Politi & Dunleavy: Coming Tuesday: An oral history of the 2006 Rutgers-Louisville game
- Thread starter brodo
- Start date
Part 1:
https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/t...y-of-the-2006-rutgers-louisville-game.111747/
It is WELL worth the click and read. Great memories. We will be there again soon!
Snippets:
BOBBY PETRINO, Louisville coach: (Through a spokesman) We're sorry. He doesn't have time right now to go back and remember that game.[roll]
LEONARD: I know a lot of people thought I was crazy for going to Rutgers. I had a lot of other options to go to college. I just believed in Coach Schiano and what he was telling us. I believed in his philosophy and his vision.
WESTERMAN: "I think that entire team, the defense, the offense, even a lot of the guys who were key contributors to that year and that game, not many guys were highly touted. I think I had one star and a Candian leaf when I committed Rutgers. Jason and Devin (McCourty), they weren't anybody's top blue-chippers.
MEEKINS: I think the biggest part is there weren't too many huge stars that came out of high school. A few three-star guys. I was a walk-on. We had a lot of converted players. The one thing that was constant and consistent about everyone on that defense was a grinder.
COOLEY: I don't remember if we got any pizza but I remember him coming through. He was like a god. He had turned the program around.
https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/t...y-of-the-2006-rutgers-louisville-game.111747/
It is WELL worth the click and read. Great memories. We will be there again soon!
Snippets:
BOBBY PETRINO, Louisville coach: (Through a spokesman) We're sorry. He doesn't have time right now to go back and remember that game.[roll]
LEONARD: I know a lot of people thought I was crazy for going to Rutgers. I had a lot of other options to go to college. I just believed in Coach Schiano and what he was telling us. I believed in his philosophy and his vision.
WESTERMAN: "I think that entire team, the defense, the offense, even a lot of the guys who were key contributors to that year and that game, not many guys were highly touted. I think I had one star and a Candian leaf when I committed Rutgers. Jason and Devin (McCourty), they weren't anybody's top blue-chippers.
MEEKINS: I think the biggest part is there weren't too many huge stars that came out of high school. A few three-star guys. I was a walk-on. We had a lot of converted players. The one thing that was constant and consistent about everyone on that defense was a grinder.
COOLEY: I don't remember if we got any pizza but I remember him coming through. He was like a god. He had turned the program around.
I'm getting chills reading it, but the typos are out of control. They've been promoting this for a couple days, but they couldn't get an intern to read it once? I counted at least 15 obvious ones.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...uisville_2006_an_oral_history_of_the_sca.html
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...uisville_2006_an_oral_history_of_the_sca.html
So, what are the memories of Scarlet Nation?
Mine- I think I got into the game in my fire department jacket. This was one of the last games I remember getting in and standing with various firefighters in the area of 105, 106, 107. I remember asking people in the office, including Rutgers alums if they wanted to go. Nobody wanted to go. I went alone, and I was glad that I did. I made some friends with the other firefighters standing next to me. I also remember Kenny Britt making an outstanding catch, and IIRC, fumbling, and recovering his own fumble. I thought to myself that he was impressive as a freshman and he was going to be a big star.
Having moved in and out of NJ, we had not gone to many Rutgers football games, but we started going to 2-3 games per season in 2008, and we went for season tickets 4 years ago.
Mine- I think I got into the game in my fire department jacket. This was one of the last games I remember getting in and standing with various firefighters in the area of 105, 106, 107. I remember asking people in the office, including Rutgers alums if they wanted to go. Nobody wanted to go. I went alone, and I was glad that I did. I made some friends with the other firefighters standing next to me. I also remember Kenny Britt making an outstanding catch, and IIRC, fumbling, and recovering his own fumble. I thought to myself that he was impressive as a freshman and he was going to be a big star.
Having moved in and out of NJ, we had not gone to many Rutgers football games, but we started going to 2-3 games per season in 2008, and we went for season tickets 4 years ago.
I don't know, it just kept ripping me out of the moment. Kinda like watching a p0&@0 and they just focus on the guys face for three minutes.
I just went back and they fixed most of them. Here are a few that pop out from re-skimming.
