Post Your First Rutgers Football Memories
- Thread starter Knight Shift
- Start date
I was about 3-4 yrs old. Went with my parents and older brother to an RU Connecticut game in 1956 or 57. Remember falling from the south stand seats onto the track. Fortunately was not hurt because (thanks to my mother) I was wearing a well padded snow suit. Remember my father tearing into my brother for not watching me. Don't remember anything about the game but I believe RU won (think Bill Austin was playing at that time).
BoroNight, that cadence is the one that I remember from The Rutgers Marching 100. LOVE that cadence!!!! I want Smith to bring it back. Not sure when they stopped it, but I LOVED it!!!! R U T G E R S FIGHT!!!!
Rainy Sept. Saturday, 1954 at Palmer Stadium's cold concrete seats. Princeton 8 Rutgers 6. Thought or band with the scarlet jackets and straw hats was better than theirs with orange & black blazers.
Glad so many old alums are sharing great memories. Looking foreward to another season keeps me going every year.
Glad so many old alums are sharing great memories. Looking foreward to another season keeps me going every year.
RB Gary Fauntleroy grew up around the corner from me. I was just going into middle school when he played for Rutgers around 1996-1998. Not the most prestigious career or anything when it comes to yards per carry, but he did contribute 8 touchdowns over the course of his career.
After that I didn't give Rutgers any look at all until it came down to the last day (May 1) to pick a college my senior year of HS. My first year was the first year of Schiano (and Waters in BB). I've been following closely ever since.
After that I didn't give Rutgers any look at all until it came down to the last day (May 1) to pick a college my senior year of HS. My first year was the first year of Schiano (and Waters in BB). I've been following closely ever since.
76Scarlet: "...I was about 3-4 yrs old. Went with my parents and older brother to an RU Connecticut game in 1956 or 57. ...
Don't remember anything about the game but I believe RU won (think Bill Austin was playing at that time). ."
October 5, 1957 Rutgers 14 Connecticut 7 at Rutgers Stadium
Billy Austin set an all-time rushing record, up until that time, with 176 rushing yards that eclipsed the mark of 156 yards by Harvey Grimsley in 1948.
Don't remember anything about the game but I believe RU won (think Bill Austin was playing at that time). ."
October 5, 1957 Rutgers 14 Connecticut 7 at Rutgers Stadium
Billy Austin set an all-time rushing record, up until that time, with 176 rushing yards that eclipsed the mark of 156 yards by Harvey Grimsley in 1948.
1968 vs. Army. My freshman year. We lost 24-0. Have yet to attend another home game, maybe make the trip from Oregon this year!
I used to go to FB practices in the Spring of 1946.Was on the Fencing team and we practiced at night in the Barn. I was impressed by the method that Coach Art Matsu ,Harvey Harman was the HC,used to get the timing right when running plays. He had a metronome that he would have set to the timing rhythm that he wanted.Frank Burns was the QB of that team.They were 32 point dogs in the opener against powerful Columbia,coached by legend Lou Little.We were leading at the half and lost 13-7.went 7-2 that year and 8-1,7-2,and 6-3 in the following years. Split 2-2 with Princeton in those 4 years.
I used to go to FB practices in the Spring of 1946.Was on the Fencing team and we practiced at night in the Barn. I was impressed by the method that Coach Art Matsu ,Harvey Harman was the HC,used to get the timing right when running plays. He had a metronome that he would have set to the timing rhythm that he wanted.Frank Burns was the QB of that team.They were 32 point dogs in the opener against powerful Columbia,coached by legend Lou Little.We were leading at the half and lost 13-7.went 7-2 that year and 8-1,7-2,and 6-3 in the following years. Split 2-2 with Princeton in those 4 years.
That Columbia game against Lou Little Coach Bateman was the O-line coach for Columbia small world
That Columbia game against Lou Little Coach Bateman was the O-line coach for Columbia small world
Spanky,
I know. I have mentioned it several times to Tim and he still has not brought it back. He marches to a different drummer. You are right. Can you imagine what a 200 or 300 member band would sound like chanting R U T G E R S FIGHT!!!! It would give you chills.
