Rutgers was 4-4 with four games left in the season and with major injuries hurting the roster, that didn’t stop the Scarlets Knights from clinching bowl eligibility through adversity.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Tackling adversity en route to a bowl
Nov 23, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano reacts during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Stringing together an impressive 3-1 run to become 7-5, Rutgers beat Maryland, Minnesota and Michigan State as well as only losing by a touchdown to No. 20 Illinois. Star running back Kyle Monangai, cornerback Eric Rogers, defensive end Aaron Lewis and safety Desmond Igbinosun were just some of the prominent names who missed time with injuries this season.
In his 16 years being involved with Rutgers football, head coach Greg Schiano couldn’t have been more pleased with how the players persevered during challenging times to face a team like Kansas State in the Rate Bowl.
“We are really proud of our team. We fought through some real adversity this season, injuries, to a level that I haven’t really seen very much in my 37 years of doing this, but a team that kind of reinvented itself mid-season,” Schiano said at a team arrival press conference on Monday. “After having a lot of guys go down with injury, some young guys stepped up.
“We kind of did some things to change the way we present, and the guys did a heck of a job, 3-1 at the end of the season in the last four games and allowed us to put ourselves in this position to be out here this week to play a very, very good Kansas State team.”
Nov 30, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) holds off Michigan State Spartans defensive back Nikai Martinez (1) during the third quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images
Having aspirations to be drafted into the NFL, Monangai has opted not to play in the Rate Bowl but will be with the team for Thursday’s clash, according to Dan Morrison of On3. The 22-year-old senior stacked up 1,279 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns from 256 carries.
Without arguably their most important player on offense, Schiano’s squad will continue to give younger players a chance to make an impact. Like Rutgers, Kansas State will also be without its star running back DJ Giddens since he declared for the NFL Draft.
While adversity could have overwhelmed Rutgers this year, Schiano praised his team for buying into the program and had one word to describe it.
“Resilient. As we say in our place, they’ve continued to keep chopping. That’s a word picture for just having the focus to keep hitting that spot on the tree over and over again, and our guys did that,” Schiano said. “They actually took our culture, and I saw it lived out, especially in the middle part of the season when things got really tough. I was really proud of the way they battled through it, and then battled back and that put us in a position to be here tonight.”
On Thursday, Kansas State and Rutgers square off in the Rate Bowl at 3:30 p.m. MST inside Chase Field in Phoenix. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Kansas State thrilled to cap off season by playing in Rate Bowl
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Suns, ASU Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
