

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

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 colors 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.[15] However, the choice of Chanticleer as a mascot was often the subject of ridicule because of its association with "being chicken."[16] 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][17] 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."[18] 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.[19]

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.[20][21] 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.[22]

R-U Rah Rah!
R-U Rah Rah!
Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah!
Rutgers Rah!
Upstream Redteam
Redteam Upstream
Rah! Rah! Rutgers Rah![22][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. The original spirit chant used at Rutgers was "Rah! Rah! Rah! Bow-wow-wow! Rutgers!" however, it has not been performed in the modern era.[1][24]

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."[25] 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."

Athletic rivalry

See also: UConn–Rutgers rivalry and Navy Midshipmen football § Rutgers

Rutgers maintains athletic rivalries with other collegiate institutions. The university has historic rivalries with Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Princeton University and Columbia University (formerly King's College) originating from the early days of college football. While they maintain the Princeton rivalry in other sports, neither of them have met in football since 1980. Rutgers has a men's basketball rivalry with Seton Hall University,[26] and has developed growing rivalries with the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University in all sports.

The university's longest active football rivalry is with Navy (dating back to 1891). This rivalry stems from Navy and Rutgers being two of the only three programs (the third is Army) to come out of the original, informal "Ivy League" that are still members of the top tier of NCAA college football (currently Division I-FBS). Rutgers was a part of a round-robin conference known as the Middle Three Conference in football from 1929 through 1976, which included Lafayette and Lehigh. The winner of the annual round-robin received the Little Brass Cannon. The schools frequently met in other intercollegiate sports.(See Before There Was An Ivy League.)

Football

Rutgers' Scarlet Knights' running back Ray Rice follows his blockers in a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on 21 October 2006.
Main article: Rutgers Scarlet Knights football

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.[27] 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.[28][29] 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.[11][27] At present, Rutgers participates in Division I-A and since 1991 has been a member of the Big East Conference.[11] Current coach Kyle Flood replaced Greg Schiano who, after leading Rutgers to its first bowl games in decades, accepted the head coaching job for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2006 season

Main article: 2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

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.[30][31] 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 kicked the game-winning field goal at the end of the game. After the field goal was made, announcer Chris Carlan said his famous line: "It's pandemonium in Piscataway!" as excited fans stormed the field. "Piscataway" references the fact that the game was played in Piscataway, New Jersey, where Rutgers' Football Stadium is located. Rutgers fans still revel in the memory of the game, as it alleviated the stress of so many losing seasons, and marked the pinnacle of Rutgers football. Many fans consider it to be the best football game in Rutgers history. 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.[32][33] Finishing the regular season with a record of 10-2, with losses to the Cincinnati Bearcats and West Virginia Mountaineers. With a 37–10 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats in the inaugural Texas Bowl, Rutgers finished the 2006 season with a record of 11–2 and were ranked twelfth in the nation in the final Associated Press poll.[34] This was Rutgers' highest final ranking ever in any national football poll, although they were ranked in the Top 25 of the Associated Press final poll previously in 1958, 1961 and 1976.[35][36]

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 voting for the 2006 Heisman Trophy.[35] 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.[35]

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
See also: Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball

The Rutgers men's basketball team was among the "Final Four" in the 1976 Division I NCAA Tournament and ended the 1976 season ranked fourth in the nation, after an 86-70 loss against the Michigan Wolverines in the semifinal round and a 106-92 loss to the UCLA Bruins in the tournament's third-place consolation game.[37] This was the last men's Division I tournament to date to feature two unbeaten teams, as both Indiana, who won that year's title, and Rutgers entered the tournament unbeaten. Rutgers went 31-0 during the regular season.

The Scarlet Knights also played in the 2004 NIT Final, where they were defeated by the Michigan Wolverines. In 2005-2006 Quincy Douby set a Rutgers Basketball single season record by scoring 839 points.[38] He left after his junior year to enter the NBA Draft. Center Hamady N'Diaye, taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to the Washington Wizards during the 2010 NBA Draft is the only former Scarlet Knight in the NBA. The Scarlet Knights' current coach is Mike Rice.

Women's basketball

See also: UConn–Rutgers rivalry

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 fourth in the nation and reached the Elite Eight behind the shooting of Cappie Pondexter. In the 2006-07 season, Rutgers finished second in the regular season behind UConn, but went on to defeat the Huskies in the Big East Championship game.

Rutgers beat first seeded Duke 53-52 in the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, and advanced to the 2007 Women's Final Four. In the national semifinals, they would defeat LSU, 59-35 and advance to their first ever National Championship game. In that game, however, they lost to the Tennessee Lady Volunteers by the score of 59-46.