I know. I have mentioned it several times to Tim and he still has not brought it back. He marches to a different drummer. You are right. Can you imagine what a 200 or 300 member band would sound like chanting R U T G E R S FIGHT!!!! It would give you chills.
You're far from the only one who has tried to talk with Tim and failed. Why do you think so few band alumni come back for Homecoming nowadays? It's a damn shame, particularly since, if I recall correctly, we had over 200 band alumni who showed up for the 75th anniversary a few years ago.
Playing against the RU freshman team when I was a freshman at Princeton in 1968. Blocking for Hank Bjorklund was a real pleasure.
My first memory is seeing the 1969 Centennial game on TV.
First game I went to was in October 1976 when I was a freshman, Uconn, I believe.
First game I went to was in October 1976 when I was a freshman, Uconn, I believe.
First football game at the old stadium as a frosh in 1987 with my parents...we were playing Cuse...overhead someone sitting next to me seriously say "Look, they have a PUMPKIN for a mascot". Yeah, the Syracuse Orange Pumpkin...what an idiot.
Also, hearing the sound of of the canon fire from the hill for the first time was pretty startling that day!
Also, hearing the sound of of the canon fire from the hill for the first time was pretty startling that day!
October 30, 1976 - I went to the Rutgers-UMass football game that we won 24-7 when I was 11 years old. Both my parents were alumni of UMass and thus the reason I was at the game.
Cool thing is I just noticed that it was the day before Halloween that fell on a Sunday that year and I remember that Halloween well because I was - and still am - a big Dolphin fan and if a man answered the door when we were trick or treating looked like a football fan I would ask for an update of the Dolphins game, which I got every once in a while and I always remembered they beat New England 10-3, so I looked it up and there it is:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610310mia.htm
I remembered a whole weekend from my youth, pretty neat.
Cool thing is I just noticed that it was the day before Halloween that fell on a Sunday that year and I remember that Halloween well because I was - and still am - a big Dolphin fan and if a man answered the door when we were trick or treating looked like a football fan I would ask for an update of the Dolphins game, which I got every once in a while and I always remembered they beat New England 10-3, so I looked it up and there it is:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610310mia.htm
I remembered a whole weekend from my youth, pretty neat.
My first football game was a Lions Club bus trip to the then new Giants Stadium to see RU vs. Columbia in 1976. RU 47-0. I also remember going to a game in the old stadium vs. Temple in 1978 or 79. We ground out a win after Kennan Startzell kicked a bunch of field goals.
Re: Homecomings in the 70s
You parked your car on Bloustein's grass and your extended family (we had about 20 since my dad was a RU grad) picnicked on the grass. We were entertained by the Band, the Queens guys, Cheerleaders, etc. Bloustein would go from group to group shaking hands. He was great. The various alumni all had big tents and everything was FREE. Then about 20 minutes before the game they wanted you out so you could make the Alma Mater. My dad insisted. You walked through on opening in the fence and on to the stadium. The games were full. People spilled out on to the hill and the endzone grass.
You parked your car on Bloustein's grass and your extended family (we had about 20 since my dad was a RU grad) picnicked on the grass. We were entertained by the Band, the Queens guys, Cheerleaders, etc. Bloustein would go from group to group shaking hands. He was great. The various alumni all had big tents and everything was FREE. Then about 20 minutes before the game they wanted you out so you could make the Alma Mater. My dad insisted. You walked through on opening in the fence and on to the stadium. The games were full. People spilled out on to the hill and the endzone grass.
Re: Homecomings in the 70s
Freshman orientation week or whatever they called it in 1965. One of the activities was a scrimmage at the stadium and a lot of us went. It was a REALLY hot day, brilliant sunshine. I watched a bunch of "upperclassmen" walk into the stadium with a huge suitcase just dripping water out the seams. Of course it was a case of beer on ice and I thought this was the way a football game should be watched. I've been hooked on Rutgers and the sports teams ever since.
Freshman orientation week or whatever they called it in 1965. One of the activities was a scrimmage at the stadium and a lot of us went. It was a REALLY hot day, brilliant sunshine. I watched a bunch of "upperclassmen" walk into the stadium with a huge suitcase just dripping water out the seams. Of course it was a case of beer on ice and I thought this was the way a football game should be watched. I've been hooked on Rutgers and the sports teams ever since.
