via @Richie O

via @Alec Crouthamel

He was the MLB for The Purple People Eaters,the moniker for the Vikings defense in the late 60's and the 70's.
The Vikings played the Chiefs in IV, the last pure Super Bowl before the merger took full effect.
I bet the Chiefs at my local pool room-the tables were always in immaculate condition being a typical Goodfellas place-getting 13.5.
It was the only bet that I ever considered to be a sure thing.
23-7 KC as they kept matriculating the ball down the field.

I'm bringing my broom in from the patio for tomorrow's game.

via @Alec Crouthamel

... or Hell Night, Gate Night, Cabbage Night (what we called it in Ridgewood), Goosy Night or whatever u called it in your neck of the woods back in the day. And if u DIDN'T grow up with this glorious holiday in your area, or are too young to know WTF I'm talking about? Well then I feel sad for u, ha. So many good mischievous memories. I start this thread every year, just for sh#ts & giggles, always entertaining.

Anyway, RIP. It was a classic! I get why it doesn't exist anymore, but still. Sigh.

Season previews have started to come out and I cannot help but remain concerned about the troubling trajectory of the program. Last year I foresaw a lack of firepower from our transfer class and a likelihood of finishing either last or next to last in conference play two years in a row. Unfortunately, that came to fruition.

A few trends have been at play during this downward trend.

1. Coaches first market advantage to heavily relying on the transfer market has disappeared. Coach was very smart to leverage the portal early, but other programs are doing the same, and we have not been getting good transfer classes.

2. Programs like Michigan and Penn St are seeing the fruits of investment as time has gone on.

Specific to this year, our transfer class is lacking again. We lose most of our offensive fire power outside of big time freshman Kurdyla and the other kid I’m forgetting right now, kulas or dulas. Now this could be a good thing bc our offense struggled last year. But im not seeing the talent coming in that could provide anything but a mild improvement. We bring in a Merrimack mid who was was very productive, but not much more.

For those who keep tabs with Rutgers lacrosse or lacrosse in general, what are the reason for optimism going into next season?

So has anybody found out why Kahleah is MIA. Would love to know.

It begins and ends there. When you’re getting gashed pretty much every run, you will NEVER get stops. Personnel is just not good.
Lewis? Even before injury, underperforming
Ray? Too slow and heavy. Gets beat.
Bailey? Hurt, obviously
Thompson? Ghost. Never hear his name. Too small

There’s freshman in the pipeline but they aren’t ready.

We don’t have the Fosters, Meekins, etc that were run stoppers.

So, that’s literally the biggest issue. Can they take this week off to evaluate personnel and make some changes? Hopefully.

Also we play a lot of zone that leaves the middle so open it’s like QB target practice. Too soft.

I honestly think if we can keep teams around 24, we can win a couple more games. Our offense, especially passing game, much improved, I like our chances.

Such little good today. Injuries did expose depth issues still in the program.

GOOD

1. Dremel--2 good catches today. Been calling since first game for a few targets each week to him. Doesn't mean Miller has to sit. Dremel knows how to get open and has good hands. Having him on ko returns is just a forefit though.
2. Jordan Walker- Last 2 weeks good pass rush and changed the rush dyanmic. Been better than the bigger names
3. Monangais running--yes he had a low stat game but he took advanatage of most openings, but he got very little. Felt very Pacheco esque today in runner vs entire other team.
4. Nothing else good realy comes to mind.

NOT SO GOOD:

1. Fletcher's blocking. Every week it's been an issue. He gets shedded reoutinely, and it's a big reason the run game has struggled. JUst watch him try tos eaql the end, usually that players gets KM from behind..or sooner. Minutes need to be limited on any run downs moving forward.
2. LB play. Powell being hurt was a big loss. I'm prety sure Walker has been on the field for every big play against RU, and has had a hand in the area being opened up. Shades of Beckford running TO A BLOCK and taking himself out of a play. All season a real clear liability. #44 is trying but just not a B10 level player. Number one area for the portal which has been known since game one.
3. 2 delay of game out of kickoffs? Would have said in the past that this would never happen under GS. This is on him. Game awareness needs to be addressed and cleaned up stat. Quick punted before ready etc
4. FG kicking. 2 RU fgs blocked this year and NO blocks on opposition. Bad snap, no hold correction....
5. Right side OL--Yep not much push---now with Felter out the left side faltering. Pierce still seems to be taking his man out though. The rest are struggling and today for the first time some toughness issues arose.
6. DLine---Ray is not Ishton or the prior one year player whos name I cant recall. Angoy has been not bad but outside of that and Walker, nothing positive.
7. Bailey's outfield rush lineup. Yes he's a force, but the staff is letting him line up WAY TOO WIDE on pass downs. He may like that--but timing wise he really can't get there before the pass is off no matter how much he beats his man. This to me is on the staff and gets to game/situational awareness. The wide rush opens up lanes too. Just a surprise it's allowed. Outside of the safety he just hasnt gotten home in time this year.
8. Drops. Long all year and Black too (but new). The others were just a rough day.