-JAMAL WESTERMAN
-I remember (MacConnell) saying, 'Hey, you're got to see this.
-I called Dough Kokoskie
-But there were a lot of fans who like, 'They heck with them.
-7 or 8 hours a head of time
You're welcome NJ dot com. Politi, send my editing check to the Rutgers build fund.
My memory was asking Kirk and Erin after the game what they thought about the next games and Kirk said "if the defense plays like that no one will beat them". And then he picked against Rutgers the very next week lol
Anyone have a blue ray copy of the game?
I remember the day like it was yesterday. Getting up to find a clearing after a storm warm Fall day. Going to a sporting goods store in Brick to get my son a RU hat as he had left his at his mom's house and being told they were sold out after a mad scramble for RU stuff the previous couple of days.
Shopping, picking my son up after classes at Monmouth, tailgating, Mike and the Dog, the comeback, the ending, the celebration are all etched in my memory. The nearly two hour wait to get out of the lot is the only negative lol.
I returned home to find 1 message on my phone. It was from my ex wife. We had been divorced for more than 10 years. She was all emotional, saying she had watched every minute of the game with our daughter even though she was anything but a sports fan. She said she knew how much RU football meant to me and was so happy our son and I were there to enjoy the big night.
Shopping, picking my son up after classes at Monmouth, tailgating, Mike and the Dog, the comeback, the ending, the celebration are all etched in my memory. The nearly two hour wait to get out of the lot is the only negative lol.
I returned home to find 1 message on my phone. It was from my ex wife. We had been divorced for more than 10 years. She was all emotional, saying she had watched every minute of the game with our daughter even though she was anything but a sports fan. She said she knew how much RU football meant to me and was so happy our son and I were there to enjoy the big night.
That is a beautiful story and shows how sports can transcend a lot of issues and feelings. Thank you for sharing.
I have told this story before and I will tell it again. I swear on my grandmother's ashes this story is as true now as it was then.
So the weekend PRIOR to the Louisville game in 2006, we had a gathering of friends and such at our apartment on Hamilton St. We had a decent spot, across from the AXO house basically overlooking frat row and the Grease trucks (while they were still there :scream:). Our slumlord was a different story altogether, but I digress. So we decided to have some friends over for some alcohol consumption and other forms of chicanery. I invited my very best friend from home to spend time up at RU that weekend, because he went to Stockton down in South jersey and he'd come up every so often to get a taste of the "big" school party atmosphere. So he comes up and also brings his girlfriend at the time, who's name was Kait. Kait's best friend growing up was a girl named Jenny. Who, I believe was only a sophomore at RU at the time. I was in my 4th year. Spent the first 2 years down at Rutgers-Camden, then came up to NB for the last 4 (pharmacy school). Anyway, so Jenny, believe it or not had met and started to become intimate with none other than The Judge. Incidentally, they are happily married to this day several years later. So myself, my best friend (Matt), The Judge, Jenny, and Kait are in my shithole apartment, in our shithole kitchen, playing beer pong (or Beirut if you're a communist). A fairly average Friday or Saturday night. Now we knew the Louisville game was on the horizon, it was coming up in less than a week. So obviously we are all discussing how big the game will be. Trying not to be too fanboyish about the fact that Ito is in my house playing pong. Pretty sure we were the same age at the time, but he obviously was a bigger deal than I was. So we're all joking around and not trying to make his next few days any more pressure packed than they already would be. So as the conversation goes along, I shit you not, this is what happens. At one point, Matt turns to Ito and says, "Jeremy, I already know whats going to happen. The Louisville game is going to come down to the final seconds and you are going to drill a field goal to win the game. When that happens I want you to turn around and point directly at the camera, that way I can tell everyone that I called it." And at the time, Ito laughs it off, but says he absolutely will if that happens (Ito was a damn good kid). We all have a minute where we fantasize about that moment and then it was gone. We goof around for a little while longer, then night ends, and everyone goes home. Cut to about 6 days later and Piscataway is literally buzzing with anticipation. I have not felt before, nor have I since, the feeling that permeated the town, school, and state that day. We all know the story. The rough start, the comeback, the defense, that swing pass to Leonard on 3rd down which was probably the biggest play of the game. Then. The field goal. The first one he shanked, but THANK GOD Ville was offsides. Jesus, thank God they were offsides. But then Ito drills the second one. Turns around, points to the camera. Matt was at home watching that game, screaming to anyone that would listen that he called that. But of course, he had no proof at the time. But I couldn't believe it, still can't to this day. Watching NB bleed Scarlet that night from the doorsteps of that apartment is a scene I will never forget. Ever.
