Rutgers Rolls North Carolina in Quick Lane Bowl

((ht: espn.com))

Sigh...anyone can sponsor a bowl game can't they? Maybe it's just because we're based in the south, but we've never heard of Quick Lane...

Anyway...

Rutgers jumped out to a 23-0 1st half lead, were up 40-7 in the 4th quarter, then cruised to a 40-21 win Friday in the Quick Lane Bowl in front of hundreds of fans at Ford Field in Detroit.

Josh Hicks ran for 202 yards and a TD, teammate Robert Martin ran for 100 yards and 2 TD's to lead the Scarlet Knights who ran for 340 yards against a very mediocre Tar Heels team.

Rutgers finishes the season at 8-5, North Carolina fell to 6-7.

Your highlights from ESPN.com:

Rutgers Rallies To Defeat Washington State 41-38

Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova finally had a great game over a team other than Arkansas.

Nova threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights in their 41-38 win over Washington State in Pullman.


Nova's opponent Wazzou quarterback Conner Halliday threw for 532 yards and five touchdowns.

The difference was Rutgers has a running game.  Paul James rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns.  James' third late in the fourth quarter was the game winner for the Scarlet Knights.

"To come back out here on the West Coast and win the way we did, it shows how
hard we worked in the offseason camp." Nova said.  "I know the guys are excited but we have to get back to work."

“It’s a great feeling to get this win."  James said.  "Last year, we came over to the west coast and it didn’t end too well. This year it’s just a great feeling to come back here and get that win.”

"For too long around this university expectations have been too low."  Washington State head coach Mike Leach.  "I think we as coaches and as players have to change that. It’s not going to change from the outside. We’ve got to change that and we’ve got to expect more out of ourselves – starting with the coaches.”

It was the first time Rutgers has defeated a Pac-12 team.

It's Official, Maryland & Rutgers Have Gone Big

July 1^st is the first day of the new 14 team Big Ten Conference.  Maryland and Rutgers officially join the Big Ten today and they are now thinking big.

So let the pomp and circumstance begin.  

The celebrations in College Park, Maryland and New Jersey are mere formalities.  The big goal was to distribute the Big Ten Network in New Jersey and Maryland and that has been accomplished.

The Big Ten Conference’s expansion into the east coast was all about TV markets.  With the deal the Big Ten Network struck with Time Warner and Cablevision in May and with Comcast lastweek BTN added more homes in the coveted New York/New Jersey and Washington D.C. market.

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany told ESPN: “It indicates that the Eastern initiative is moving forward in the direction we hoped it would,”

“Our goal was to achieve distribution in New York and D.C., Maryland and New Jersey.” Delaney added.

Mission accomplished.

Introducing Maryland @bigtenconf ice cream at the B1G Campus Celebration! pic.twitter.com/FZGDYdkG3S
— Maryland Athletics (@umterps) July 1, 2014

Wake up feeling B1G! We are official members of the @bigtenconf. #GoTerps #July1
— Maryland Athletics (@umterps) July 1, 2014

Excited for the new Era in not only our @TerrapinHoops program but the entire @UofMaryland community #ThinkB1G pic.twitter.com/UM4h6DjKe5
— Mark Turgeon (@CoachTurgeon) July 1, 2014

It's official...we R B1G! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to follow our B1G journey! #WeRB1G #RU pic.twitter.com/NZ6bbp822T
— Rutgers Dance Team (@RUdanceteam) July 1, 2014

Officially B1G!
— RutgersWomensRowing (@RutgersWRowing) July 1, 2014

OFFICIAL! #RFootball & #TheBirthplaceOfCollegeFootball are the 14th member of the prestigious @bigtenconf! #Chop pic.twitter.com/XZ54snaQm2
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) July 1, 2014

BREAKING: 2nd Suspect Arrested In Kolstad Beating

((HT: KSTP-TV))

Here's the surveillance video from the Isaac Kolstad beating that had Mankato, Minnesota police chasing after a second suspect...


The suspect in question was arrested Tuesday.

21-year-old Trevor Shelley is now thought to be that suspect, but it's not known if Shelley was the one who punched Kolstad before Philip Nelson allegedly kicked him while he was on the ground. Nelson's attorney maintains his client was not the aggressor in the assault.

