2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

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2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Rutgers athletics logo.svg
Conference Big Ten Conference
East Division
2015 record 4–8 (1–7 Big Ten)
Head coach Kyle Flood (4th season as head coach)
Norries Wilson (interim, 3 games)
Offensive coordinator Ben McDaniels (1st year as OC, 2nd overall year)
Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi (2nd year as DC, 4th overall year)
Home stadium High Point Solutions Stadium
(Capacity: 52,454)
Seasons
« 2014 2016 »
2015 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East Division
#6 Michigan State xy$^   7 – 1         12 – 2  
#4 Ohio State x   7 – 1         12 – 1  
#12 Michigan   6 – 2         10 – 3  
Penn State   4 – 4         7 – 6  
Indiana   2 – 6         6 – 7  
Rutgers   1 – 7         4 – 8  
Maryland   1 – 7         3 – 9  
West Division
#9 Iowa xy   8 – 0         12 – 2  
#23 Northwestern   6 – 2         10 – 3  
#21 Wisconsin   6 – 2         10 – 3  
Nebraska   3 – 5         6 – 7  
Minnesota   2 – 6         6 – 7  
Illinois   2 – 6         5 – 7  
Purdue   1 – 7         2 – 10  
Championship: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
As of January 2, 2016; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It is the Scarlet Knights' second season as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and second as a member of the East Division. The team are led by Kyle Flood, in his fourth year as head coach, and play its home games at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.

The season began with a controversies over an investigation into violations of NCAA regulations and school policy concerning coach Flood's improper contacting of a professor concerning a student's academic status; and the arrests and dismissal of several football players on violent felony charges connected to an April 2015 home invasion robbery in New Brunswick. Coach Flood was suspended for three games after the investigation found improper contact was made.

Before the 2015 season

Previous season

The 2014 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team finished the regular season 7–5, with a highlight win against Michigan for the team's first Big Ten Conference win. After defeating Indiana the Scarlet Knights become bowl eligible and were invited to play in the Quick Lane Bowl against North Carolina of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Rutgers defeated the Tar Heels in Detroit, Michigan 40–21 finishing their 2014 Season at 8–5.

Controversies and player arrests

The 2015 football season began with the shadow of several incidents of alleged misconduct and criminal charges.[1] On May 24, 2015, redshirt freshman defensive back Darian Dailey was arrested in Florida on felony robbery charges.[2][3] In late August 2015, Head Coach Kyle Flood suspended five players from the first half of the season opener for violating team policies on breaking curfews. These players were Ruhann Peele (cornerback), Leonte Carroo (receiver), Tim Gleeson (punter), Chris Laviano (quarterback) and Kevin Marquez (linebacker).[4][5][6][7] There were doubts that Flood would be coaching the season opener and some speculation amongst news media and fans about the possibility of Flood's firing or resignation.[8][9][10][11] Some fans have called for the return of Flood's predecessor, Greg Schiano as head coach.[12][13] According to The Asbury Park Press, students remarked that the recent controversies tarnish the university's reputation.[14]

On September 3, 2015, ten suspects including six current Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players were arrested and charged with felony assault, armed robbery, criminal restraint, conspiracy, riot, and weapons possession charges stemming from an April 26, 2015 incident in New Brunswick, New Jersey characterized as a home invasion robbery.[4][15] One victim, identified only as a 19-year-old male Rutgers student is reported to have had his jaw broken in the assault.[16] Five players—Ruhann Peele (cornerback), Nadir Barnwell (cornerback), Razohnn Gross (fullback), Delon Stephenson (free safety), and Andre Boggs (cornerback)—were dismissed from the team moments before the season-opening football game against the Norfolk State Spartans.[4][15] Former player Tejay Johnson (free safety and wide receiver), was also arrested on September 3.[17] A sixth player, Lloyd Terry (fullback) was arrested a few days later.[16][18] Several of the players arrested in this incident had previous arrests in 2013 and 2014 for other criminal charges.[15]

One of the suspects, Barnwell, was the center of an ongoing investigation into head coach Kyle Flood for possible violations of school policy and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations prohibiting the athletic coaching staff from contacting faculty regarding the academic eligibility status of a player.[4][15] According to New Jersey Advance Media, publisher of the Star-Ledger and other statewide newspapers, Flood defied academic support staff by contacting one of Barnwell's professors and that sources stated that Flood attempted to "circumvent the process and trying to get the kid eligible".[19]

