Fanshots

It’s different for the BCS schools . . . We’re so far ahead of the low-major to mid-majors as far...

+

It’s different for the BCS schools . . . We’re so far ahead of the low-major to mid-majors as far as recruiting because if we start recruiting someone their junior year, we have no chance. I’ve been talking to these kids for two years now."

Coach Mike Rice talking to Zags about the new recruiting rules.

Eric Wiafe to Rutgers

+

Timing can be interesting at times. Rutgers saw a top-ranked local player go off the board today with Immaculata (why does RU never seem to get their players when the school is so close by) DT Tashawn Bower committed to Auburn. That may have been behind the decision to offer Eric Wiafe, but other reports cite his standout performance at a local big man camp. That's fine. What's a little unnerving though are Wiafe's comments about being a "medium" verbal commit and still wanting to take visits. Dude. This is your first decent offer. If you want to wait, then wait. Committing in name only just to hold a spot might as well be no commitment at all. Come on, get serious man. This is why I can't really get on any player who seems to be dragging the decision process out. Some people just need to be sure, and while it's frustrating, that's certainly their right. Something like this is definitely higher on the irksome scale. Still, Rutgers saw fit to jump on Wiafe almost immediately, so I hope things work out and he can grow into his potential. Besides the odd comments, some fans certainly will be upset about missing out on another big local target. Rutgers is definitely doing well with the mid-level guys who are the bread and butter of the program every year, but RU has struggled with most top local prospects (there are still a few good ones left who are possibilities if not likely to Rutgers), which is understandable given the results of the past few months. Rutgers needs to win under Kyle Flood, and that will work itself out in time, but it's definitely an issue until the program can demonstrate some stability again. Getting to the point of the past few years where Rutgers turned into a destination for elite prospects did not happen over night.

Here is a SB Nation interview with Mohamed Sanu.

+

Here is a SB Nation interview with Mohamed Sanu.

Report: Rutgers to revamp concessions

5

Update: the original article has retracted the section about alcohol sales. This is some excellent reporting by Charlie Kratovil and New Brunswick today. They filed a public records request, and discovered that Sodexo has won the bidding to take over concession rights for Rutgers athletics games, which were previously handled by the university's dining services. This is welcome news on many fronts. Certainly, alcohol is the headline grabber, but it cannot be emphasized enough how terrible the concessions are at High Point Solutions Stadium (some basketball fans like to talk up the RAC's chicken fingers.) I, for one, am looking forward to genuinely edible food to supplement the various tailgating options available. So yeah, the 800-lb gorilla in the room is alcohol sales. Given the fiscal state of the athletic department, university, and state - does Rutgers athletics really have ANY room to leave dollars on the table? If you want to be critical of this, go ahead, but anyone who disapproves of this decision but also complains about athletic subsidies is a hypocrite. Bravo Rutgers Athletic, for making yet another small but needed step forward.

Anthony Campanile returns to Rutgers

5

The prospect of this happening has been heavily rumored for months, but it's finally official today. Former Rutgers walk-on Anthony Campanile is returning to the program officially as a (presumably offensive) graduate assistant, according the The Star-Ledger's Mike Vorkunov. Make no mistake about it, Campanile is considered a rising star in the coaching profession. The way I see it, you give him two years to get his feet wet while he gets a graduate degree. Then he takes over the WR coaching job, and immediately turns into a monster recruiting the North Jersey parochial schools (Anthony is coming from Don Bosco, his brother Nunzio is the head coach at Bergen Catholic, and his father used to coach at Paramus Catholic) along the lines of a Jeff Hafley. Don't discount his coaching abilities either, as Bosco was an offensive juggernaut. They had a big talent edge over most teams, but that doesn't explain, say, the win over St. Peter's Prep.