Nelson is facing two felony assault charges and is out on $20,000 bail.

Rutgers University head football coach Kyle Flood announced Tuesday Nelson has been dismissed from the team and that the university's thoughts and prayers are with the Kolstad family.

The most recent post on the Kolstad-created CaringBridge page came early Tuesday afternoon:

Isaac had surgery early this morning. It went well. Isaac remains in critical condition.
Please keep Isaac and all involved in your prayers.

Here's the afternoon returns from MyFoxTwinCities
KMSP-TV

Mankato Update: Philip Nelson Posts Bond, Police Looking For Additional Suspect

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

The larger news involving the assault of former Minnesota-Mankato LB Isaac Kolstad is that former Minnesota-now Rutgers QB Philip Nelson has made bond and can return to Rutgers University if the school wants him.

(Insert Rutgers joke here)

Paul Blume is in Mankato and details what Mankato police are looking for and looking at in this fight that lasted five or ten seconds, but will impact a few families for a lot longer
KMSP-TV

Rutgers QB Arrested In Minnesota Assault, Victim Has Brain Damage (TUESDAY UPDATE: Rutgers Dismisses Nelson)

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

Former Minnesota-Mankato LB Isaac Kolstad is "fighting for his life" after a weekend assault that led to the arrest of former Minnesota-now-Rutgers QB Phillip Nelson.

Kolstad was on a sidewalk in the town of Mankato when someone punched him, he hit the ground, and then he was kicked in the head by a second person. Nelson was identified by three people who witnessed the assault as one of the two who were involved and police are looking for a second person who they feel was involved in the crime as well.

Kolstad's father says his son has permanent brain damage. Kolstad has already had one surgery and will likely have more this week. Police are asking for third-degree assault charges.

Here's the latest from the Kolstad vigil Sunday night
KMSP-TV

Kolstad's father has posted an update on Kolstad's CaringBridge website:

"Isaac suffered a severe head injury early this morning. He is currently in Critical condition and fighting for his life. He is young and strong, but the battle he has in front of him is enormous. He had one surgery today to put a pressure gauge in his skull. He may need additional surgeries in the coming days. We do know that his brain did sustain permanent damage. We do not yet know to what extent and won't for many days. He is very sick. Please pray for Isaac and all of those involved."

The family also issued a statement on Sunday.

We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support we have received during this difficult time. Isaac is a very strong and determined young man, who is dearly loved by his family and friends. We would respectfully ask for your continued prayers.

We would also ask members of the news media and others to respect our request and need for privacy at this time. We have requested that no further information (beyond his medical condition) be released. Thank you for your understanding and continued thoughts and prayers for Isaac, his wife and children, and all others who are involved in this situation. - The Family of Isaac Kolstad

Here's the live report from the spot of the fight from our friends at KSTP-TV


1545 UPDATE: Nelson will be charged with 1 count of first-degree assault and 1 count of third-degree assault later today. Police looking for 2nd suspect.

TUESDAY UPDATE: Rutgers has dismissed Nelson as a result of the incident...

"The Rutgers football family's thoughts and prayers are with Isaac Kolstad and his family," Head Football coach Kyle Flood said in a statement.

Dan Duggan over at NJ.com has the details of the incident- from Mankato police reports:

Kolstad punched Nelson in the back, causing him to fall to the ground, according to a criminal complaint.

Kolstad began to move away and an unknown assailant, described as a white male in his early 20s wearing a red t-shirt and jeans, ran after him. The unknown male delivered a punch to Kolstad's head/face. Kolstad immediately went limp and collapsed to the pavement.

Nelson then pushed past others and delivered a kick to the head of a defenseless Kolstad, according to the complaint.

Rutgers Can't Get Out Of Their Own Way (UPDATED: LeGrand Speaks After All)

((HT: NJ.com/Duggan))

This is really classy... and the HQ hopes you can sense the sarcasm dripping from the text...

Condoleezza Rice was set to give a commencement address on campus, but that idea was getting blowback. SO the school does an amazing thing- comes up with the idea of Eric LeGrand to give the speech...

Fantastic idea... unbelievable kid...

So, what does the university do...??? Cancel LeGrand telling him that they "decided to go in another direction for political reasons."

What in the blue hell does that mean...???

