2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Texas Bowl Champions
Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State, W 3710
Conference Big East
Ranking
Coaches #12
AP #12
2006 record 11-2 (5-2 Big East)
Head coach Greg Schiano
Offensive coordinator John McNulty
Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano
Home stadium Rutgers Stadium
(Capacity: 41,500)
2006 Big East football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#6 Louisville $   6 1         12 1  
#10 West Virginia   5 2         11 2  
#12 Rutgers   5 2         11 2  
South Florida   4 3         9 4  
Cincinnati   4 3         8 5  
Pittsburgh   2 5         6 6  
Connecticut   1 6         4 8  
Syracuse   0 6         0 8  
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights campaign was considered by many to be the breakout season for the Rutgers football team. Led by Draddy Trophy winning senior fullback Brian Leonard, sophomore quarterback Mike Teel, sophomore halfback Ray Rice, sophomore wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, junior defensive tackle Eric Foster, and junior kicker Jeremy Ito, Rutgers finished the season ranked 12th in the Associated Press and Coaches polls, won eleven of thirteen games, and recorded the first bowl game win in school history.

The team started off the season going undefeated through nine games, including a dramatic win over then-3rd ranked Louisville, which was highlighted by kicker Jeremy Ito's last minute field goal to seal the win. They were defeated by both West Virginia and Cincinnati, but nonetheless received an invitation to play Kansas State in the inaugural Texas Bowl. Rutgers defeated Kansas State 37-10 for the first bowl game win in school history. Halfback Ray Rice was named the game's MVP and ran for 170 yards and one touchdown in twenty-four carries.[1] Due to his tremendous 2006 season, in which he ran for 1,794 yards and scored twenty touchdowns, Rice won Big East Player of the Year honors. He also finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 2 3:30 PM at North Carolina* Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC ABC W 2116   50,000
September 9 12:00 PM Illinois* Rutgers StadiumPiscataway, NJ ESPN2 W 330   41,036
September 16 3:30 PM Ohio*dagger Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ MSG W 247   41,102
September 23 2:00 PM Howard* #23/23 Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ MSG W 567   35,558
September 29 8:00 PM at South Florida #23/23 Raymond James StadiumTampa, FL ESPN2 W 2220   32,493
October 14 1:30 PM at Navy* #24/25 Navy-Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD CSTV W 340   36,918
October 21 5:45 PM at Pitt #15/19 Heinz FieldPittsburgh, PA ESPN2 W 2010   49,620
October 29 8:00 PM Connecticut #15/16 Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ESPN W 2413   43,620
November 9 7:45 PM #3/4 Louisville #15/16 Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ESPN W 2825   44,111
November 18 7:45 PM at Cincinnati #7/8 Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH ESPN2 L 1130   27,804
November 25 12:00 PM Syracuse #15/16 Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ESPNU W 387   43,791
December 2 7:45 PM at #15/15 West Virginia #13/13 Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV ESPN L 3941 3OT  60,299
December 28 8:00 PM vs. Kansas State* #16/17 Reliant StadiumHouston, TX (Texas Bowl) NFL Network W 3710   52,210
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP and Coaches Polls released prior to game.. All times are in Eastern Time.

References

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