Today marks 15 years since the greatest day (night) in Rutgers Football history. I know it’s been a rough road since and we all long for days like this again. Our frustration, our impatience, our collective desire for more is likely because of that night. We all got a taste of how special this program can be and want a return to that badly.
For me, it was my first semester sophomore year. After beating UConn on a Sunday night (odd) at home to reach 8-0, anticipation on campus had reached a fever pitch. I’ll never forget the crowd of people on the student claim ticket line that week. Classes/early hours be damned. We were getting our tickets.
The day of, I had a couple morning classes, but had my lone afternoon class cancelled for the game. My buddies and I prepped in the Newell Apartments on Cook to make the long trip over to the stadium later that afternoon. The last one to get back from his classes to join us was @Rokodesh . Two members of our group decided to play a prank on him and tell him they were offered $200 for his student ticket. To this day, I’ve never seen him so angry. In the end, it was just a joke and we began the trek over to Busch.
We all remember the game itself, but that postgame was unlike anything I’ve experienced. Zero cell service, as everyone was on their phones. People getting medical attention from having jumped the fences to get down. No point in waiting for a bus, so we made the walk back to College Ave to party. Car horns blaring, people running and screaming everywhere. New Brunswick was one big party. When I finally got cell service back, I called home to speak with my dad (RC ‘79). My mother picked up and said he was still watching the coverage with tears in his eyes. He was so proud. To this day, my sister says that night is what swayed her decision to come to RU as she was offered scholarships from Villanova and Boston College. She fell in love with that school pride.
15 years is a long time ago now, but we can all look back on that fondly. It serves as a reminder, for me anyway, of why I care so much. We’ll get back there.
For me, it was my first semester sophomore year. After beating UConn on a Sunday night (odd) at home to reach 8-0, anticipation on campus had reached a fever pitch. I’ll never forget the crowd of people on the student claim ticket line that week. Classes/early hours be damned. We were getting our tickets.
The day of, I had a couple morning classes, but had my lone afternoon class cancelled for the game. My buddies and I prepped in the Newell Apartments on Cook to make the long trip over to the stadium later that afternoon. The last one to get back from his classes to join us was @Rokodesh . Two members of our group decided to play a prank on him and tell him they were offered $200 for his student ticket. To this day, I’ve never seen him so angry. In the end, it was just a joke and we began the trek over to Busch.
We all remember the game itself, but that postgame was unlike anything I’ve experienced. Zero cell service, as everyone was on their phones. People getting medical attention from having jumped the fences to get down. No point in waiting for a bus, so we made the walk back to College Ave to party. Car horns blaring, people running and screaming everywhere. New Brunswick was one big party. When I finally got cell service back, I called home to speak with my dad (RC ‘79). My mother picked up and said he was still watching the coverage with tears in his eyes. He was so proud. To this day, my sister says that night is what swayed her decision to come to RU as she was offered scholarships from Villanova and Boston College. She fell in love with that school pride.
15 years is a long time ago now, but we can all look back on that fondly. It serves as a reminder, for me anyway, of why I care so much. We’ll get back there.