"I just want an explanation," LeGrand told NJ.com in a phone interview. "I wish somebody would have given me a call tonight and explained to me why. Then I can understand, but don't just leave me hanging."

Athletics Director Julie Hermann calls and tells him that Governor Tom Kean was selected instead...

Great going, Rutgers...
You had an issue with this...
((HT: ESPN))


PM UPDATE: This release came from the university this afternoon... an amazing backpedal...

Eric LeGrand will speak at our Commencement and personally receive his degree from me as a representative of the Class of 2014.

It was never our intention that Eric would be the only speaker. We have resolved that miscommunication and are delighted to have him participate.

Eric holds a special place in the hearts of the Class of 2014 and the entire university community. We are thrilled that he will be joining us on stage to make this special occasion even more memorable.

Unbelievable... but not...

Give 'em hell, Eric...

Julie Hermann Still Can't Get Out Of Her Own Way

((HT: NJ.com/Politi))

Let's just recap for starters...

Julie Hermann was a women's volleyball coach and an assistant AD at the University of Louisville, BUT...
((HT:CNN))


Here's her presser from Rutgers in full when she was hired...
((HT: RVision))


Then, she gave a press conference on June 5th of 2013 after the initial furor- where she took no questions and just flat-out talked for the entirety of the "opportunity..."


How the Media Relations Department still hadn't clamped down in any way was somewhat surprising, and she almost made it ten months without making more headlines. But she was speaking in a Media Ethics and Law class at Rutgers where a student transcribed her remarks in an article on the muckgers.com website.

Hermann is credited as saying about the Newark Star-Ledger newspaper:

“That’d be great [if the Star Ledger died]. I’m going to do all I can to not to give them a headline to keep them alive because I think I got them through the summer.”

“I’ve got one guy over at the Ledger – he has one mission. That’s to get any [athletic director] at Rutgers fired. That’s his hobby,” Hermann said.

Well, Steve Politi over at the Star-Ledger may just be that guy... but there's a big issue over at the newspaper...

The Star-Ledger laid off 167 people last week, the latest round of devastating cuts in a struggling industry. They were advertising execs and business writers, clerks and copy editors. Some had worked at the newspaper for decades. Most have families and mortgages.

It was, for anyone who works here – or, for that matter, anyone with an ounce of compassion – an awful couple days.

Clearly, it wasn’t for Julie Hermann. She must have been tickled, because this is the same woman who stood up in front of a class of journalism students a few weeks ago and said it would be “great” if the newspaper died.

And that's just his opening three paragraphs...it's a great read...

How the Media Relations Department still hadn't clamped down in any way was somewhat surprising...
(The HQ feels that we've already written that caveat before...)

And how Hermann is still an Athletics Director is beyond us...

If You Had Louisville And 62, You Lose...

((HT: ESPN/NCAA Highlights))

It was just one of those days...

A day where Louisville put the hammer down and Rutgers was in the middle of the lane when the Cardinals car was late for an appointment in the American semi-finals...

92-31...

And that's not a misprint, either...

Here's the less painful version of the highlights...


Rutgers (now 12-21) actually led at 7-6 as the Scarlet Knights hit their first three shots. But they wound up with more turnovers (17) than made shots (seven) in the first half. Rutgers shot 18-percent from the floor in the second half and 24-percent overall. Louisville's bench scored 32 points on their own...

The Cardinals will play Houston, which upset No. 25 SMU 68-64, in the semifinals

ND's Tommy Rees Has A Heck Of A Final Game In Pinstripe Bowl, Offensive Lineman Wins Game MVP

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees is know as "The Closer" because many times Rees has come off the bench to rally the Irish to victory.

In his final game as the Notre Dame quarterback Rees faced a Rutgers defense that's 122nd our of 125 NCAA FBS teams defending the pass.

Let's just say Rees took advantage of that completing 27 of 47 passes for 319 yards and to lead Notre Dame to a 29-16 Pinstripe Bowl win over Rutgers.

Here are the highlights, Thanks WatchND:



"He's so smart." Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of Tommy Rees.  "You can go in and run a system with him. He's so bright.  He just has the ability to pick up all of the things that we can do offensively."

With that performance Rees did not win the game MVP award.  That honor went to Irish offensive tackle Zack Martin.

"I was giving Tommy a hard time," Martin said.. "I think he got snubbed a little bit."

