The New Look

This morning I fooled around and did my first redesign of the Beat Visitor dot com header since February 2007, using this team photo from the 2008 Scarlet-White Game as a background.
I hope it greatly increases your browsing pleasure as you spend a few seconds here on your way to the site that you were actually looking for.

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Update at 5pm on Halloween:
If Rutgers had lost today's game to the Connecticut Huskies I would have dropped the new design immediately as a jinx. Now, of course, I am (and you are) stuck with it forever. It's obviously a good-luck charm.
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Rutgers Quarterbacks. Number 7, Tom Savage

It's hard to imagine the presence of a high-school junior making more of an impression on a college football stadium full of people, but on April 17, 2008, the news broke that a highly-recruited quarterback from Pennsylvania had decided to play his college football on the Banks of the Old Raritan (here's a link from the New York Post of 4/17/08). One day later, on Saturday, April 18th, Tom Savage walked into Rutgers Stadium for the Scarlet-White Game.

Click on this and you can even read Tom Savage's nametag.

No announcement was made as he entered R House, but by the time he had made it halfway to his seat, the word had spread and everyone was looking at the kid in the Phillies cap and applauding. Click on the picture to see it full size. Look at the direction into which all of the sunglasses are pointed. Even the cheerleaders are shielding their eyes from the sun to see who has dared to direct the pre-game attention away from them.
Fast forward a year and four months and the talk about Tom Savage being redshirted in 2009 seems to have been replaced by talk about his bid for the starting quarterback job this year Check out these Star-Ledger articles from Tom Luicci yesterday, "Rutgers freshman quarterback Tom Savage draws comparisons to John Elway," and "Rutgers' second scrimmage: Freshman Tom Savage makes his bid to be the starting quarterback," from which the following quote is taken:

"Tom has a good level of composure for a young guy. More than I expected," Schiano said.

And everyone (including Coach Schiano) has expected a lot.
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Finally, I just have to say that "Tom Savage" still strikes me as an almost mythical name for a college football quarterback. It could be the name of a lead character in a series of inspirational books for boys in the 1930's: Tom Savage and the Stolen Cannon Caper, Tom Savage Tames the Wild Mountaineer, Tom Savage Cages the Bearcat . . . etc. And his number, Seven, they don't get any luckier.

Rutgers Quarterbacks. Number 10, D.C. Jefferson

This following short video from the Scarlet-White Game at Rutgers Stadium on April 18, 2009 is one of the reasons that I expect to see number 10 lining up behind team captain and Rimington watch-listed Ryan Blaszczyk at some point on September 7th.


D.C. Jefferson's 20-yard running play in this video may look very similar to a lot of what we've seen from the man wearing #15, Jabu Lovelace, over the past couple of years, but with an offensive line like ours, I think the Cincinnati Bearcats are going to be seeing the football carried by a wide variety of runners coming at them from a lot of angles, and at least two of those runners are going to be quarterbacks (or others in the Wild Knight formation) coming at them straight up the middle. Jefferson's ability to throw a very long ball might add to Cincinnati's defensive worries too.
I'll be shocked if we don't see at least three quarterbacks at some point in the opener.
Can't Wait.
Go Knights!
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UPDATE 8/24/2009: With the news out of camp today that D.C. Jefferson may be moving to tight end, the real question is not the QB battle between Domenic, Tom, and Jabu, but whether or not Rutgers football has finally found its new Clark Harris!
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Moving Rutgers Football to the top of the page

I'll be away for a couple of days and I've been distracted by non-football activities in the last few entries, so I'm moving my video of the most recent public activity at Rutgers Stadium, the Scarlet-White Game, back to the top of the page, just so people will know that this is a football blog.

Have a great weekend everyone, and if you like this video, go over to YouTube and rate it (I think a non-Rutgers fan just gave it its first rating earlier today).
It's interesting to compare the state of the Stadium expansion in this video taken on April 18th with the pictures released this week.

The Future of Anthony Davis

Some think Anthony Davis may soon be signing something more

lucrative than hats and posters after the Scarlet-White Game.

The Sporting News has #75 Anthony Davis going as the #15 overall pick to the Houston Texans in the first round of the next NFL Draft.
There's more comment on that pick from Brian Bennett over at ESPN.com.

I say, "Hey, what's the rush? Who'd want to leave the Banks a year early for a few million dollars? Each of those years we spend [spent] at R.U. is [was] priceless."

(& speaking of priceless, check THIS out!)