There's more but this game was tough due to injuries, but next man up wasn't capable and the toughness wasnt there...at home. Just a disappointing day.

1. Flew into SNA (John Wayne) Thursday from Newark with a bunch of RU fans on the flight.
2. Hung out near Newport Beach and Laguna Beach Thursday. Really enjoyed walking around the beaches and the view from "Top of the World" park.
3. Took a quick stop in Hollywood then up to Griffiths Observatory Friday before the game. Hollywood was very much like Times Square as expected. The observatory was awesome.
4. Went to the "Lab" on USC campus pre-game. Really had a great time. Campus is beautiful and the fans we encountered were very very friendly.
5. Walked around outside the Coliseum, the Modelo tailgating area, was fun.
6. The Coliseum was awesome. Big, plenty of bathrooms, variety of concessions, a ton of history.
7. USC fans reminded me a lot of Rutgers fans. Seems like once a few losses are in the books, they don't show up.
8. Loved the atmosphere in the Coliseum with the real time band playing instead of the blasting loud music.
9. TONS of Rutgers fans around. We traveled well.

Currently stuck at SNA trying to leave.
1. Flight was delayed a few hours because of damage to a tire that had to be changed.
2. Boarded the plane, sat on runway and had to return to gate because of a gas/oil smell.
3. Plane was repaired (took another 2 hours). Got back on the plane, had to deplane because flight crew hours.
4. New flight crew showed up, got on the plane. Sat on the runway again because of returning gas/oil smell. Returned to gate

In short--boarded and deboarded FOUR TIMES.

Sitting here almost 12 hours later waiting for my "Ferry flight" to arrive. Won't be back east until early tomorrow morning. Anyone have experience with getting compensation for such craziness?

All in all this was a very very fun trip and away game. Great college atmosphere and wonderful stadium. Highly recommended.

I have several things to cover here….

First and foremost I must be sick in the head to have stayed up and watch that entire game. I got sucked back in when it was 28-20 and watched to the final whistle….just like I hardly EVER leave the stadium early…. Glutton for punishment?

So…this is my 30th season as a season ticket holder. First year was 1994 when the new stadium opened. It is nothing short of a miracle I still support this program as hard as I do but I cant help myself. I love Rutgers athletics for all of it’s torture and pain for those 30 years.

I am not sure there is a more frustrating team to watch than this one over that 30 years…. Starting 1-5 in 2008 is pretty dang close because that team very well couldve been a 1 or 2 loss team if they didnt muck it up first few games….

That said…this current iteration of RU football drives me up a wall. I love Greg. I am a huge supporter of Greg. I believe in old school football and defense. I can live through some of the boneheadedness because he has meant a great deal to RU football and is a very recruiter and I think he’s a genuine old school guy. But we are in year 5. How is the depth so bad? That 2022 class is going to be the achilles heal as pointed out in another thread. Those guys needed to be all over the field and there is just nothing there. The depth because of that single class is not good and it is goes to rear its head probably worse next year.

The thing that is so frustrating is that we are right there. Nebraska, UCLA and honestly even last night were all winnable games. I truly believe that. But you watch this team and you wonder how the f are we even in these games. It is just a combination of self inflicted wounds, stupid coaching, lack of depth, players playing with no juice, there is no onfield leadership, this team seems to have no cohesiveness and to top it all off we have to listen to that gd train horn blowing your eardrums out as you get your ass handed to you. We arent losing to our opponents except for wisconsin - Rutgers is beating Rutgers. Unbelievably, nauseatingly annoying.

I believe in the direction of the program. Lot of injuries this year. Lot of young or inexperienced guys having to play. Ultimately depth falls onto the head coach and he put all of his chips into the 2024 basket and almost all of the retained NIL guys are severly hurt.

Sorry for the rant. Maybe they will focus on tackling for two weeks