Here's coverage from WNDU-TV, South Bend, Indiana with sound bites from Tommy Rees.

Rutgers Retires LeGrand #52

As it should be...

Full disclosure...

The HQ is a proud member of Eric LeGrand support groups and has been ever since we started covering his comeback from paralysis acquired in a football game as he played for Rutgers...

Yesterday, Rutgers did a good thing...

The school had a ceremonial knighting of LeGrand where his 52 was retired...

Ceremony here...
((HT: ESPN))


And Eric's words here...


An example we all should follow...

Fresno State Wins A Wild Season Opener, Happy Ending For Derek Carr

Pardon Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr if throwing a touchdown pass in overtime to Greg Watson to defeat Rutgers 52-51 wasn't the biggest thrill.

Carr newborn son Dallas had spend the last three weeks in an intensive care unit at Children's Hospital Central California after being born with a digestive tract defect.

Football for Derek Carr has been way down the priority scale. The health of his newborn son weighted on Carr's mind.

Carr and his wife Heather's prayers were answered. Surgeons were able to repair Dallas' defect and Tuesday he was able to go home.

Thursday night Carr torched the Rutgers defense going 53-74 for 470 yards and five touchdowns.  None more important that his 25 yard touchdown pass to Greg Watson on the first play of overtime that proved to be the game winner.

That led to a wild celebration in the Bulldog locker room.




"I'll tell you right now it reminds me of everything I went through with my son." Carr said.  "You have your son and you are at the highest of highs, I can't even explain it. He had his surgery and everything I went through, you know the story. Praise God, that's all I can tell you. I could go on and preach to you, but I know you don't want to hear that. Thank God for what happened today. My son is home now and after that game it was just like that relief. I sat there and balled my eyes out. I guess he has made me a little soft."


"He (Derek Carr) is the real deal." Fresnso State head coach Tim DeRuyter said. "He had ice in veins. This year he can make plays with his feet, unlike last year. I thought our protection, except for maybe one or two plays, was excellent. When he gets that kind of protection, he feels confident to get the ball where it needs to go and we got some frisbee catching dogs that will go get it."

Rutgers To Retire #52 In Honor Of Eric LeGrand

Eric LeGrand

Rutgers has never retired a jersey number in the programs 144 year history, that's about to

change.

Jason Baum, Senior Associate Director For Communications for Rutgers Athletics send the following tweet:

BREAKING NEWS: @KyleFloodRU announces @RFootball will retire its first jersey number as @EricLeGrand52 No. 52 will never be worn again
— Jason Baum (@JasonBaumRU) July 30, 2013

That was followed by the following tweet from LeGrand:

What an honor thank you @RFootball this means the world to me pic.twitter.com/k0T15iS82h
— Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) July 30, 2013

LeGrand, a former defensive tackle for the Scarlet Knights, was paralyzed in a game against Army on October 16, 2010 making a tackle.

The class and positive attitude that LeGrand has exhibited facing this life challenge has been an inspiration, especially those here at the OSG HQ.

Baum added that once LeGrand begins walking again his number 52 will only be worn on special occasions.

Julie Hermann Faces Uphill Battle At "Rut-kers..."

((HT: nj.com))

Rutgers prospective Athletics Director Julie Hermann held an outdoor press conference where she looked incredibly uncomfortable and could not wait to leave the dais...

Here it is in its entirety...
Hermann is supposed to start on June 17th, and in all reality, this press conference above was (more than anything) just a tepid attempt to get her face in public to make it look like she was answering questions when, really, all she was doing was getting out in front of cameras to stall long enough to make it look like she was answering questions until her Information Department staff thought enough was enough... Which was, about, 10 minutes... Steve Politi was there for the Newark Star-Ledger and knows Hermann has some making up to do- and it won't be easy within the Rutgers community: Hermann will meet about 20 of the most prominent donors during an invitation-only session in New Brunswick on Thursday night, according to one of the invitees, and the response from those deep-pocketed alums will be telling. So will the give-and-take Friday at an annual Rutgers athletics golf outing. In that setting, she won't be able to fall back on the well-crafted talking points. She'll need to be transparent. She'll need to get these alums to like and trust her, because most aren't just giving their money to an institution, they're giving it to a person.
The HQ thinks this tenure may be one of the shortest on record...
But, that's just us...

