Each season really does take on a life of its own

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This season we returned a lot of experience, including big expectations for KM and our D. Many were predicting 7 or more wins; some as many as 10 wins.

What we couldn’t foresee was a 4 game losing streak midseason with injuries mounting, and losses in games we were either expected to win, needed to win, or felt we should’ve been more competitive in.

Then Greg and staff get the Bye with four games to go, get guys healthy, rally the troops, and we’re now playing our best football of the season on both sides of the ball.

Net/net, we’re 6-4 overall, 3-4 and in the middle of the B1G, with now two games to finish the season which appear very winnable.

From where we started, what we persevered through to turn this season around, and the next two opportunities in front of us to still make this a very successful season… super proud as a long time fan of the program and someone who believes in Greg Schiano.

The job is certainly not yet finished, but man have these last two games really brought some life back into the program and fanbase. Very excited for these last two regular season games.

 

[rutobs]

This season we returned a lot of experience, including big expectations for KM and our D. Many were predicting 7 or more wins; some as many as 10 wins.

What we couldn’t foresee was a 4 game losing streak midseason with injuries mounting, and losses in games we were either expected to win, needed to win, or felt we should’ve been more competitive in.

Then Greg and staff get the Bye with four games to go, get guys healthy, rally the troops, and we’re now playing our best football of the season on both sides of the ball.

Net/net, we’re 6-4 overall, 3-4 and in the middle of the B1G, with now two games to finish the season which appear very winnable.

From where we started, what we persevered through to turn this season around, and the next two opportunities in front of us to still make this a very successful season… super proud as a long time fan of the program and someone who believes in Greg Schiano.

The job is certainly not yet finished, but man have these last two games really brought some life back into the program and fanbase. Very excited for these last two regular season games.

Agree, but we really have the last two games set up for us; the tougher game at home, with the “less difficult” one in the road. It’s set up to finish with a nice season. Let’s go get it!! Let’s fill the stadium!!!

 

[Knight Shift]

This season we returned a lot of experience, including big expectations for KM and our D. Many were predicting 7 or more wins; some as many as 10 wins.

What we couldn’t foresee was a 4 game losing streak midseason with injuries mounting, and losses in games we were either expected to win, needed to win, or felt we should’ve been more competitive in.

Then Greg and staff get the Bye with four games to go, get guys healthy, rally the troops, and we’re now playing our best football of the season on both sides of the ball.

Net/net, we’re 6-4 overall, 3-4 and in the middle of the B1G, with now two games to finish the season which appear very winnable.

From where we started, what we persevered through to turn this season around, and the next two opportunities in front of us to still make this a very successful season… super proud as a long time fan of the program and someone who believes in Greg Schiano.

The job is certainly not yet finished, but man have these last two games really brought some life back into the program and fanbase. Very excited for these last two regular season games.

Good post. I think it was during the bye week that @Richie O and @mb5789 had Mike Teel on the podcast, and Mike detailed the 2008 season, when Rutgers started off 1-5 and finished the season with 6 straight wins.

That does not mean Rutgers will certainly win out this year, but they could. It is hard to be a dispassionate fan when the team goes on a losing streak, but it is easier that being an overly emotional idiot screaming that coaches and coordinators should be fired mid season. That stuff happens at few schools, and even under Greg 2.0, Gleason was let go mid season, but in his case the move was justified.

Being dispassionate makes the highs and lows easier to handle. There are much more important things in life to get upset about when your team loses.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Good post. I think it was during the bye week that @Richie O and @mb5789 had Mike Teel on the podcast, and Mike detailed the 2008 season, when Rutgers started off 1-5 and finished the season with 6 straight wins.

That does not mean Rutgers will certainly win out this year, but they could. It is hard to be a dispassionate fan when the team goes on a losing streak, but it is easier that being an overly emotional idiot screaming that coaches and coordinators should be fired mid season. That stuff happens at few schools, and even under Greg 2.0, Gleason was let go mid season, but in his case the move was justified.

Being dispassionate makes the highs and lows easier to handle. There are much more important things in life to get upset about when your team loses.

Dispassionate is generally what I try to be when talking about whatever. It makes for better conversation and debate. I'm a fan but not fanatic but some fans are a little more and I don't begrudge them for that, sports is emotional and 'that's part of the fun too. It's not like anyone is doing anything crazy, just posting things on messageboard be they frustrations or celebrations.

My outlook was not just about us but who are the upcoming opponents. I don't know if people generally watch enough CFB to be aware. A team like USC even in a down year I worry about because of their offense (a sort of kryptonite for us imo) but the rest of them nothing too special so then if games are close it can go either way. There are 2 sides to the coin, how we're looking and how our opponents are looking as well. It wasn't a murderer's row of productive offenses so imo anything is possible. Plus some of the teams are mistake prone types so that' another thing to take into account. Plus even in our losing streak when there were a lot of complaints about the defense, I still saw hard hitting and fight and no going through the motions so if you're still fighting that's helpful too.

 

[jtung230]

The 2nd bye week is the MVP right now. The change to play more nickel on D and let Royal play that hybrid spot was huge. I’m a little concerned if he can’t go next week. AK stepped up yesterday. Didn’t have the best start but lights came on. Looking FORWARD to the game next week.

 

[Knight Shift]

Dispassionate is generally what I try to be when talking about whatever. It makes for better conversation and debate. I'm a fan but not fanatic but some fans are a little more and I don't begrudge them for that, sports is emotional and 'that's part of the fun too. It's not like anyone is doing anything crazy, just posting things on messageboard be they frustrations or celebrations.

My outlook was not just about us but who are the upcoming opponents. I don't know if people generally watch enough CFB to be aware. A team like USC even in a down year I worry about because of their offense (a sort of kryptonite for us imo) but the rest of them nothing too special so then if games are close it can go either way. There are 2 sides to the coin, how we're looking and how our opponents are looking as well. It wasn't a murderer's row of productive offenses so imo anything is possible. Plus some of the teams are mistake prone types so that' another thing to take into account. Plus even in our losing streak when there were a lot of complaints about the defense, I still saw hard hitting and fight and no going through the motions so if you're still fighting that's helpful too.

I'm not dispassionate about overly negative posters, and I could do better there.

IMO both USC and UCLA had superior athletes. UCLA may be the most improved and underrated team in the league.

Look around the league at other teams, and there are several fanbases of storied programs who are irate. USC, Nebraska, and while perhaps not irate, Wisconsin is not setting the world on fire under Fickell. Michigan knocked from its perch after weirdo Harbaugh and cheater Stallions are gone. RU is not in that league of teams and may never be in that league.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I'm not dispassionate about overly negative posters, and I could do better there.

IMO both USC and UCLA had superior athletes. UCLA may be the most improved and underrated team in the league.

Look around the league at other teams, and there are several fanbases of storied programs who are irate. USC, Nebraska, and while perhaps not irate, Wisconsin is not setting the world on fire under Fickell. Michigan knocked from its perch after weirdo Harbaugh and cheater Stallions are gone. RU is not in that league of teams and may never be in that league.

Can't know what the future holds and every season is a fresh start. The more I see now of what's happening in CFB and what teams are able to do, the more hopeful I am. It's all year to year and the more I watch the more hope I have going into any given year. Really, that's really what most fans want...to feel hopeful going into any season.