So the weekend PRIOR to the Louisville game in 2006, we had a gathering of friends and such at our apartment on Hamilton St. We had a decent spot, across from the AXO house basically overlooking frat row and the Grease trucks (while they were still there :scream:). Our slumlord was a different story altogether, but I digress. So we decided to have some friends over for some alcohol consumption and other forms of chicanery. I invited my very best friend from home to spend time up at RU that weekend, because he went to Stockton down in South jersey and he'd come up every so often to get a taste of the "big" school party atmosphere. So he comes up and also brings his girlfriend at the time, who's name was Kait. Kait's best friend growing up was a girl named Jenny. Who, I believe was only a sophomore at RU at the time. I was in my 4th year. Spent the first 2 years down at Rutgers-Camden, then came up to NB for the last 4 (pharmacy school). Anyway, so Jenny, believe it or not had met and started to become intimate with none other than The Judge. Incidentally, they are happily married to this day several years later. So myself, my best friend (Matt), The Judge, Jenny, and Kait are in my shithole apartment, in our shithole kitchen, playing beer pong (or Beirut if you're a communist). A fairly average Friday or Saturday night. Now we knew the Louisville game was on the horizon, it was coming up in less than a week. So obviously we are all discussing how big the game will be. Trying not to be too fanboyish about the fact that Ito is in my house playing pong. Pretty sure we were the same age at the time, but he obviously was a bigger deal than I was. So we're all joking around and not trying to make his next few days any more pressure packed than they already would be. So as the conversation goes along, I shit you not, this is what happens. At one point, Matt turns to Ito and says, "Jeremy, I already know whats going to happen. The Louisville game is going to come down to the final seconds and you are going to drill a field goal to win the game. When that happens I want you to turn around and point directly at the camera, that way I can tell everyone that I called it." And at the time, Ito laughs it off, but says he absolutely will if that happens (Ito was a damn good kid). We all have a minute where we fantasize about that moment and then it was gone. We goof around for a little while longer, then night ends, and everyone goes home. Cut to about 6 days later and Piscataway is literally buzzing with anticipation. I have not felt before, nor have I since, the feeling that permeated the town, school, and state that day. We all know the story. The rough start, the comeback, the defense, that swing pass to Leonard on 3rd down which was probably the biggest play of the game. Then. The field goal. The first one he shanked, but THANK GOD Ville was offsides. Jesus, thank God they were offsides. But then Ito drills the second one. Turns around, points to the camera. Matt was at home watching that game, screaming to anyone that would listen that he called that. But of course, he had no proof at the time. But I couldn't believe it, still can't to this day. Watching NB bleed Scarlet that night from the doorsteps of that apartment is a scene I will never forget. Ever.
THAT is a fabulous story. Two questions. Do you still stay in touch with Jeremy and Jenny? Did he like or dislike being referred to as "The Judge." At least, I recall that some fans called him that.
I havent stayed in touch. Still facebook friends with Jenny, so I get to see your basic life updates. I recall asking him about it that night and im pretty sure he said he liked the nickname. Most of us were only 10ish years old when the OJ thing went down, but it was a pretty sweet nickname.
Here's a video of Politi and Dunleavy talking about this 10-year anniversary project.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...edible_detail_stands_out_in_2006_rutgers.html
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...edible_detail_stands_out_in_2006_rutgers.html
Don't remember much pregame though it WAS electric (can't believe I've been sitting with our crew for 12+ years). Don't remember too many game details except we came from behind and Ito with the 2nd chance field goal at the end. I remember thnking what a great 1-2 punch Leonard and Rice were-and that Leonard was sacrificing for Rice. I do remember how bonkers the crowd went on that final sack.