Ex-Player: Former Vols Coach/Current Rutgers AD Called Us "Whores" (UPDATED: Plus More Fun At Louisville)

((HT: CNN/AC360))

As of right now, current Rutgers Athletics Director Julie Hermann still has her job...

President Robert Barchi said: "Looking at Julie’s entire record of accomplishment, which is stellar, we remain confident that we have selected an individual who will work in the best interests of all of our student athletes, our athletics teams, and the university."

“If you look at my 25-year career in athletics, I believe the record shows I am a steadfast advocate for student athletes,” Hermann said in a statement. “I intend to take that passion and hard-earned experience into my leadership role as athletic director of Rutgers University.”

Hermann was accused of calling her volleyball players in Knoxville as whores, alcoholics, and learning disabled by her players.

Craig Wolfe's piece in the Newark Star-Ledger details the conversations her former players had when they found out she was named AD at Rutgers after her long tenure at Louisville as an assistant AD...

Kelly Hanlon Dow was on the team Hermann coached in Knoxville and was interviewed by Anderson Cooper

For Hermann to "not remember" the letter composed by her players in Knoxville was a shock to them.

From Wolfe:
"I never heard any of this, never name-calling them or anything like that whatsoever." 
The word "whore," she said, is "not part of my vernacular. Not then, not now, not ever."

When asked at her introductory press conference at Rutgers about disparaging remarks that led to a settlement by one of her assistants of $150,000 at Ginger Hineline's wedding, Hermann couldn't remember being at a wedding or there being a video tape where she said what she said... ((HT: nj.com))

11 players went on the record for Wolfe's report and it is required reading- even as Hermann doesn't seem to remember much of the time that she angered her players at UTK...

PM UPDATE: The New York Times' Steve Eder is now reporting that Hermann was part in a sex discrimination suit at U of L back in 2008.

An assistant track and field coach, Mary Banker, said she went to Hermann to complain of what she said was sexist behavior and “discriminatory treatment” by the head track and field coach. Within three weeks of going to HR, Banker was fired.

The Banker case went up the legal chain in the state of Kentucky, but was eventually turned aside in appeals court. Her lawyer's are looking for the state supreme court to look at the decision.

And Tyree Graham Gets Past 7-Second Delay...

((HT: Awful Announcing/petertheleaderTV))

This is also the personification as to why Bob Ley is, and will always be, awesome...

"Outside The Lines" wanted to keep the Mike Rice discussion going and caught up with a former player, Tyree Graham, who forgot one of the basic tenets of Live Television...

That he was, in fact, on live television...


And Ley just kep' on goin' after apologizing...

A lesson for all of us...

Mike Rice Fired By Rutgers (UPDATED Friday W/Pernetti Firing)

Former Rutgers Head Coach Mike Rice

Rutgers fired head coach Mike Rice Wednesday morning.  The firing comes 24 hours after video surfaced of Rice abusing players during practice. 

Here's the story and video that was posted on OSG Sports Tuesday.

Senior Associate Athletic Director of Communications for Rutgers Jason Baum went public with the dismissal of Rice with this tweet Wednesday morning.

"Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues, Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice."

Here's Rice Wednesday morning when he met the press outside his home. (Thanks WABC-TV)

Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti released this statement Wednesday morning:

“I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice.  Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong. Moving forward, I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community.”

Here's a statement released by Rutgers president Robert L. Barchi:

"When video excerpts of basketball practices were reviewed last fall by Athletic Director Tim Pernetti, he immediately notified me and sought the advice of internal and outside counsel. The university hired an independent investigator to look into this matter thoroughly. Based on the external investigator's findings and recommendations, Tim and I agreed that Coach Rice should be suspended, penalized $75,000 in fines and lost salary, ordered to undergo anger management counseling, and put on notice that his behavior would be closely monitored. Tim Pernetti also made it clear to Coach Rice that there would be zero tolerance for additional infractions. Tim kept me fully apprised and I supported his actions."

"Yesterday, I personally reviewed the video evidence, which shows a chronic and pervasive pattern of disturbing behavior. I have now reached the conclusion that Coach Rice cannot continue to serve effectively in a position that demands the highest levels of leadership, responsibility and public accountability. He cannot continue to coach at Rutgers University. Therefore, Tim Pernetti and I have jointly decided to terminate Mike Rice's employment at Rutgers."