The Scarlet beat the White 31-3 on Saturday (here's the video to hold you until Labor Day)

Here are some film clips and photos from Saturday afternoon's 2009 Scarlet-White Game at Rutgers Stadium in beautiful Piscataway.
Once again, it was beautiful weather for the Spring game -- you didn't need to wear anything more than your free scarlet t-shirt. The Scarlet beat the White 31-3 after we watched the Rutgers Lacrosse team fall to Penn State by a score of 9-4 in the 11:30am opener (which explains the yellow lines you may notice on the field).
This video features film clips and shots of quarterbacks Domenic Natale and D.C. Jefferson, wide receiver Tim Brown, kicker San San Te, running back Joe Martinek, the ongoing stadium construction, the on-field postgame autograph session, and more. The background music -- variations on our Alma Mater "On the Banks of the Old Raritan" -- was recorded specifically for this three-minute video. The guitar was played by R. Mumma, but if you want to play along at home the bass and drums are courtesy of a Fender G-Dec Junior (ballad setting in the key of A).
See you at the next game at R House on Labor Day versus Cincinnati!

The End Zone Is Taking Shape at R House

Click here to go to the Rutgers Stadium Expansion page, scroll down to the "Construction Photo Gallery" and you can see a new April 8th slide show (or any one of the earlier slide shows).

We'll be looking out at more than a hole in the ground at this year's Scarlet--White Game.

The 2009 Scarlet & White Game tickets are on sale -- with a special bonus this year

In addition to the free t-shirt with your $5 ticket (and your poster, and your hour on the field after the game getting that poster signed by the players), on April 18th of this year you will also get to see a real Rutgers game as the lacrosse team plays the Penn State Nittany Lions before the Scarlet play the White.

Here's the scene from last year via YouTube:

Here's your link for tickets.

See you there! A fan of the Scarlet Knights can never have too many red t-shirts.

Chris Paul-Etienne to Shamar Graves: Another Short Video from the 2008 Scarlet-White Game

On a dreary Tuesday after a rainy Monday, here's another opportunity to recall that sunny warm Saturday at Rutgers Stadium on the 19th:



It's also a chance to feature a quarterback other than Teel or Lovelace, and a receiver other than Britt, Underwood, Brown, Brock, or Campbell.
As the players use Spring to hone their skills and style, I'm still trying to find a style that I can use for my reports on the coming season, so this is done with a slightly retro veneer that I may (or may not) adopt for BeatVisitor videos.
See my first, longer, Scarlet-White Game video by clicking here.

The Scarlet beat the White 28 -14 in yesterday's game

Here's a short compilation of video clips and stills from yesterday's Scarlet-White game at the Stadium. The place looks empty because half of Rutgers Stadium was closed due to construction, but the seats that were open were pretty full; a record Spring game attendance of 14,501 was recorded, they ran out of free t-shirts and a great time was had by all.
Click on the video to see some shots of construction, the first play from scrimmage (Teel to Britt), Tom Savage taking his seat in the stands, Teddy Dellaganna's punting prowess, and people seeking autographs from Anthony Davis, Mike Teel, and the McCourty Brothers:

It's always great to spend the afternoon in Rutgers Stadium.
I can't wait until September 1st against Fresno State.

Mason Robinson on the front of ESPN's College Football page

The real question at this Saturday's Scarlet-White Game at Rutgers Stadium will not be whether or not the Scarlet team beats the White team, but whether or not the rushing game will be quicker and more explosive than the quick and explosive Scarlet Knights passing game of Teel to Underwood, Britt, and Brown.

Tailback Mason Robinson is featured on the front of today's College Football page at ESPN.com, but the accompanying article is not about him alone, but the the four-headed 2008 tailback of Mason Robinson, Jourdan Brooks, Joe Martinek, and "old" favorite Kordell Young.

On the first play of Rutgers' intrasquad scrimmage last weekend, sophomore tailback Mason Robinson took a handoff and raced 70 yards for a touchdown. A few plays later, freshman Jourdan Brooks burst through the line and raced 65 yards for a score, covering the last 40 yards or so without one of his shoes.

Kordell and Jabu Lovelace were the offensive stars of last year's Scarlet-White game (Ray Rice sat the game out with an injury), so it will be interesting to see who the star of this year's game will be and who will inevitably emerge as the "first among equals" among this potentially-explosive post-Ray-Rice tailback position.

See you Saturday at R House! It's supposed to be 74° and sunny. There will be free t-shirts, the first tailgating since November 17, autographs after the game, and a guaranteed Rutgers win!

Here's your Scarlet-White game invitation for April 19, 2008

This postcard was waiting for me when I got home tonight:

Click to enlarge.

