PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Coming off its first bowl victory, this
was supposed to be the year that Rutgers took the next step and
went to a Bowl Championship Series event.
Everything was in place for the year after "Pandemonium in
Piscataway." Heisman hopeful halfback Ray Rice was back to lead a
veteran team that would open the season with five home games, and
play eight overall at Rutgers Stadium.
There would be a second chapter coming out of the Big East
Conference for the feel-good story in college football.
It has happened, except it is being written by No. 2 South
Florida (6-0, 1-0), a team that didn't play its first game until
1997.
After opening 3-0, Rutgers (4-2, 1-1) was surprised by Maryland
and Cincinnati in consecutive games before rebounding against
woeful Syracuse. The Scarlet Knights' chances of earning that BCS
game may well depend on spoiling South Florida's magical ride in a
nationally televised game on Thursday night.
"There's always a turning point in a season, there's no
doubt," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "This one is as good as
any, probably. You have to let things happen sometimes. Sometimes
you try too hard to make things happen and then they don't
happen."
A year ago, things went just right for Rutgers, which played in
the first college football game in 1869.
The Scarlet Knights edged South Florida 22-20 when the Bulls
failed on a two-point conversion pass in the final seconds. Weeks
later, Rutgers highlighted the season with a come-from-behind 28-25
win over then-No. 3 Louisville in a Thursday night game that led
the season to be called "Pandemonium in Piscataway."
This year, things haven't gone the Scarlet Knights' way.
Turnovers, mistakes and an inability to come up with the big play
in crunch time led to losses to the Terps and Bearcats.
While none of the players would say Rutgers faces a must-win
game, they know the importance of winning.
"Every win helps. Definitely getting a Big East win helps,"
said Rice, who rushed for 202 yards last year against South
Florida. "But you know when you have the opportunity to play
against the No. 2 team in the nation, it speaks for itself. I don't
think we should look at the ranking. We just have to go out there
and play our best game."
If Rutgers is going to win, Rice must have another big game
against the Bulls, who have not allowed anyone to rush for 100
yards in 14 games. Rice was the last one.
Quarterback Mike Teel also has to protect the ball better. In
the two losses, he threw four interceptions, including one late
against Cincinnati in Bearcats' territory.
"You have to take them one game at a time," Teel said. "You
know we are coming into this game focused and ready to play a very
good football game."
Rutgers also has to find a way to slow down South Florida
quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive tackle George Selvie, who has
11½ sacks.
Grothe has not only thrown for 1,121 yards and seven touchdowns,
he also leads the Bulls with 346 yards rushing.
Beating Rutgers would also move the Bulls a step closer to a
national championship game. After the Scarlet Knights, they will
play Connecticut, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Louisville and Pittsburgh.
"We've had talent here for the last number of years," South
Florida coach Jim Leavitt said. "Putting it all together and
trying to win ballgames, you don't really know how it's all going
to play out. We're still trying to figure out our football team a
little bit. They're playing hard now and doing some good things,
but you don't know so you just keep going."
Schiano also is trying to figure out his team, noting he may
have tried to do some things this year based on what last year's
team was able to do in winning its first nine games.
"Maybe this coach was trying to be last year's coach a little
bit," Schiano said. "We just have to be who we are today, and I
think we're doing a better job of that."