It was incredible to see the fans steam onto the field (especially later on tv-our group went down to the field late. *** My one big memory-running into one player-gave congrats and then said "WATCH OUT FOR CINCI-THEY ARE GOING TO BE GUNNING FOR US". The player gave me a dirty look...I had a bad feeling about Cinci as the 1993? Cinci game (our coach Jeter was discovered in a crackhouse during the week) cost Graber and crew a bowl-and program momentum.
I MOST enjoyed the postgame on WFAN. Usually Rutgers is an afterthought. After the win that night the calls were 95% Rutgers Football and talk of a possible Orange or even ROSE bowl bid. Listened 3 or 4 hours on the overnight. Of course Rutgers got its butt kicked by Cinci from the outset.
The night of the West Virginia game was a disaster. First I had wanted to go to Sea Girt? for a benefit Bruce was likely to show for with Piscataway Mike. We knew the game would take preference though. Maybe we were still thinking of going but the game went into triple overtime.
Rutgers lost that meant the Louisville game had no effect (I think I thought West Virginia would get the Orange/Sugar Bow)l. Bruce of course showed up in Sea Girt (start of a disturbing trend where he tends to show up somewhere on the night of another big event) and I believe played for 2 hours. I couldn't afford to go to Texas and still have not been to a Rutgers bowl game since The Garden State Bowl.
It was incredible to see the fans steam onto the field (especially later on tv-our group went down to the field late. *** My one big memory-running into one player-gave congrats and then said "WATCH OUT FOR CINCI-THEY ARE GOING TO BE GUNNING FOR US". The player gave me a dirty look...I had a bad feeling about Cinci as the 1993? Cinci game (our coach Jeter was discovered in a crackhouse during the week) cost Graber and crew a bowl-and program momentum.
I MOST enjoyed the postgame on WFAN. Usually Rutgers is an afterthought. After the win that night the calls were 95% Rutgers Football and talk of a possible Orange or even ROSE bowl bid. Listened 3 or 4 hours on the overnight. Of course Rutgers got its butt kicked by Cinci from the outset.
The night of the West Virginia game was a disaster. First I had wanted to go to Sea Girt? for a benefit Bruce was likely to show for with Piscataway Mike. We knew the game would take preference though. Maybe we were still thinking of going but the game went into triple overtime.
Rutgers lost that meant the Louisville game had no effect (I think I thought West Virginia would get the Orange/Sugar Bow)l. Bruce of course showed up in Sea Girt (start of a disturbing trend where he tends to show up somewhere on the night of another big event) and I believe played for 2 hours. I couldn't afford to go to Texas and still have not been to a Rutgers bowl game since The Garden State Bowl.
Last edited:
Part 2 is up.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...comeback_victory_wasn.html#incart_river_index
Snippets:
CARLIN: All of a sudden, they were hitting Brohm left and right. Whatever they did see and change made a huge difference because that is the best defensive performance I've seen from a Rutgers team in 15 years. By far.
On the first missed FG attempt:
CALI: Clark had a few choice words for Jeremy at the time, some that can't be repeated and a lot of four-letter words. Getting Clark to clam down and to understand that yelling at our kicker at that point probably wasn't a good idea. I think he got the message that we all wanted to make the kick. Then regrouping, and getting everyone, especially up front, to protect.
CLAM down?
Love this picture:
And this one:
And this one:
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...comeback_victory_wasn.html#incart_river_index
Snippets:
CARLIN: All of a sudden, they were hitting Brohm left and right. Whatever they did see and change made a huge difference because that is the best defensive performance I've seen from a Rutgers team in 15 years. By far.
On the first missed FG attempt:
CALI: Clark had a few choice words for Jeremy at the time, some that can't be repeated and a lot of four-letter words. Getting Clark to clam down and to understand that yelling at our kicker at that point probably wasn't a good idea. I think he got the message that we all wanted to make the kick. Then regrouping, and getting everyone, especially up front, to protect.
CLAM down?
Love this picture:
And this one:
And this one:
Here's babs09's story using the enter key....
I have told this story before and I will tell it again. I swear on my grandmother's ashes this story is as true now as it was then.
