Rutgers' Big Win Is Not That Big

Maybe it speaks about the way that Rutgers' football season has gone so far, or to the nature of the Scarlet Knights' fans that a loud, sarcastic sigh of relief could be heard from Piscataway following the team’s 38-0 win over Morgan State.

But that’s about all that could be taken from the victory.

It does not reflect the quality of team that this Rutgers squad could be. It was a game they were supposed to win, and it would look immeasurably worse than ever if they lost. Sure, they didn’t have to rely on a last-minute touchdown to defeat a Football Championship Subdivision team like Arkansas did earlier this.

And yes, it can be assumed that this team is still better than some of the bottom barrel BCS teams like Minnesota or Iowa State, but that’s about it. It just confirms that Rutgers can still pound a cupcake team when given the chance.

Don’t look too far into those stats. Mike Teel’s line looked mighty impressive, including those eight consecutive completions to start his day. But so what. That only means he could complete just three of his final 10 throws.

And for the second-straight game, his last pass of the game was an interception. Not exactly a confidence builder, and a questionable decision by Greg Schiano to not let his senior leader back on the field for an opportunity to end the game on a high.

That running game didn’t look too impressive either. Yes, Mason Robinson and Jourdan Brooks combined for four touchdowns, but they also combined for a 3.46 yards-per-carry average. It may be nitpicking the small stuff in a largely irrelevant game, but when a team loses their first three to start the season, isn’t that what can help it build itself back up?

And what about the two players who had no effect on today’s game? What did Anthony Davis and Kenny Britt have to do to get themselves suspended. It better have been more egregious than maliciously hitting a teammate on national television. And what does it say about their frame of mind to do it when your team is winless?

The only good thing that came out of a day where Rutgers could do no right was the results of the other games on the docket. Last week’s loss to Navy looks more impressive now that the Midshipmen walked into Winston-Salem, ran all over No. 16 Wake Forest, and left with a 24-17 victory.

The fact that Eric Kettani trampled all over the RU defense can now be seen in a different light after he topped himself against the Deamon Decons, and ran for 175 yards.

North Carolina hit the road as well, going to Miami to take on the frisky team from the U. They stole a win on a last-second interception in the end zone. But a win is a win, no matter how you get it, and Rutgers would undoubtedly agree.

Fresno State feels the same way after taking down UCLA in Pasadena. It’s still more than supposed SEC big dog Tennessee can say.

All that really matters for Rutgers, after today, is that the 2008 team finally put a crooked number in their win column. The first one is supposed to be the hardest, so that can only be positive foreshadowing for the rest of the season, because that first win seemed impossible after last Saturday.

Now they will have a few days to pat themselves on the back, maybe take a sigh of relief of their own. But they shouldn’t harp on it for too long. West Virginia is next, and they’ve had a pretty tough season, too. I bet they would like to take out some of that anxiety on someone.