Garden State grows talent, but not for Knights

Sporting News, The, Nov 29, 1999 by Sean Deveney

They call themselves Rutgers, so it's easy to forget the Scarlet Knights represent the state university of New Jersey. Sometimes, it seems they forget, too.

This season has been another dud even by Rutgers standards. A 1-10 record, spared only by an upset of Syracuse, has defused the stir caused by last year's 5-6 mark and brings coach Terry Shea's four-year tally to 8-36.

As teams from Boston to Honolulu rebuild lifeless programs faster than Scarlet Knights opponents take 7-0 leads, fans of Rutgers have to wonder, why not us?

The reason is fight under your noses.

In fact, take a look at one of this year's surprise teams, Boston College, and the reason for Rutgers' ineptitude becomes apparent. The Eagles feature 14 players on their roster from New Jersey, and last year, they took six of the Garden State's top recruits, including running back William Green and 315-pound lineman Augie Hoffman.

And B.C. is not alone. New Jersey is fertile ground for all of the Big East. Last year, Syracuse and Temple each signed six New Jersey players; Pittsburgh signed four; West Virginia, two; and even Miami signed one. Of Rutgers' 21 recruits, only 11 were from New Jersey.

There are good players in New Jersey, they just don't play for Rutgers. After getting thumped by Miami, 55-0, to close the season, Shea said, "At best, we are a shell of a team."

In order to change that, Rutgers has to convince its local players to stick around.

Sean Deveney is an associate editor for THE SPORTING NEWS.