So the weekend PRIOR to the Louisville game in 2006, we had a gathering of friends and such at our apartment on Hamilton St. We had a decent spot, across from the AXO house basically overlooking frat row and the Grease trucks (while they were still there :scream:). Our slumlord was a different story altogether, but I digress.
So we decided to have some friends over for some alcohol consumption and other forms of chicanery. I invited my very best friend from home to spend time up at RU that weekend, because he went to Stockton down in South jersey and he'd come up every so often to get a taste of the "big" school party atmosphere.
So he comes up and also brings his girlfriend at the time, who's name was Kait. Kait's best friend growing up was a girl named Jenny. Who, I believe was only a sophomore at RU at the time. I was in my 4th year. Spent the first 2 years down at Rutgers-Camden, then came up to NB for the last 4 (pharmacy school). Anyway, so Jenny, believe it or not had met and started to become intimate with none other than The Judge.
Incidentally, they are happily married to this day several years later. So myself, my best friend (Matt), The Judge, Jenny, and Kait are in my shithole apartment, in our shithole kitchen, playing beer pong (or Beirut if you're a communist). A fairly average Friday or Saturday night.
Now we knew the Louisville game was on the horizon, it was coming up in less than a week. So obviously we are all discussing how big the game will be. Trying not to be too fanboyish about the fact that Ito is in my house playing pong. Pretty sure we were the same age at the time, but he obviously was a bigger deal than I was. So we're all joking around and not trying to make his next few days any more pressure packed than they already would be. So as the conversation goes along, I shit you not, this is what happens:
At one point, Matt turns to Ito and says, "Jeremy, I already know whats going to happen. The Louisville game is going to come down to the final seconds and you are going to drill a field goal to win the game. When that happens I want you to turn around and point directly at the camera, that way I can tell everyone that I called it." And at the time, Ito laughs it off, but says he absolutely will if that happens (Ito was a damn good kid).
We all have a minute where we fantasize about that moment and then it was gone. We goof around for a little while longer, then night ends, and everyone goes home.
Cut to about 6 days later and Piscataway is literally buzzing with anticipation. I have not felt before, nor have I since, the feeling that permeated the town, school, and state that day.
We all know the story. The rough start, the comeback, the defense, that swing pass to Leonard on 3rd down which was probably the biggest play of the game. Then. The field goal. The first one he shanked, but THANK GOD Ville was offsides. Jesus, thank God they were offsides. But then Ito drills the second one. Turns around, points to the camera.
Matt was at home watching that game, screaming to anyone that would listen that he called that. But of course, he had no proof at the time. But I couldn't believe it, still can't to this day. Watching NB bleed Scarlet that night from the doorsteps of that apartment is a scene I will never forget. Ever.
I have told this story before and I will tell it again. I swear on my grandmother's ashes this story is as true now as it was then.
So the weekend PRIOR to the Louisville game in 2006, we had a gathering of friends and such at our apartment on Hamilton St. We had a decent spot, across from the AXO house basically overlooking frat row and the Grease trucks (while they were still there :scream:). Our slumlord was a different story altogether, but I digress.
So we decided to have some friends over for some alcohol consumption and other forms of chicanery. I invited my very best friend from home to spend time up at RU that weekend, because he went to Stockton down in South jersey and he'd come up every so often to get a taste of the "big" school party atmosphere.
So he comes up and also brings his girlfriend at the time, who's name was Kait. Kait's best friend growing up was a girl named Jenny. Who, I believe was only a sophomore at RU at the time. I was in my 4th year. Spent the first 2 years down at Rutgers-Camden, then came up to NB for the last 4 (pharmacy school). Anyway, so Jenny, believe it or not had met and started to become intimate with none other than The Judge.
Incidentally, they are happily married to this day several years later. So myself, my best friend (Matt), The Judge, Jenny, and Kait are in my shithole apartment, in our shithole kitchen, playing beer pong (or Beirut if you're a communist). A fairly average Friday or Saturday night.
