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Dark days may be ahead for Scarlet Knights
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If the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-5, 0-2 Big East) were a stock, now would be the time to buy.
Unfortunately, Monday morning would probably be as good of a time as any to sell.
While many have been quick to heap praise upon head coach Greg Schiano, and deservedly so considering the miracle he has performed for the program, things have been anything but rosy since the program’s landmark victory in 2006 over then-third-ranked Louisville.
The victory, which catapulted Rutgers to a 9-0 record and #7 ranking in the polls, seems to have been more a sign of peaking rather than progressing for the Scarlet Knights.
Since arguably the biggest win in school history, Rutgers has gone just 11-12 and has won only six of their past 16 games. Making matters worse, they are yet to win a game this season against a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A). To go along with their ghastly 1-5 record, Rutgers currently ranks 95th in the FBS in yards per game (329.3) and 109th in points scored (17.5).
While the Scarlet Knights’ offense has been killing the team on the field, it is also hurting them off the field. According to the Star-Ledger, offensive tackle Malcolm Bunche became just the latest Rutgers recruit, joining running back Desmond Scott and Under Armour All-American center Mark Brazinski, to re-open the recruiting process after verbally committing to the school.
The upcoming schedule does Rutgers no favors with a game this Saturday against UConn (5-1; 1-0). While the Scarlet Knights get fellow Big East cellar-dweller Syracuse (1-5; 0-2) on November 8, that game is sandwiched with visits to #23 Pittsburgh (4-1; 2-0) and #19 South Florida (5-1; 0-1).
The Scarlet Knights desperately need a win this weekend to salvage their season, and perhaps more importantly, their future. Las Vegas bookmakers currently have Rutgers as a one-point underdog against the Connecticut Huskies, for reasons only Las Vegas must know. So a win may not be totally out of the question.
Whether Rutgers uses the victory to spark a run towards a .500 record and bowl eligibility...well, that’s something I wouldn’t bet on.
