Rutgers

Rutgers STAND UP and lets CHOP!!!

Two months ago I wanted to talk about how to fix Rutgers football. Life got busy, then my laptop died on me. Well, its time my friends. The Schiano man is back after an ugly 7/8 years for himself and for Rutgers football.

First things first, Rutgers needs a staff. As I’m writing this, there are some rumors flying around of a potential DC that i am SOOOOO on board for. What Rutgers needs are recruiters though. Isnt that the case with every school? There is talent in New Jersey but we rarely find a way to keep that talent. Lets Fence the Garden!

Nunzio Campanile will be retained by Schiano at an undisclosed role. He has previously coached Running Backs and Tight Ends at Rutgers. I think a move back to RB’s would be best suited for him and naming him Offensive Coordinator as well. Nunzio is a smart football mind who will call the plays focusing on a spread run. He also is one of our best recruiters so his priority will be getting Blackshear to stay at RU. The guy i want for a quarterbacks coach is Sean Gleeson. He graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 2002 so that puts him at about 35 years old. Gleeson currently is the QB’s coach at the dynamic Oklahoma State, where he puts an emphasis on the RPO. Coach Schiano did say he wants to shy away from a pro-style offense and add more east-to-west spread style concepts. One more young name i want is Somerville’s Dallas Whittiker. Coach Whittiker is a student of the game and another flashy mastermind. He has done wonders for the Somerville football program making them a top3 public school in New Jersey over the last three seasons. Dallas is only 27 which might be too young, but i think there is a spot for him on the staff. Right now we have a lot of youth so some experience for the Offensive Line / Tight Ends will be needed. What about Pat Flaherty, former Rutgers offensive line coach from 1984-1991, whos been in the NFL since 2000 including 2004-15 on the Giants, and is currently unemployed. In the NFL hes worked with Norv Turner, Tom Coughlin and Chip Kelly. Flaherty has coached mainly Offensive Line, but also Tight Ends in both college and the NFL. Schiano should get in his ear and tell him its time to build these teens to young men, and get them to the NFL. The reason i want him working with the Tight Ends, is because I think brining back former Rutgers great Darnell Stapleton would be a great fit. He has been at Sam Houston State for three seasons now, so he has some experience. Let Flaherty mentor him, and let Flaherty call the shots in the combined drills, but lets secure Stapleton while we can. The blend of experience and juice could fence the garden!! 

OC/RBs – Nunzio Campanile 

QBs – Sean Gleeson 

WRs – Dallas Whittiker

TEs – Pat Flaherty

OL – Darnell Stapleton

On the defensive side of the ball there just seems to be so many home runs. Anthony Campanile needs to be our DC. We all know he wants to and would be an excellent fit, coaching our linebackers and heading the defense. He is one of the nations best recruiters and his motor is unmatched! New Jersey exists below Rutgers, and there is a lot of talent in South Jersey. Hello Fran Brown! He should be another top priority on the defense and lets let him run the secondary. Hes been at Temple and Baylor since 2011, and its time for him to move on to the Big Ten! You know who I’m teaming up with Brown to be the safeties coach but more importantly the special teams coordinator ..? Steve Belichick!!! Is it time for the 32 year old to return to his alma mater and leave his dads footsteps? He has a sweet gig on the Patriots, but maybe he wants to create his own path. This unlikely leap would be amazing to have such a student of the game on the staff. Young Belichick could be the guy to bring back RU as Special Teams U. I want to say lets also bring back Jim Panagos as the Defensive Line coach but I would be pleasantly surprised if he leaves baby Schiano (PJ Fleck) at Minnesota after the year they are having. He’s the perfect fit for this defense as he adds age, experience and results. Wherever he goes his team produces pressure on the QB. This seems like another long shot but heck it!

