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Knight Caps: A spin around Scarlet Nation

It's a new year and time to rekindle that curiosity we have about all things Scarlet.

By rvc73
rvc73

Piscataway: Social Media Capital of ....football?

It's a young man's game, and so is social media.  The new football staff seems to be very comfortable with the little bird in the blue box.

Baseball's Gardner Awarded

Rutgers baseball director of operations Glen Gardner was named a winner of the fifth-annual Tom Walter/Pete Frates College Baseball Inspiration Award, CollegeBaseballInsider.com announced Friday. The award, named after Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter and former Boston College star Pete Frates, recognizes examples of inspiration in college baseball.

Something not many people know is that Gardner lives with multiple sclerosis.  As director of operations he handles on-campus recruiting efforts, team travel and other day-to-day responsibilities of the program. Before that, he was an assistant coach for 18 years and was one of the top student-athletes to wear the Rutgers uniform on the field.

"Beef [Gardner] is well-deserving," said head coach Joe Litterio, who played for Gardner in the early 1990s. "He has been a staple at Rutgers inspiring not only Rutgers players, but the many he has worked with throughout his career."

The award, started by CollegeBaseballInsider.com in 2011, is named for Tom Walter, the head coach at Wake Forest who donated a kidney to freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan before the 2011 season, and Frates, whose courageous battle with ALS captured the nation's attention with the Ice Bucket Challenge - the effort has raised more than $220 million for ALS research.

Flying high

When last we saw the helicopter that football uses for recruiting, it was bringing former coach Kyle Flood back from an aborted recruiting trip to Long Island.  He returned to be fired.  Hopefully, we're doing better this time around.

And on recruiting.....

Do any of us like Chris Partridge?

Lacrosse is cranking up

It may be January, but that just means the lacrosse team is practicing indoors.  Coach Brian Brecht wrapped up his first week with a high school coaches clinic.  #fencethegarden

And on recruiting, how about softball

The recruiting class brought in for next year by coach Jay Nelson has no players from New Jersey: there are three from talent-rich California and two from Illinois.  It includes one pitcher along with two infielders and two outfielders.

Did someone say hockey?

No, but we will.  I've been pushing for the restoration of sports that were cut on Bob Mulcahy's watch.  And many, me included, would like even more added.  The other day, Pat Hobbs said, in essence, don't hold your breath. But he also said in an nj.com piece that he's always open to generosity from gracious donors.  Powerball.....

"Somebody handed Penn State $100 million to have hockey. Someone wants to hand me $100 million, I'll consider just about any sport," Hobbs said.

And look at where hockey did happen recently - and in a most unexpected location.  Out in Arizona they are fielding calls from schools asking how to get it done.

And in case your interested, Mr. Hobbs, as noted above the AD at Arizona State is Ray Anderson.  His phone number is 480-965-0983 and his email is Ray.Anderson@asu.edu .  Good luck, Pat.

Scarlet Moment of Zen

That Scarlet Knight is such a scamp.  The Gymnastics team had their home opener last weekend and in preparation for it, the Knight came around for some practice and motivation.  What a guy!