Rutgers Football: Head Coach Greg Schiano Previews the 2011 Season

At Big East media day, I briefly caught up with Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano and got some of his thoughts about the upcoming season:

On the High Expectations of the Fans

"I love it [the high expectations]. It's exciting. If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't be here"

On Being Picked Last in the Big East

"Doesn't mean anything. We lost our last six games for various reasons, but we feel like we have a better team than that...the [offensive] line will be better, we have guys with some experience now, playing the right positions."

On Working With the New Coaches Haffley and Cignetti

"And Angelichio—it's going great. Frank [Cignetti] is as passionate about the offense as I am about the defense. You get that kind of energy, and there are going to be some great things." 

On Concerns Heading Into the Season

"The punting situation. We have a kid Anthony DePaola who is working on being consistent. The punt is the most important play in football. It's a controlled turnover."

Rutgers opens its 142nd season of football on Thursday night with North Carolina Central at High Point Solutions Stadium (formerly named Rutgers Stadium) at 7:30pm EST. 

If this is to be an improved Scarlet Knights team as Schiano described, the offensive line must gel as a unit. 

There were a lot of players playing out of position last year, and now the line, at the very least, is experienced.