Rutgers 20 USF 17: What Took Greg Schiano so Long to Bring Back Chas Dodd?

Everyone but Rutgers coach Greg Schiano knew it was time to replace freshman quarterback Gary Nova last night with sophomore former starter Chas Dodd.

Most everyone knew it was time to make the switch two games ago when Nova threw three interceptions and Rutgers lost to Louisville, 16-14.

Schiano almost cost the Scarlet Knights their 20-17 win over USF, but finally broke down and reinserted Dodd as his quarterback at the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the team trailing 10-3.

Dodd led the Scarlet Knights to a Hollywood-like comeback, and Rutgers won in the first overtime.

He didn't do it alone: A great catch by Mohamed Sanu, a 98-yard kick off return by Jeremy Deering and a missed 25-yard field goal by USF's Maikon Bonani were key plays that turned the game around.

But this game was as much about the horrible job Schiano has done with the quarterback situation as it was about Rutgers improving its record to 6-3 and becoming bowl eligible.

Schiano decided to stick with Nova way too long:

After going 14-for-31 in the first half of the Syracuse game, Dodd was replaced by Nova with the Rutgers trailing 7-3.  Nova played well in the second half and led the Scarlet to a 16-13 overtime win.

Schaino stuck with Nova, even though Dodd had never had a half like that before, and he led Rutgers to a convincing 34-10 win over Pitt.  Nova went 11-for-24 with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

But in the three games following (Navy, Louisville, West Virginia), Nova turned the ball over nine times.  Rutgers eked out 21-20 win over Navy, lost to Louisville by two and to West Virginia after going out to a 31-21 halftime lead.

Against West Virginia Nova went 18-for-46 with two key pics and two key fumbles. He looked tentative, and on his short passes he was releasing the ball off his back foot.

Everyone thought Dodd would get the start against USF, but Schiano went with Nova.

At the start of the fourth quarter, with Rutgers trialing 10-3 and Nova just not moving the team, Schaino finally made the switch.

Some critics have said Schiano has been playing for the future, disregarding this season to give Nova the expeience he needs.

There were rumors that he was trying to patronize Don Bosco. Nova played his high school ball at Don Bosco, and Rutgers in hoping to get more commitments from the nation's No.1 high school program in 2012.

And let's be real: Dodd is short and doesn't have the arm of the 6' 3" Nova. Nova has all the physical assets of the "prototype" quarterback. Dodd doesn't.

Nova reminds Rutgers fans of former quarterback Mike Teel, who led Rutgers to their 11-2 season in 2006. Teel is about the same size as Nova and also played for Don Bosco.

But although Dodd doesn't look the part, he plays with courage and heart.

Last year, Dodd got sacked 45 times and never complained. Last year, and in every game he's played this year, he never had the luxury of a running game.

He's done a remarkable job. His performance last night will be remembered.

If seems like it would be a given that Dodd will reclaim his starting job, but there's no telling what Schiano is thinking.

The Star Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro has already reported that Schiano has dodged the question about who gets the start in Rutgers' next game against Army.

He may be determined, or even obsessed, to stay with Nova until he produces the results of which he thinks Nova is capable of producing.

This type of thinking can cost the Scarlet Knights more wins. It isn't fair to this team. There's a lot of talent here, and these guys are working too hard to be part of a experiment to see if Nova can turn into another Teel.

It's hard to say if Dodd will become a great quarterback, but he's the guy who should be playing right now.

Schiano's had lots of time to win a Big East championship and he hasn't gotten it done. He has to make better decisions. He has to manage games better.

The Rutgers coaching job shouldn't be a lifetime appointment. He should be responsible for getting this team back to where it was in 2006.