Get there early to make sure that you pick up you free annual t-shirt (my shirt from last year is looking like it's going to need to be washed soon) and stay late to get your autographs after the game (see scarletknights.com for details and advance tickets).
See you on April 19th!

Tickets for the 2008 Scarlet-White Game are on sale now

The 2007 Scarlet-White Game
Click on this picture, or any other picture on BeatVisitor.com, to enlarge

The ticket price for the 2008 Scarlet-White Game has increased a full 20%, from $5 to $6. Last year the $5 included a free t-shirt; I'm not sure if your $6 will do the same, but I'm sure it will include the traditional meeting of the players on the field after the game. And if the weather is anything like it was last year, there's no better place to be on a Saturday in April than Rutgers Stadium.
Click Here for tickets for the Scarlet-White Game on April 18, the Gridiron Bash with Fall Out Boy on April 19, or to renew your season tickets (or to get on the waiting list).
Click Here to get to the pdf file for the 64-page Spring Prospectus.

Tickets on sale at noon TODAY for the GridIron Bash at Rutgers Stadium with Fall Out Boy

Click Here to get to the Rutgers ticket office:
Click Here to read more about the GridIron Bash events being held nationwide at stadiums all across the country on the Friday night, April 18, before the Spring games. I haven't seen anything about the sale of 2008 Scarlet-White Game tickets yet, but those usually aren't too hard to obtain when the time comes.

The Scarlet defeated the White 16-10 this afternoon

Click on this picture, or any other picture on BeatVisitor.com, to enlarge

Though the score wasn't really the point of course. White scored all 10 of its points in the first half with Jabu Lovelace leading the team, and Scarlet scored 10 of its 16 points in the second half with Jabu Lovelace leading that team (and he wasn't the only one changing jerseys). His 54-yard run for a touchdown in the first half was the offensive play of the game, and Jeremy Ito was impressive not only with perfect field goal records for both teams, but also taking over the punting duties from the graduating Hoboken Joe Radigan.

The important points, of course, are that no one was injured (though Kenny Britt took a scary hit right after his first reception of the game), that the weather (after a cold wet spring in New Jersey) was absolutely perfect, and that 11,079 spectators (a record for this scrimmage) had a great time in the Birthplace of College Football watching the game and hanging out with the players taking pictures and getting autographs after the game.

Don't miss it next year.

Ray Rice will not play tomorrow

This just in . . . (via rivals.com)

Ray Rice will not participate in Saturday's spring game and will miss the next four to six weeks following ankle surgery.
"Ray had a small piece of bone removed from his ankle," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said after practice Thursday. "It's not a serious deal. It's something he's practiced with all spring and played with last fall. We just wanted to get a head start … rather than wait until next week."

I'll still be there.
So, will tomorrow be the Kordell Young show, or will it star the wide receivers?

Bringing Rutgers Football back to the top of the screen for a second

Just a reminder that the annual Scarlet-White Game in which Rutgers plays Rutgers and no one loses, is coming up in just a little over a week.


I called the ticket office at 1-800-445-GORU about advance ticket purchases for this game. They're not necessary, and advance tickets are only available at the box office at the RAC. So you can decide on Saturday the 21st whether or not it looks like a good day to drive up to the Stadium to check out Ray Rice, Kenny Britt, Mike Teel, Tiquan Underwood, Tim Brown, Greg Schiano, Eric Foster, Jeremy Ito and the rest of the Knights in Scarlet (and White) Armor as they finish spring practice in front of an adoring crowd on a warm Spring Saturday afternoon!

Click Here to download your 64-page pdf Spring Prospectus.

In case you aren't on the mailing list yet from the Rutgers Ticket Office, here's a copy of the postcard we found in our mailbox a couple of weeks ago with more details about the Scarlet-White Game (& Fanfest & Touchdown Club Auction & Autograph Session) on April 21. Tickets are only $5 (kids under 12 free) and that includes a t-shirt.

Click Here (or on the image of Ray Rice in White) to see a larger, more legible, version of the postcard.

See You There!

Scarlet--White Game ticket info

In case you aren't on the mailing list yet from the Rutgers Ticket Office, here's a copy of the postcard we found in our mailbox today regarding the details about the Scarlet-White Game (& Fanfest & Touchdown Club Auction & Autograph Session) on April 21. Tickets are only $5 (kids under 12 free) and that includes a t-shirt.
Have they ever sold out a Scarlet-White Game before this year?

Click Here (or on the image) to see a larger, more legible, version of the postcard.

See You There!