Flood suspended wide receiver Leonte Carroo indefinitely after his arrest on September 13, 2015. Carroo was arrested by the Rutgers University Police Department and charged with simple assault stemming from a domestic violence incident that occurred on campus shortly after the end of the game against Washington state. Carroo was the seventh Rutgers player arrested in ten days.[20][21][22] Star-Ledger and New Jersey Advance Media sports columnist Steve Politi describes Carroo as "another casualty of the season from hell" and says the incident is further proof that Flood has lost control of the football program he coaches. Politi commented "you wonder how soon before his head coach joins him on the list"—implying that Flood's tenure as coach should be ending with his termination.[23]

The 15-member Rutgers Board of Governors, one of the school's two governing bodies, and university president Robert Barchi met on September 11 in a closed-door emergency session to discuss ongoing "athletic matters" and the potential for litigation in the wake of these controversies and arrests.[24][25][26] On September 16, 2015, after the conclusion of a university-led investigation into his conduct determined he improperly contacted a professor to get Barnwell's grade changed, Flood was suspended for three games and fined $50,000 by Rutgers president Robert Barchi. Flood would be suspended during and miss an away game against Penn State (September 19, 2015), and home games against Kansas (September 26) and Michigan State (October 10).[27][28] Associate head coach Norries Wilson would fill-in as head coach for those three games during Flood's suspension.[28]

After Flood's reinstatement, questions continued to circulate about possible drug problems within the program in the wake of former Scarlet Knights' fullback Lloyd Terry telling police that "he failed multiple drug tests while on the football team".[29] [30]

Flood, along with athletic director Julie Herman, was fired at the end of the season.

Coaching Staff

Coaching Changes

2014 Offensive Coordinator Ralph Friedgen relinquished his position as offensive coordinator due to age and stayed on as a special assistant to the head coach.[31]

Ben McDaniels, 2014 wide receiver coach and brother of former Denver Broncos head coach and current New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels, was promoted to Offensive Coordinator.

2014 graduate assistant and former Rutgers defensive lineman Charlie Noonan was hired as defensive line coach at Holy Cross.[32]

Graduate assistant Sam Williams' two years of graduate assistant-ship expired and was hired by Penn State working with special teams and recruiting quality control.[33]

2014 Graduate assistant and former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel was hired by his alma mater Don Bosco Preparatory High School as Offensive Coordinator[34][35]

2014 undergraduate student assistant Sean Barowski stayed on as a graduate assistant upon graduating.[35][36]

2015 Staff

Name Position Seasons at
Rutgers		 Alma Mater
Kyle Flood Head coach 10 Iona College (1992)
Norries Wilson Running Backs/Associate Head Coach/Interim Head Coach 4 Minnesota (1989)
Ben McDaniels Offensive Coordinator 1 (first as OC) Kent State (2003)
Joe Rossi Defensive Coordinator 4 Allegheny College (2000)
Phil Galiano Special Teams/Tight Ends 10 Shippensburg University (1999)
Mitch Browning Offensive Line 1 Capital University (1979)
Anthony Campanile Wide Receivers 4 Rutgers (2004)
Jim Panagos Defensive Line 4 Maryland (1992)
Bob Fraser Linebackers 5 Allegheny College
Darrell Wilson Defensive Backs 4 Connecticut (1981)
Jeremy Cole Strength and Conditioning/Assistant AD 9 University of Findlay (2005)
Rocco Dimeco Offensive Assistant 1 Norwich University
Scott Vallone Defensive Assistant 0 Rutgers (2012)
Sean Barowski Graduate Assistant 0 Rutgers (2015)
Ralph Friedgen Special Assistant to the Head Coach 1 Maryland

Schedule

Rutgers announced their 2015 football schedule on June 3, 2013. The 2015 schedule consist of 7 home, and 5 away games in the regular season. The Scarlet Knights will host Big Ten foes Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Nebraska and will travel to Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin.[37]

The Scarlet Knights hosted three of their four non conference games against Kansas, Norfolk State and Washington State. Rutgers will match up against Army on November 21 at Michie Stadium at West Point.

Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance
September 5 12:00 PM # (FCS) Norfolk State* High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ESPNews W 63–13   47,453
September 12 3:30 PM Washington State* High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ESPNU L 34–37   46,536
September 19 8:00 PM at Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA BTN L 3–28   103,323
September 26 12:00 PM Kansas*dagger High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ BTN W 27–14   46,136
October 10 8:00 PM #4 Michigan State High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ BTN L 24–31   50,373
October 17 3:30 PM at Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN BTN W 55–52   40,567
October 24 8:00 PM #1 Ohio State High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ ABC L 7–49   53,111
October 31 12:00 PM at Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI BTN L 10–48   74,575
November 7 3:30 PM at Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI BTN L 16–49   108,879
November 14 3:30 PM Nebraska High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ BTN L 14–31   45,606
November 21 12:00 PM at Army* Michie Stadium • West Point, NY CBSSN W 31–21   30,113
November 28 12:00 PM Maryland High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ BTN L 41–46   44,846
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time Zone.
Schedule Source:[38]

Game notes

Home against Norfolk State

1 2 3 4 Total
Norfolk State Spartans 7 6 0 0 13
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 7 14 28 14 63

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See also: 2015 Norfolk State Spartans football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–0 September 7, 2013 Rutgers, 38–0

On September 5, 2015, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights met the Norfolk State Spartans, a Football Championship Subdivision team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, for the fourth game in their series. Rutgers had won the previous three games against Norfolk State in which the Scarlet Knights outscored the Spartans 128–0.[39]

Home against Washington State

1 2 3 4 Total
Washington State Cougars 7 6 7 17 37
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0 6 6 22 34

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See also: 2015 Washington State Cougars football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–1 August 28, 2014 Rutgers, 41–38

After last season's 41–38 victory against Washington State (Pac-12 Conference) on August 28, 2014, this was the second meeting between the Scarlet Knights and the Cougars. Rutgers lost after a penalty-prone fourth quarter, 34–37.

Away at Penn State

1 2 3 4 Total
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0 0 0 3 3
Penn State Nittany Lions 0 21 0 7 28

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See also: 2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–23 September 13, 2014 Penn State, 13–10

In the first game of head coach Kyle Flood's three-game suspension, associate head coach Norries Wilson filled in as head coach for the Rutgers and Penn State conference opener. Rutgers' only score was posted with 10:35 remaining in the fourth quarter by kicker Kyle Federico who made 34 yard field goal.

Home against Kansas

1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas Jayhawks 0 7 7 0 14
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 7 13 7 0 27

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See also: 2015 Kansas Jayhawks football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

This was the first meeting between the Kansas Jayhawks (Big-12 Conference) and the Scarlet Knights. In 2012, Rutgers and Kansas announced two home-and-home series games this season and the 2018 season.[40]

Home against Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total
#4 Michigan State Spartans 7 3 14 7 31
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0 14 7 3 24

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See also: 2015 Michigan State Spartans football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–3 November 22, 2014 Michigan State, 45–3

Rutgers hosted the undefeated Michigan State Spartans for their sixth meeting. With Michigan State ranked number 4 in national polls, it was the first time 6 seasons that Rutgers met a team ranked the top 25 (beating No 23-ranked USF 31–0 on November 12, 2009) and 8 seasons since they upset a No. 2-ranked South Florida in 2007.[41]

This was the last game that interim head coach Norries Wilson coached during head coach Kyle Flood's three-game suspension.[29][42]

Away at Indiana

1 2 3 4 Total
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 7 20 6 22 55
Indiana Hoosiers 10 14 28 0 52

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See also: 2015 Indiana Hoosiers football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 November 15, 2014 Rutgers, 45–23

Despite a 52–27 Indiana lead in the third quarter, the Scarlet Knights erased the 25-point deficit by converting three fourth-quarter turnovers into touchdowns and took the lead in the game's final seconds with a 26-yard field goal from Kyle Federico. Leonte Carroo caught seven passes, for 157 yards and three touchdowns before leaving in the second half with an injured right leg.