DC/LBs – Anthony Campanile

DBs – Fran Brown

STC/Saf – Steve Belichick

DL – Jim Panagos

We have ONE more hire. One more opportunity to bring the JUICE in one of the most important hires for a college football team. The Strength and Conditioning coach. Lets bring home Rahway’s Own Joe Giacobbe. Giacobbe is a former walkon for Coach Schiano from 2003-2006. He was Rutgers assistant strength and conditioning coach for Coach Flood, and has been working for the New York Jets for the last three years as their assistant. Giacobbe is a perfect fit for the job because he knows what Schaino wants. He came to Rutgers undersized as a defensive lineman but had the passion and motor to get playing time his last two years. He will lead by example and will get his players in shape. Its time for Rutgers to have the stamina for fourth quarter Big Ten games and they need a homerun here. This man will install the CHOP motto from day 1.

So we have a staff, whats next? AD Pat Hobbs is on the hot seat and many think he will be let go at the end of the year. Mr. Hobbs, lets take a risk! The Big Ten East is so much better then the Big Ten West. Ohio State Michigan and Penn State are on the same side, while the West has Wisconsin. Minnesota is having a great year, Iowa is tough and Nebraska is historic, but the East has three powerhouses. 

Lets demand realignment. I mean its just not good for the Big Ten to have an easy side, and have a championship game on Saturday with a 16.5 point spread. There is a center of teams that could be reorganized in the Big Ten. A simple swap of Michigan State and Indiana for Illinois and Purdue would really spice things up. The West gets stronger and the East gets more teams on the softer ends.

Ohio State – Michigan – Penn State – Purdue – Illinois – Rutgers – Maryland

Wisconsin – Minnesota – Iowa – Nebraska – Michigan State – Indiana – Northwestern

3 elites and 4 typically not as strong teams and 7 good to average teams. The West will be up for grabs if Michigan State and Nebraska get their act together, with Iowa and Wisconsin there. 

Why should the Big Ten help out Rutgers? Well, they do want the New York market right? TV numbers around the USA are declining, and it would be ashamed if the New York area became more ACC domanted. Also, with the new rules potentially going in to place about paying athletes on likeliness, wouldnt the Big Ten as a whole want to capitalize on the largest media market in the world? The Big Ten should look at Rutgers favorably, not for the school, but because of NYC. The Big Ten is behind the SEC in football, and have been behind the ACC in basketball. The gap can close if the Big Ten can utilize NYC and Chicago if the rules chance and athletes can earn money off their names. 

And we arent stoping there. Why does Rutgers still not have full Big Ten money? So the Big Ten is cool with having a struggling program? Makes no sense, you’d think they would want to help Rutgers out so they can build and make the Big Ten more competitive. A healthy Rutgers would be amazing for the Big Ten. Lets say it how it is, this is a Midwest conference, and has no Northeast / NYC ties. Why not try and change this. The Big Ten should give Rutgers the fair share immediately, and not in 2021. Well, 2021 was what we originally thought. The money will jump in 2021, but Rutgers wont be a full member of the Big Ten till … 2027? What kind of deal was accepted. We give them the market and they slap us in the face. The Big Ten should be ashamed for not giving RU a chance financially. Rutgers is clearly committed to being in the Big Ten. They are constantly upgrading their facilities, not just in football, but all around, including a great new athletic center for teams like Basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. So we show committment, and while other teams get more money and have had facilities, they dont do the morally right thing and help us out. Hobbs, demand fair share of money please. To be honest, I’m sure he has. Like its obvious to, but we need it more than ever after committing money to Schiano. 

These three things though can make Rutgers more than respectable. We need a staff that is young, has juice, and somehow gets these teens to believe. New Jersey is full of grit. And Rutgers is the underdog. We need a New Jersey centric staff that embraces this. We also should demand realignment. I mean, this will only be good for the Big Ten where only four teams make the college football playoff. Lets build the West up so that when Ohio State is on the outside looking in, we can add a final resume booster in the Big Ten championship. Its a win-win. Rutgers can compete and the Big Ten should elevate. And finally why are they skimping Rutgers’ money. Rutgers clearly shows they are TRYING to compete. They came from the Big East, a non power conference. They came in at a disadvantage and are financially still at that disadvantage. Do the right thing Big Ten, the rewards will be huge for a growing Rutgers. It would be ashamed if we take our talents and media market to the ACC…

Thank you,

Goose