In June 2007, the Rutgers women's basketball team earned the Irv Grossman Award of Merit as providing service and unique achievement to increase appreciation for and elevate the status of women’s collegiate sports on a national level. The award is named after Irv Grossman, the founder of the Honda Awards Program.

In 2007, the team also won the Wilma Rudolph Courage award. This award is given annually to a female athlete or team who exhibits extraordinary courage in her athletic performance, demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity, makes significant contributions to sports and serves as an inspiration and role model to those who face challenges, overcomes them and strives for success at all levels.

The team is currently coached by C. Vivian Stringer.

Men's lacrosse

Rutgers plays Army in 2010

Rutgers began playing lacrosse in 1887. The team lasted 3 years, folding in 1889 after it 2-1 season. The program was re-instated in 1920 due in part to the efforts of Harland W. “Tots” Meistrell. In 1926 Fred Fitch took over the program and began a period of national prominence. The team joined the USILA and won the league's gold medal (along with Johns Hopkins, Maryland, and Navy) in 1928. In 1932 the Rutgers team, led by “the best attack pair in the country” George Latimer and Frenchy Julien participated in the U.S. Olympic team tryouts. During Fitch's 22 seasons the team posted a record of 106-71-8. Al Twitchell took over the reins in 1950 with the retirement of Fitch. In 1955 he guided the team to a co-national championship of the USILA's Laurie Cox Division. The team continues to be a mid-level power, with appearances in the NCAA tournament and All-American players, but it has yet to rise its former status as a national contender. Since its inception in 1887, the Scarlet Knights have won 560 games and two national championships as well as producing 197 All-Americans and 10 lacrosse hall of famers.[39]

Men's soccer

Main article: Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's soccer

Wrestling

See also: Rutgers Scarlet Knights wrestling

The Scarlet Knights wresting team coached by Scott Goodale is a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association since the Big East does not sponsor College wrestling. Its future conference, The Big Ten, does.

Notable non varsity sports

Roller hockey

Main article: Rutgers University Roller Hockey

Rugby

Founded in 1965, Rutgers Rugby Football Club plays Division 1 college rugby in the Empire Conference against local rivals such as Syracuse. For the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, Rutgers played in the College Premier Division, where they were led by Evan Fitzgerald, who holds Rutgers career records in tries scored (32) and points scored (176).[40] Rutgers finished the 2010-11 season ranked 24th in the nation.[41] Rutgers rugby is active in spreading the sport of rugby throughout New Jersey through involvement in youth leagues and inter-state competitions.[42] Rutgers rugby is led by head coach Omar Rivera.

Ultimate frisbee

The first intercollegiate competition in Ultimate Frisbee (now called simply "Ultimate") was held between students from Rutgers and Princeton on 6 November 1972 to mark the one hundred third anniversary of the first intercollegiate football game. Rutgers won 29-27.[43] The Rutgers Ultimate club continued to thrive adopting the name Flaming Animal Machine, which later became just Machine. They compete today in the Metro East division of USA Ultimate, the governing body of North American Ultimate.

Championships and Postseason Bowl Victories

  • Men's fencing, NCAA National Champions (1949)
  • Women's basketball, AIAW National Champions (1982)
  • Men's basketball, Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament champions (1989)
  • Soccer, Big East Conference champions (1997)
  • Cheerleading, Division 1A Dance, UCA/UDA National Champions (1998)
  • Baseball, Big East Conference champions (2000)
  • Men's track & field, Outdoor Big East champions (2005)
  • Men's track & field, Outdoor IC4A Champions (2005)
  • Football, Texas Bowl (2006)
  • Women's basketball, Big East Tournament champions (2007)
  • Baseball, Big East Tournament champions (2007)
  • Football, International Bowl (2008)
  • Football, Papa John's Bowl (2008)
  • Cheerleading, All-Girl Partner Stunt, UCA/UDA National Champions (2009)
  • Football, St. Petersburg Bowl (2009)
  • Football, New Era Pinstripe Bowl (2011)
  • Football, Big East Conference champions (2012)

Controversy and debate

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 would 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 other like-minded faculty, students and alumni organized a movement known as "Rutgers 1000"[44] in 1993, working to return Rutgers to its older tradition of participatory athletics by joining such institutions as the University of Chicago and NYU in the NCAA's Div III. Though the group dissolved itself in 2003 under the mistaken impression that President Richard McCormick supported its position, it was revived in 2007 when McCormick and the Board of Governors announced a $102 million expansion of the football stadium. Also in 2007, Professor Dowling came under fire from athletic director Bob Mulcahy, regarding remarks Mulcahy claimed to perceive as being insulting to minority athletes.[45] In 2011, Dowling received the Drake Group's Robert Maynard Hutchins Award [4] for his opposition to the degradation of academic and intellectual values at Rutgers by commercialized Div IA athletcs.

