• In 1869, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights became the first team to ever win a collegiate football game, defeating Princeton University 9-0. While the school has seen very little success in the years that followed, there has been a rebirth of winning at the school as a member of the Big East Conference in recent years. Under the guidance of current head coach Greg Schiano, the program has completed three consecutive winning seasons and made three straight bowl appearances.

  The Scarlet Knights defeated the NC State Wolfpack, 29-23, in the PapaJohns.com Bowl on December 29, 2008.ESPN.com: North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Box Score

• Fast Facts

  1. Head coach: Greg Schiano
  2. Inaugural season: 1869
  3. Joined league: 1991
  4. National titles: None
  5. Home: Rutgers Stadium
  6. Capacity: 41,500
  7. All-time: 580-580-43
  8. Colors: Scarlet and white
  9. Fight song: "The Bells Must Ring"
  10. Bitter rival: Syracuse
  11. 2007 W-L: 7-5

• Tony Soprano's Team

  With the arrival of Schiano, the program began to take dramatic steps in finally winning the recruiting battle for coveted top talent from within the state of New Jersey. For years, top players from the New York City tri-state area would go to other schools to play, but Schiano has changed all that. He's been able to not only keep top in-state players from leaving, but has also made significant in-roads within the state of Florida. A small amount of credit should go to the marketing of the school through several commercial spots using actor James Gandolfini, a Rutgers alum, in his Tony Soprano persona 'encouraging' recruits to come to Rutgers. In 2006, the Scarlet Knights had arguably their best season ever, finishing with an 11-2 record. They lost to West Virginia in triple overtime, preventing them from appearing in a Bowl Championship Series game.

• Players in the NFL

  • Gary Brackett (Linebacker)
  • Eric Foster (Defensive Tackle)
  • Gary Gibson (Defensive Tackle)
  • Clark Harris (Tight End)
  • Nathan Jones (Cornerback)
  • Brian Leonard (Running Back)
  • Ryan Neill (Defensive End)
  • Shaun O'Hara (Center)
  • Joe Porter (Cornerback)
  • Ray Rice (Running Back)
  • L.J. Smith (Tight End)
  • Darnell Stapleton (Guard)
  • Cameron Stephenson (Guard)
  • Jeremy Zuttah (Offensive Lineman)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Rutgers University | NCAA Football | Big East Football | Cincinnati Bearcats Football | UConn Huskies Football | Louisville Cardinals Football | Pittsburgh Panthers Football | South Florida Bulls Football | Syracuse Orange Football | West Virginia Mountaineers Football | James Gandolfini | Greg Schiano | L.J. Smith | Steve Spagnuolo

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