The Kick Heard 'Round the World...

It's April 4th, 2009 and Rutgers is in the midst of it's spring practices.  We are exactly 2 weeks away from the Scarlet-White game, and more than 5 months away from the season opener against (tentatively) Cincinnati.  Sure there's still a whole lot of time until anything that this team does really matters, but I still find myself racking my brain:  Who will play QB?  Do we have anyone who can catch a pass?  Can we defend anyone in the secondary?  Is there any chance we make a run at the Big East Championship?

I feel like I'm in that Seinfeld episode where Jerry is on the subway with the fat naked Mets fan: 

Fat Guy: They still have no pitching. Gooden's a question mahk. ...You don't recover from those rotator cuffs so fast.

JS: I'm not worried about their pitching. They got pitching. ...They got no hitting.

Fat Guy: No hitting? They got hitting! Bonilla, Murray. ...They got no defense.

JS: Defense? Please. ...They need speed.

Fat Guy: Speed? They got Coleman. ...They need a bullpen.

JS: Franco's no good? ...They got no team leaders.

Fat Guy: They got Franco! ...What they need is a front office.

JS: But you gotta like their chances.

Fat Guy: I LOVE their chances.

JS: Tell you what. If they win the penant I'll sit naked with you at the World Series.

Fat Guy: It's a deal!

There's so many question marks on this team, but I still love their chances and I don't know why. 

This brings me to my point:  things could be much much worse.  As Rutgers fans we've become spoiled (especially the younger generation).  We worry that our quaterbacking won't be good enough, that our defense is too slow, or that we've (GASP!) lost too much talent to the NFL.

We'd all go loco for a National Championship, or brim with pride if we ever captured a Big East Title, but do you remember when it was a stretch to even win a game (against low D-1 or even D-1A teams).  When I was in collge one of my roommates had an article that Sports Illustrated wrote about Rutgers in 2003 entitled, "Why Can't Rutgers Ever Win?", that I still remember to this day.  It serves as a constant reminder about how bad this program really was, but also focused on the turnaround that Schiano and Mulcahy were attempting to make at RU, as well as the constant criticism that they faced.  Schiano knew what they were building towards, and he never wavered.

Rutgers finished that 2003 campaign at 5-7, and the season was viewed as a great success.  Five years later Rutgers has risen up the ranks of college football and has been ranked in Top 10 on more than one occasion and has won 3 straight bowl games.  Not to mention that they were a dropped pass away from being in a BCS bowl.

So before we all whine and complain about the weak schedule, a second place finish in the Big East or where our players get drafted, take a few minutes and read that article.  It's funny how quickly people abandon ship after a few losses in a row (or a 1-5) start.  Maybe after reading and reflecting we can all remember where RU rose up from, and enjoy the ride a little more.

What are some of your favorite memories from Rutgers football?  Did you suffer like the rest of us?  Comment below and let us know....