Rutgers efforts to upgrade the quality of its football program have raised criticism of many 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[46] compared to a $1.6 billion budget for the entire university.[47] Most of the athletics budget comes from self-generating revenue (ticket sales, merchandise, broadcast rights), while the rest is taken from mandatory student fees. Though widely dismissed as a logical fallacy [48] the argument that having a very visible football program increases the donations to the athletic department and even the university as a whole is made by some Scarlet R supporters.

Though some critics feared that the focus on Division I-A athletics would lower admissions and academic standards, the Rutgers football team set a record high for Academic Performance Rate (APR) of any Football Bowl Sub-division team with a score of 992 in 2010.[49] 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.

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, men's tennis teams and the men's and women's fencing. Title IX concerns also played a significant role in these cuts.

Venues

New Brunswick/Piscataway

Main articles: High Point Solutions 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.[50]

One hundred and twenty-five years after Rutgers and Princeton first inaugurated the tradition of American football, High Point Solutions Stadium, a 42,000 seat facility, was opened during the 1994 football season. The field at High Point Solutions Stadium is large enough to host national and international soccer matches.[51] 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.

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.[52] Rutgers also operates an 18-hole 6,337-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".[53]

Notable athletes

Main article: List of Rutgers University people

A growing number of 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 also the former President & General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Eddie Jordan, Class of 1977, who was Head Coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, 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[54] 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.

Jon Conway, Class of 1999, is currently a goalkeeper for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Josh Gros, Class of 2003 was a midfielder for D.C. United in American Major League Soccer. Carli Lloyd, former Women's Soccer star, went on to play on the USWNT in the 2007&2011 World Cups, four Algarve cups, and the 2008 Olympics, when she scored the sudden death goal to seal the gold for the USA. 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), Quarterback Mike McMahon, Class of 2001 (Minnesota Vikings),[55] Center Shaun O'Hara, Class of 2000, (New York Giants),[55] Tight End L.J. Smith, Class of 2003, (Baltimore Ravens),[55] Middle Linebacker Gary Brackett, Class of 2002, Indianapolis Colts, and Tight End Marco Battaglia, Class of 1996, (Pittsburgh Steelers)[55] Brian Leonard (Class of 2007, drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2nd of the 2007 NFL Draft), Kenny Britt (Class of 2010, drafted by the Tennessee Titans 1st round of the 2009 NFL Draft)and Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice (Class of 2009, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft), Offensive Guard Darnell Stapleton, who started for the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers during the championship game. David DeJesus is currently a center-fielder for the Chicago Cubs.[54] Rutgers' successful 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, was a long-time player in the league, and Quincy Douby was drafted in 2006 as a guard for the Sacramento Kings.

The Super Bowl winners from 2007-2009 each had a Rutgers Undrafted free agent start for them:

Super Bowl XLI - Gary Brackett - Middle linebacker - Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLII - Shaun O'Hara - Center - New York Giants
Super Bowl XLIII - Darnell Stapleton - Offensive guard - Pittsburgh Steelers

Notable athletics coaches

See List of Rutgers University people#Athletic coaches

Rutgers-Newark

Further information: Rutgers-Newark § Athletics

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]

Rutgers-Camden

Further information: Rutgers-Camden § Athletics

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. Their teams are known as the "Scarlet Raptors." 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.[5] 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. Rutgers-Camden broke its NCAA-record 117-game losing streak with a 77-72 victory over Bloomfield College.

