Velasquez gives lowdown for 2008 Rutgers season

Star Ledger reporter Vin Velasquez has shot a great video that includes interviews with Scarlet Knights Kenny Britt, Capt. and QB Mike Teel and San San Te, among others. The players talk about their expectations for the 2008 season.

Reminder: Scarlet Knights Fall Schedule

The Rutgers "Scarlet Knights" Football Program is a brightspot in the area. These young men are doing something very special on the gridiron. For a reminder about the team's 2008 schedule, click on the headline and go to the team's homepage.

Schiano: Rutgers is ready for gridiron season debut

There is a lot of speculation going on about the contract that was signed between Scarlet Knights Head Coach Greg Schiano and the Athletic Department at Rutgers. Basically, the coach gets $2M per year and another $250,000 in other subsidies. Transparency about the contract process with the coach wasn't really there -- true--that much could be said. But, Coach Schiano was and is a hot property in college football coaching. I recall some time back that the Miami Hurricanes were shopping Coach Schiano, and I have little doubt they would have been more than competitive with what Rutgers was offering.

Bottom line: Coach Schiano likes Jersey, has been a total asset to the Rutgers Football Program and the state. He has inspired the young men he is coaching to do some great things on the gridiron, which has raised the level of awareness in people all over the country about Rutgers and New Jersey. And, he has done it in a way that is positive and creates a good role model for atheletes and young people, in general.

Coach Schiano says Rutgers Football is ready to go. He is positive about the upcoming season, which kicks off at the beginning of September. Click on the headline and go to the story about it at NJ.com.

Show Coach Schiano the money!

Rutgers Head Football Coach Greg Schiano will reportedly be paid as much as $250,000 in what amounts to a bonus from a sports marketing firm associated with Rutgers University. This is on top of the reported $2M per year the coach will earn as the Scarlet Knights' skipper.

Frankly, if Schiano weren't there, would there be anything to talk about? It would be back to the days where Rutgers' team looked more like a high-school prep squad. Coach Schiano has taken a mediocre and well-meaning team and transformed it into a player on the national stage.

Rutgers Football is one of the best things happening in the Garden State, and that is principally due to Coach Schiano.

Click on the headline to go to the story at NJ.com.

What's going on with Rutgers Football? Check it out on Sept. 1

The Rutgers Football Program is truly one of the bright spots in the state right now, and an uplifting thing for many residents. The program is led by Head Coach Greg Schiano, an incredible force on the gridiron, who has created a real-life 'worst-to-first' story for the Scarlet Knights. The season opens on Sept. 1. Here's a YouTube video, shot in April, that can help fans get reacquainted with New Jersey's Team.