My 5 most special moments as an RU fan

[ag67]

CoachMagoo's thread triggered this post. I am curious if other people think the same way I do.

I am thinking not of most exciting moments, but the most emotional ones.

Here are the ones I came up with, in no particular order. Most are recent.

1. The standing ovation after the Insight Bowl - feeling the respect the team had earned for us.

2. Rushing the field after the Navy game - our first real bowl was guaranteed.

3. The moment the crowd spontaneously started singing, "We will Rock You" during the 2006 Louisville win.

4. The moment when Brian Leonard got up on the podium and waved the sword after his last RU home game.

5. The Football team singing the Alma Mater after the Michigan football game.

6. OK, so I am cheating with an extra one - the moment Mario Henry caught the "Hail Mary" pass in the huge come-from-behind win over Virginia Tech. I think every fan felt certain we were going to win the game at that moment.

One most enjoyable moment was the end of the Princeton game in the 60's where they were denied the chance to win because we had torn the goalpost down after our "apparent" winning td 1 minute before. Princeton had owned us for decades, and I believe this was our chance to win a game after something like 5 consecutive defeats.

 

[Section118]

1. Jeremy Ito's winning FG. Done.

 

[wheezer]

1. Jeremy Ito's winning FG. Done.

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I look at the swing pass Leonard got a little before that as an equal memory.....I just knew, just knew, we were going to win...the crowd felt it...and I am usually a half empty guy, but I knew we would not be denied that day

 

[TheRacRU]

1. The moment we were accepted into the Big Ten.

 

[RUich]

Winning our first ever bowl game in Houston,

 

[REDRICH65]

Agree with ag67. Hope to build the last to 7 after tOSH visits this year.

 

[rubaseball78]

Princeton goalpost tear down game was either 73 or 74, not 60s. Always one my favorite memories. We will rock you was a great moment. I would put Brantleys td catch to beat vtech 50-49 would be high on my list. Beating psu with mike botty running also high on my list. Final sack of Bromme in Louisville game is big for me.

 

[beaced]

CoachMagoo's thread triggered this post. I am curious if other people think the same way I do.

I am thinking not of most exciting moments, but the most emotional ones.

Here are the ones I came up with, in no particular order. Most are recent.

1. The standing ovation after the Insight Bowl - feeling the respect the team had earned for us.

2. Rushing the field after the Navy game - our first real bowl was guaranteed.

3. The moment the crowd spontaneously started singing, "We will Rock You" during the 2006 Louisville win.

4. The moment when Brian Leonard got up on the podium and waved the sword after his last RU home game.

5. The Football team singing the Alma Mater after the Michigan football game.

6. OK, so I am cheating with an extra one - the moment Mario Henry caught the "Hail Mary" pass in the huge come-from-behind win over Virginia Tech. I think every fan felt certain we were going to win the game at that moment.

One most enjoyable moment was the end of the Princeton game in the 60's where they were denied the chance to win because we had torn the goalpost down after our "apparent" winning td 1 minute before. Princeton had owned us for decades, and I believe this was our chance to win a game after something like 5 consecutive defeats.

You have my vote for # 3.Caught it on TV but it ROCKED ME. The really emotionally moment was live at the Swamp,when Ru fumbled away the opportunity to BEAT UF on a chip shot field goal.I believe that they were # 1 at the time. Settled for a tie that should have been a W. Disappointing.

 

[LC-88]

#1. That Thursday night in November when the UMd and RU to Big Ten chatter started. Will never forget that.
#2. Win at PSU in 1989. Mike Botti day.
#3. Eric: retiring #52 + entrance vs. WVU getting on SI cover
#4. Last game (win) vs. Princeton at home in 1981.
#5. Bowl eligible after Navy win in 2005

 

[RU848789]

#1. That Thursday night in November when the UMd and RU to Big Ten chatter started. Will never forget that.
#2. Win at PSU in 1989. Mike Botti day.
#3. Eric: retiring #52 + entrance vs. WVU getting on SI cover
#4. Last game (win) vs. Princeton at home in 1981.
#5. Bowl eligible after Navy win in 2005

Last win over Princeton was 1980 - I remember it well as it was my freshman year and the only RU-Princeton game I ever attended. Great thread - lots of great moments.

 

[Ready to Rumble]

Taking the court at The Spectrum for the Final Four in 1976. Of course the game was all downhill.

The team coming off the field at The Texas Bowl. Really any of the bowl game wins.

 

[S.B. Crumb]

2004 win vs. MSU is another nice one for me. Not an old timer, but it's the first time I EVER felt a raucous "big time" energy at a Rutgers football game. (Please no one remind me what happened the week after, thanks in advance)

 

[RUtrumpet92]

#1. That Thursday night in November when the UMd and RU to Big Ten chatter started. Will never forget that.
#2. Win at PSU in 1989. Mike Botti day.
#3. Eric: retiring #52 + entrance vs. WVU getting on SI cover
#4. Last game (win) vs. Princeton at home in 1981.
#5. Bowl eligible after Navy win in 2005

The win at Penn State was 1988. I was there, freshman in the band, first road trip game for me. Very exciting win.

Papa John's bowl is memorable for me because I took my dad and two of my kids.

The Insight Bowl was awesome too, as it showed we belonged IMO.

Sadly, losing at WVU in 2006 and to Louisville a couple seasons back are all too memorable for the wrong reasons. Those losses hurt. So did blowing it at Illinois when the Leonard Leap was born. That one ruined the rest of my day.

 

[RichG]

Nov. 9th 2006 - nothing other than a NC will ever top that for me.
week long excitement and game, just extraordinary...

Playing Alabama 1980, toe to toe at Medowlands.
1975-1976 BB season.
Wenzel's team run through the A10 tournament.
Scott Erneys's win over MSU at East Lansing 1988.
Win over Navy 2005, to be bowl eligible - loved watching students be that hyped.

 

[MrWise]

My top five moments:

The win against Louisville in 2006
The entire Insight Bowl experience in AZ in 2005. Just getting to a big time bowl game was something I never expected to see in my lifetime.
Brian Leonard taking the mic at the RAC during a men's BB game in 2006 to announce that he was returning for his senior season
Ray Rice's incredible performance in the Ice Bowl in 2008 (280 yes and 4 TDs)
Fortay to Brantley with no time remaining for the 50-49 win against Va. Tech on Halloween night in 1992

Honorable mention- Devraun Thompson stuffing No. Carolina on the goal-line twice in a row to save the season opening win in 2006. Looking back, that set the tone for that incredible season.

 

[e5fdny]

Tosh Riddick pulling away and gaining separation...

First time when I thought "it could happen here."

 

[Shoeless Joe #1]

Top 5 Moments
5) First Game 66-0 beatdown of Temple at the Meadowlands
4) Win over Michigan State 19-14 Ito (4fgs)nd Ryan Neill Int
3) First Big 10 win (Michigan)
2) Eric LeGrand leading the team out on the field in the snow against WVU
1) Nov 9, 2006- we were the football universe for that night!!

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Hopefully Sept 19 2015 makes the list