Barchi saw the video evidence for the first time yesterday!  Wouldn't the concerns of your athletic director over the abuse of players provoke you to see the evidence? 

Barchi was on the job for just two months when Pernetti approached him of Rice's actions.  Talk about ending your honeymoon period but you have to do something when one of your high profile employees does something totally unethical.

You think more heads are going to roll?

Friday Update: Why, yes...

After assistant basketball coach Jimmy Martelli resigned, AD Tim Pernetti was the next in line on the ladder to go...

Pernetti was hired in 2009 on a five-year deal at $410,000 a year, with an annual performance bonus of $50,000 and a $12,000 annual car stipend. That contract was due to expire in June 2014.

Tom Luicci of the Newark Star-Ledger says that no one from Rutgers is speaking on the record since the decision hasn't been made public.

And Why Is Mike Rice Still Employed...???

((HT: ESPN/OTL))

"Outside The Lines" showed tape today of a compilation of Rutgers head hoops coach Mike Rice delivering some very colorful language during some practices over the last little while. It had been rumored that Rice had delivered his strings of colorful metaphors since 2010, but this is the first time the tapes had been made public.

Rutgers AD Tom Pernetti, whose hiring of Rice is considered the signature hire of his administration, showed the tapes before the OTL report this morning as a bit of a pre-emptive strike on any kind of reporting and subsequent backlash.

Rice had been suspended three games and fined $50,000 for his outbursts back in December, and the matter had been considered somewhat closed... until today...

Here's a look at a little bit of it...excellent work by John Barr on the story if you haven't seen it...


Eric Murdock was the Director of Player Personnel for the school until last July, His lawyer contends that his client was fired for whistleblowing and is filing a wrongful termination suit against the school.

Pernetti claims Rice is returning next season...

Big Ten Might Keep New Schools Maryland And Rutgers Off BTN

[HT: John Ourand, Sports Business Daily ]

One thing you must understand about conference realignment in college athletics is that it’s all about the size of the TV market and how many new cable subscribers will buy in.

When the Big Ten invited Maryland and Rutgers to join the conference it was strictly because they could deliver large TV markets and a few million more subscribers to the Big Ten Network.

There’s a catch.

The Big Ten conference does not guarantee that their games will be on the Big Ten Network.  What that means is Maryland and Rutgers may not have their games on BTN unless they play by the “rules.”

The Big Ten Network has a plan to they would like to use to strong arm cable companies.  Either place BTN on their basic service or the newbies’ games will never been seen on the network.

The dominant cable company in the New York/New Jersey area is Comcast and Cablevision.  Comcast is the dominant cable company in Maryland.  Both have placed BTN on their sports tiers which is optional and costs only .15 per subscriber since they are currently outside the market. 

The Big Ten potentially could earn many more millions should BTN go into basic cable.

When Nebraska joined the Big Ten Time Warner Cable and Charter cut deals with BTN so the network didn’t have to strong arm the good folks who live and die by the Cornhuskers.

The Big Ten is open to cut new deals with Comcast and Cablevision while their current carriage deals exist but Comcast and Cablevision might not be as accommodating.

Maryland and Rutgers might be located in large populations with cable boxes but that doesn’t mean an instant demand to watch their Terrapins or Scarlet Knights.

If the Big Ten doesn’t get what they want, new basic subscribers, then Maryland and Rutgers will be in the conference but not seen.

So Much For The Big East Being Worth Something

There was the prevailing idea that Louisville and Rutgers would be making some kind of statement: what that statement is... the HQ has no real clue... but some kind of statement about their place in the Bee-Cee-Ess...

So much for that idea- on both fronts...and Charlie Strong's viability during Silly Season may have taken a hit...

First, Teddy Bridgewater played with a broken bone in his wrist... which the HQ gives him due props for... But UConn beat Louisville in overtime- which will send the Cardinals plummeting in the rankings...
((HT: ESPN))


And, then, Pitt scored 21 unanswered in the second on their way to a 27-6 upset of Rutgers- who was ranked 21st at the time of the opening kickoff...

Pitt, still left in some shambles from the Hurricane Todd Graham era, had to have Paul Chryst pick up some pieces... the Panthers, behind Ray Graham, are now 5-6...
((HT: ESPN))