Rutgers football is bowl champion again.
The Scarlet Knights defeated Miami 31-24 in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. The victory was their first triumph over the Hurricanes after 11 consecutive losses in the Big East Days and their first bowl title in nine years.
The celebrations in the stands, on the field and in the locker room reflected the enthusiasm within the program to achieve this goal, and the Scarlet Knights received plenty of praise from the national media.
Here is an example of it:
On social media
“I don’t care what Miami’s record is or how many people they were missing. “Rutgers beating Miami in a bowl game is a big deal for this program, which finishes with its first winning record since 2014.” — Stewart Mandel, The Athletic.
“It was really great to see teams like Kansas, Rutgers and Duke not only make bowl games, but win them.” — Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic.
“From one generation to the next… We salute you, Greg Schiano, Kyle Monangai and the rest of Rutgers football! Proud alums cheering on the future legends from kickoff to the final kneel! What a day to be a Scarlet Knight! Rutgers Nation, are you ready?!” — Shawn Tucker, former Rutgers WR and current vice president of athletic development and associate athletic director.
“Greg Schiano inherited an absolute mess at Rutgers at the start of 2020 after going 13-47 from 2015-2019. In the fourth year of his second stint, he posted his first bowl victory (and winning season) since 2014. I don't know who needs to hear this, but the 2023 season was a great one for Rutgers.” — Garrett Stepien, 247Sports.
“A great way for Rutgers football to end the season. Further proof that they are on the right track. I'm really happy for the players who have been part of the program over the last four to five years. It was'nt easy. Great building block with which to start the next season. #BowlSeason #Rutgers” — former Rutgers QB, current radio analyst Mike Teel.
“Yes, Rutgers football beat Miami 31-24 in the Pinstripe Bowl. It is the first win against Miami as the Scarlet Knights have lost 11 straight to the Canes. Coach Greg Schiano has Rutgers playing with PRIDE and PASSION.” — Former Rutgers basketball assistant and current ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale.
In the newspaper kiosk
“Kyle Monangai, the Big Ten's leading rusher, devoured the Hurricanes on the ground. He ran 25 times for 163 yards and a touchdown. Rutgers finished with 208 rushing yards as a team – the second time an opponent rushed for more than 200 yards against the Hurricanes this season.
Miami didn't allow any team to rush for over 100 yards until North Carolina finally broke through in the sixth. Five of Miami's last six opponents have exceeded the 100-yard mark.” — Manny Navarro of the Athletic.
“The bowl loss adds to the predictable outcry from Cristobal critics on social media, who were spreading the funny memes online right up until the final whistle. Topic: You lose to… RUTGERS!?!? As if it were some major shock or cause for outrage that a 6-6 team beat a 7-5 team that was missing its starting quarterback and at least six other key starters.
Rational's hopes that Cristobal can turn the program around and spark new glory days are rooted in consecutive top-six national recruiting classes, with the '24 class ranked No. 1 in the ACC. A bowl win would have been the icing on the cake, another sign of progress, albeit mostly symbolic.
Especially because the loss to 6-6 Rutgers, of all places, is a particular shame because it symbolizes how far UM has fallen from the program that won five national championships, the last in 2001.
Before that, UM was 11-0 against Rutgers with an incredible average margin of 46-10. All 11 meetings occurred from 1993 to 2003, when both played in the Big East and UM was ranked seven times.” – Greg Cote of the Miami Herald.
“Miami's defense struggled to stop Rutgers' offensive attack early in the game, losing 153 yards on the Scarlet Knights' first three drives.
But the Hurricanes recovered and forced punts on the following three drives before allowing another rushing touchdown to Monangai.
Miami entered the game with the No. 10 rush defense in the country, but ultimately gave up 208 rushing yards, which was the second-most number they gave up all year. The 292 total yards UM gave up was the fifth-best game by yardage for the Hurricanes' defense this season.” — Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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Brian Fonseca can be reached at [email protected].