BoG/BoT go public on merger proposal

3

The gist of the statement is essentially that the current proposal is insane and a horrible deal for Rutgers, but let's talk. Obviously, you have lots of different factions at play here. Ralph Izzo on the BoG is very close to Chris Christie, but he also has to recognize how bad this deal is; but on the other hand, his loyalty is to Rutgers, not Rutgers Camden, and Izzo won't hesitate to negotiate for a better deal. On the other hand, you have Camden professors and students who are opposed to a deal under any circumstances. To them, all I can say is that if the Rutgers BoT/BoG releases a statement that does not outright dismiss the proposal, like it or not, it's time to make preparations that your campus is going to be traded for a medical school. If the deal is right, that always has been and always will be a very easy choice for Rutgers. Of course, this deal is not right, not even close. Rutgers needs to torpedo all of the Newark proposals, refuse to take on UMDNJ's debt, stop George Norcross from using the Rutgers name, extract additional financial concessions, and maybe even consolidate the law schools in New Brunswick. The Sweeney proposal could not possibly be a worse piece of legislation, which is why Loretta Weinberg's statement of praise, and support from other Senate Democrats like Paul Sarlo and Joe Vitale (a traitor to Middlesex County if there ever was one) are enough to induce vomit. As for Farmer's article, the points are correct with respect to Sweeney's awful proposal. However, as to the broader idea of separating Rutgers-Camden, I don't really agree. It's clear that Norcross U would be a clown college with no academic prestige, and it would be completely devoid of funding as all resources are shifted into debt-ridden Cooper Medical School. Therefore, there is no chance that it would pose a genuine threat to Rutgers. The thing is though that this so-called university cannot be allowed to use the Rutgers name, and that Sweeney's idea to designate Rowan as the research university for South Jersey, and Rutgers as the research university for North Jersey must be eviscerated, never to return. Now and forever, Rutgers must retain its status and sole designation the state university for all of New Jersey - regardless of whether it keeps its satellite campuses in Newark and Camden or not.

T.J. Taylor commits to Rutgers

1

Let's face it: if there's a top football prospect out there in Middlesex or Somerset Counties, it's not news if he commits to Rutgers. It's news if Rutgers does not land those players. That being said, T.J. Taylor looks like a good get as a safety who may grow into a linebacker in time. You can't control when players are ready to commit obviously, but Rutgers has a lot of multi-positional athlete types now, and you'd really like to see a few more linemen commits start trickling in. Yeah, they got more than their fill last year, but you can never really have enough capable bodies on both sides of the ball. Finding a QB would be pretty big too.

UMDNJ/Rowan merger proposal introduced in legislature

10

As expected, the proposal includes provisions for new governing boards in Newark and Camden, which is anathema and unacceptable to the Rutgers boards. George Norcross is still free to loot the Camden campus. Other changes include: 1. As an apparent end-run around Newark's excessive desire for political bribes, Sweeney proposes that Rutgers absorb EVERY UMDNJ asset except for University Hospital. Actually, Rutgers would not want to do this, because UMDNJ is a political patronage mill more than a medical school. It does create the super-patronage mill that Essex County politicians want though, and NJIT has to feel nervous tonight that they will be next in the crosshairs to be gobbled up. 2. In an effort to further curb RU's political independence, Stephen Sweeney's proposal would increase the size of the university's board of governors from 11 to 15 members. Sweeney does concede that the proposal will change, and Newark is definitely gearing for a fight. Now it's up to Rutgers to pit these two groups of fools against each other, and somehow get out of this mess by regaining its stolen medical school.

Austin Carroll is Transferring

1

In news that's been rumored for a while, Austin Carroll is officially transferring out of Rutgers. He has received a medical redshirt and is available to play right away next year. He is considering schools such as American University and Rhode Island. It is unclear whether Rutgers will try to use the extra scholarship or roll it into the next class, but Jerry Carino suggests they'll hold on to it.

Mike Teel reportedly leaving Wagner, but not for Don Bosco

1

Football Scoop reported earlier today that former Rutgers and Don Bosco quarterback Mike Teel would be leaving his job at Wagner College for the coordinator gig at North Jersey parochial high school powerhouse Don Bosco Prep. However, Bosco coach Greg Toal has refuted these reports to Mike Vorkunov, explaining that Teel is instead leaving for a finance job with UBS. It's always nice to see Rutgers alumni doing well for themselves, but this does raise a few questions. Will Teel, long-seen as a future head coach, get the football bug again at some point? Where does Don Bosco turn now, considering their recent coaching and roster turnover? More importantly, if Don Bosco wanted to hire Teel in the first place, what does that imply regarding the status of 2011 offensive coordinator Anthony Campanile? Campanile, who played for Greg Schiano at Rutgers, had been rumored last year as a potential graduate assistant hire for RU. There hasn't been any movement on that front though, as the second assistant spot on the staff remains unfilled.