Now we knew the Louisville game was on the horizon, it was coming up in less than a week. So obviously we are all discussing how big the game will be. Trying not to be too fanboyish about the fact that Ito is in my house playing pong. Pretty sure we were the same age at the time, but he obviously was a bigger deal than I was. So we're all joking around and not trying to make his next few days any more pressure packed than they already would be. So as the conversation goes along, I shit you not, this is what happens:
At one point, Matt turns to Ito and says, "Jeremy, I already know whats going to happen. The Louisville game is going to come down to the final seconds and you are going to drill a field goal to win the game. When that happens I want you to turn around and point directly at the camera, that way I can tell everyone that I called it." And at the time, Ito laughs it off, but says he absolutely will if that happens (Ito was a damn good kid).
We all have a minute where we fantasize about that moment and then it was gone. We goof around for a little while longer, then night ends, and everyone goes home.
Cut to about 6 days later and Piscataway is literally buzzing with anticipation. I have not felt before, nor have I since, the feeling that permeated the town, school, and state that day.
We all know the story. The rough start, the comeback, the defense, that swing pass to Leonard on 3rd down which was probably the biggest play of the game. Then. The field goal. The first one he shanked, but THANK GOD Ville was offsides. Jesus, thank God they were offsides. But then Ito drills the second one. Turns around, points to the camera.
Matt was at home watching that game, screaming to anyone that would listen that he called that. But of course, he had no proof at the time. But I couldn't believe it, still can't to this day. Watching NB bleed Scarlet that night from the doorsteps of that apartment is a scene I will never forget. Ever.
IMO, yes. It was a place in time where RU football almost got to the top of the mountain in NCAA football. Yeah, to some almost does not count. Over the years, have heard various ESPN commentators say that was our apex, and we have never been able to get back to that point. We are probably at a new nadir, especially last year, but I think we will be back closer to the apex in 2-4 years.
Onward, upward!
Part 3 is up:
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...he_crazy_on-field_cel.html#incart_river_index
CHRIS RUSSO, WFAN afternoon host: Pandemonium in Piscataway! He was on ESPNews, he was all over the place. Famous call. We used to get on Carlin because he was our producer, and he was all of a sudden the voice of Rutgers football. But I think we praised him pretty good that day because he did a pretty good job.
BRIAN LEONARD, running back: Chris Carlin said it best. It was pandemonium. It was insane.
RAY RICE, star running back: The first person I looked for was my mother at that moment. I was really just looking for my mom because of me and my mom's relationship. To be honest with you, my first instinct was that I was hoping my mom didn't get trampled because she is only 4-11.
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...he_crazy_on-field_cel.html#incart_river_index
CHRIS RUSSO, WFAN afternoon host: Pandemonium in Piscataway! He was on ESPNews, he was all over the place. Famous call. We used to get on Carlin because he was our producer, and he was all of a sudden the voice of Rutgers football. But I think we praised him pretty good that day because he did a pretty good job.
BRIAN LEONARD, running back: Chris Carlin said it best. It was pandemonium. It was insane.
RAY RICE, star running back: The first person I looked for was my mother at that moment. I was really just looking for my mom because of me and my mom's relationship. To be honest with you, my first instinct was that I was hoping my mom didn't get trampled because she is only 4-11.
Agreed to an extent but:
1) Beggars can't be choosy
2) It took Louisville out of the National Championship hunt while putting Rutgers
between #7-12 in the polls (Highest ever?). onsdered one of ESPN's classic games.
3) If it didn't theoretically show that Rutgers could beat the "powers" (on National TV) it was the highlight of arguably Rutgers' best team ever. Due respect to 1976, 1969? 1961?.
4) That game and TV ratings data may have been instrumental in Rutgers gaining admittance into the B1G.
5) It was just SO COOL (if only one saw on TV) to see the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING DRAPED IN SCARLET FOR RUTGERS!
There are some seriously ignorant, misinformed haters, responding on FB NJ.com post with this story linked. What a shame people actually have to bash a story that - for once - is a positive one by this outlet.
BTW - this guy had one hell of a night that night, during and after the game, but I can't imagine being Ito or any other member of that roster, that night, in Piscataway! Thanks and KUDOS to all who were on the field and sidelines that night!
BTW - this guy had one hell of a night that night, during and after the game, but I can't imagine being Ito or any other member of that roster, that night, in Piscataway! Thanks and KUDOS to all who were on the field and sidelines that night!