See also

Notes and references

Footnotes and citations

  1. ^ a b c d Rutgers Through the Years (timeline), published by Rutgers University (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Tradition at www.scarletknights.com. Published by Rutgers University Athletic Department (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  3. ^ Rutgers Athletics. Retrieved 24 September 2006
  4. ^ Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders, website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Newark. Retrieved 25 January 2007.
  5. ^ a b Rutgers-Camden Athletics, website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Camden. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  6. ^ McMurphy, Brett and Dana O'Neil. "Sources: Terps accept Big Ten invite". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  7. ^ A History of American Football until 1889 accessed 10 September 2006.
  8. ^ NFL History at the National Football League website. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  9. ^ College Football Past National Championships at the National Collegiate Athletic Association website. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  10. ^ [1] Published by the Harvard Crimson 28 October 1953. Access 15 November 2011
  11. ^ a b c Rutgers football history database at NationalChamps.net. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
  12. ^ Rutgers at BigEast.org (Official Site of the Big East Conference. Published by the Big East Conference (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  13. ^ Big East Championship Records published by the Big East Athletic Conference. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  14. ^ Insight Bowl - December 27, 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2006
  15. ^ a b Scarlet Letter 1924 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  16. ^ 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). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  17. ^ 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, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  18. ^ 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, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  19. ^ 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, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
  20. ^ George J. Lukac (ed.), Aloud to Alma Mater. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1966), 70-73. (No ISBN)
  21. ^ "Singing Songs of Scarlet" from the Daily Targum 18 May 2006.
  22. ^ 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). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  23. ^ "The Bells Must Ring" at Traditional Rutgers Songs, published by Rutgers University (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007
  24. ^ Scarlet Letter 1890 (Rutgers University yearbook), Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
  25. ^ History and Tradition published by the Rutgers Touchdown Club (No further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007
  26. ^ "Rivalry Rising: With both teams lagging behind in the Big East, a new coach looks to revitalize Rutgers-Seton Hall" by Brian Johnson in The Daily Targum (26 January 2007). Retrieved 28 January 2007.
  27. ^ a b Rutgers Historical Scores at Division I-A Historical Scores, published by James Howell. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  28. ^ Army vs. Rutgers in USA Today 14 September 2002. (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  29. ^ Futility "U" - The Worst Football Programs of Division I-A 2006 by John Fuentes (4 January 2007), published by College Football Channel. Retrieved 12 January 2007
  30. ^ "Rutgers' Route to Championship" by Randy Youngman, Orange County Register (13 November 2006). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  31. ^ "Rutgers is reaping rewards of winning - Football glory draws visitors, donations" by Rita Giordano, Philadelphia Inquirer (17 November 2006). Retrieved 12 January 2007
  32. ^ 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). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  33. ^ 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 12 citing the Harris Poll at ESPN.com. Published by ESPN (No further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  34. ^ 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). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  35. ^ a b c Rutgers Ranked 12th in Final 2006 football Polls - Highest Season-Ending Ranking in School History (Press Release 9 January 2007) at ScarletKnights.com (Official Website of Rutgers University athletics). Published by Rutgers University Athletics Department (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007
  36. ^ Texas Bowl "Rutgers Wins Inaugual Texas Bowl" (news item). Published by the Texas Bowl (no further authorship information available). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  37. ^ 1976 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament at shrpsports.com. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  38. ^ Rutgers Men's Basketball record book, accessed 5 February 2009
  39. ^ Rutgers Men's Lacrosse History: A Proud Tradition Rutgers Athletics official website. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  40. ^ Rutgers Rugby Football Club, Leading Scorers, http://rutgersrugby.org/ru/Roster/Scoring_leaders.aspx?q=get_ScoringLeaders_MostTrysCareer
  41. ^ College_Premier_Division#Final_rankings
  42. ^ Rutgers Recreation, Men's Rugby, http://mensrugby.sportclubs.rutgers.edu/Content/Rugby_Men_s.asp
  43. ^ "Discography" from Failure Magazine. Retrieved 4 August 2006.
  44. ^ Rutgers 1000 website
  45. ^ Rutgers professor denounces AD, president, for 'reckless slander'
  46. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2519938
  47. ^ The Daily Targum (4 April 2006) "Spending is Up, State Aid is decreasing"
  48. ^ the 'Everybody Knows OJ' argument,Rutgers Barchi repeats 'Everybody Knows OJ' rationale for football franchise
  49. ^ [2] Rutgers and the NCAA's 'APR' rankings
  50. ^ 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 0-88285-175-6
  51. ^ www.scarletknights.com: Rutgers Stadium accessed 13 August 2006. [dead link]
  52. ^ www.scarletknights.com: Yurcak Field accessed 13 August 2006. [dead link]
  53. ^ Golf Course Grows Over Time from The Daily Targum 14 April 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2006.
  54. ^ a b "MLB Player Search". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  55. ^ 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). Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  56. ^ Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders, Website of the Department of Athletics, Rutgers-Newark. Retrieved 25 January 2007.
  57. ^ Rutgers-Newark Athletic Facilities accessed 10 September 2006. [dead link]

Books and printed materials

  • Demarest, William Henry Steele. History of Rutgers College: 1776-1924. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers College, 1924). (No ISBN)
  • Dowling, William C. Confessions of a Spoilsport: My Life and Hard Times Fighting Sports Corruption at an Old Eastern University. (Penn State University Press, 2007). ISBN 987-0-271-03293-I.
  • 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)

Online resources

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