We Want Rutgers!
Rutgers still hasn’t announced a 12th opponent to complete its schedule, according to the Big East schedules for the entire league released Monday.
Wouldn’t that be a great match up between the Lions and the Scarlet Knights? Despite the one sided nature of this regional rivalry, there is in fact a rivalry. The teams have played each other at least 20 times since 1950 and Penn State has won every one except in 1988. But the 1995 game won by Penn State in a 59-34 victory rejuvenated the heated passions between the two programs. Up by a comfortable lead, the Lions threw a 42-yard touchdown pass with 58 seconds to go. Rutger’s coach Doug Graber saw this as an insult and threw his headset on the sideline. Graber had an angry exchange with Penn State Coach Joe Paterno during a handshake meeting following sixth-ranked Penn State’s 20th consecutive victory.
Separated by 204 miles, Penn State could gain as much as Rutgers from scheduling the Scarlet Knights again. The Knights are clearly not the patsy Penn State used to beat on and will improve not only their Strength of Schedule, but entrench the Lions into the New Jersey/New York recruiting area once again. With a fast rising Rutgers program, they are beginning to successfully defend their home turf and a home and away series with Rutgers would only help recruiting in the area.
Tell me Schiano will not wet himself over the chance to face his dream institution and get his foot in the door for any potential future coaching positions. Now of course there is the difficult decision of who Rutgers could replace in a blockbuster list of non conference opponents?
Coastal Carolina – August 30
Oregon State – September 6
at Syracuse – September 13
Temple – September 20
Decisions… decisions… decisions… Rutger’s current non conference schedule?
Howard – August 30
North Carolina – September 11
at Navy – September 20
Army – November 22
They are looking to fill an open slot on September 27th which is a home conference game against the Illini at Penn State so that is a no go. They do have an open date on on September 6 but Oregon State is the crown jewel in our treasure trove of non conference opponents. But August 30th? Rutgers face Howard, Penn State faces Coastal Carolina. Its time for both schools to own up and schedule one another and ditch the cupcakes. We know this will never happen on such short notice but we can dare to dream can’t we?
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