Home against Ohio State

1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes 7 14 21 7 49
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0 0 0 7 7

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See also: 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–1 October 18, 2014 Ohio State, 56–17

References

  1. ↑ Dana O'Neil, "Arrests at Rutgers just the latest in a long list of problems for Scarlet Knights", ESPN, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ Tyler Conway, College Football: "Darian Dailey Arrested for Armed Robbery Latest Details Surrounding Rutgers DB. Bleacher Report . Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ Staff Report, "2 Arrested in University Parkway robbery", Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 24, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Tim Casey, "Rutgers Kicks 5 Players Off Team, Then Wins Its Opener", The New York Times, September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ Dan Duggan, "Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano, receiver Leonte Carroo suspended for first half of season opener", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), August 25, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ Dan Duggan, "Suspended Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo can't wait for 3rd quarter of opener", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  7. ↑ Josh Newman, "Rettig to start Rutgers opener; Carroo, Laviano suspended for first half", The Asbury Park Press, August 25, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  8. ↑ Stephen Edleson, "Rutgers' Kyle Flood should not be coaching", USA Today, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  9. ↑ Associated Press, "Rutgers' Kyle Flood will coach opener despite ongoing academic probe", The New York Daily News, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  10. ↑ Tara Sullivan, "Sullivan: Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood on the hot seat, but problems run much deeper", Bergen Record (northjersey.com), September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ Doug Gottlieb Will Kyle Flood Be Fired?", CBS Sports. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ Brian Lewis, "Kyle Flood under fire after 5 arrest rock Rutgers program", The New York Post, September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  13. ↑ Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers coach Kyle Flood: I will be coaching the game Saturday", New Jersey Advance Media, September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ Chris Rotolo, "Rutgers students react to football players' arrests", The Asbury Park Press, September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Keith Sargeant, "5 Rutgers football players arrested in connection with home invasions and assaults", NJ Advance Media (nj.com), September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Rutgers dismisses FB Lloyd Terry; is sixth player arrested in week", Sports Illustrated, September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  17. ↑ Dan Duggan, "Arrested ex-Rutgers player Tejay Johnson has bright future, lawyer says", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  18. ↑ Anthony G. Attrino, "Another Rutgers football player arrested in home invasion robbery", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  19. ↑ Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers coach Kyle Flood defied academic support staff when he contacted professor, sources say", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  20. ↑ Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers' Leonte Carroo charged with simple assault in domestic violence incident", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  21. ↑ Ryan Dunleavy, "Rutgers Leonte Carooo suspended indefinitely", Asbury Park Press, September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  22. ↑ Adam Rittenberg, "Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo indefinitely suspended for incident following game", ESPN, September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  23. ↑ Steve Politi, "Leonte Carroo suspension is the latest sign Kyle Flood has lost control at Rutgers", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  24. ↑ Adam Clark, "Rutgers board meets behind closed doors as Flood probe continues", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  25. ↑ Keith Sargeant, "How did Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood get into this mess exactly 1 year after signing extension?", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  26. ↑ Ryan Dunleavy, "Kyle Flood unaware of discussion to be had at Rutgers BOG meeting", The Asbury Park Press, September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  27. ↑ Dan Bieler, "Rutgers football coach Kyle Flood suspended, fined for interventions with academic staff", The Washington Post, September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Saed Hindash, "Rutgers football coach Kyle Flood suspended three games", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Steve Politi, Kyle Flood's suspension is over but major questions loom at Rutgers", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  30. ↑ Keith Sergeant, "Rutgers coach Kyle Flood: 'I take the issue of drugs very seriously'", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  31. ↑ Ryan Dunleavy, "Ralph Friedgen stays with Rutgers football as special advisor", myCentralJersey.com (Gannett), February 10, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  32. ↑ Dan Duggan, "Rutgers graduate assistant Charlie Noonan named Holy Cross' defensive line coach", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), February 04, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  33. ↑ Dan Duggan, "Rutgers graduate assistant Sam Williams lands job on Penn State staff", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), March 9, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  34. ↑ Patrick Lanni, "Ex-Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel returns to Don Bosco Prep as offensive coordinator", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers' Kyle Flood on Mike Teel's move back to Don Bosco Prep: 'It's a positive for us as a program'", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), May 29, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  36. ↑ Tom Luicci, "New Football Calling For Three Seniors: Student Coaches to Be Honored Saturday", Scarletknights.com (Rutgers Athletics), November 13, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  37. ↑ Rutgers Athletics. "Rutgers' 2015 Big Ten Schedule Announced" (press release) June 3, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  38. ↑ FB Schedules (USA Today College Sports partner), 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule, Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  39. ↑ Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers Week 1 Opponent: Norfolk State at a glance", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), August 29, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  40. ↑ Keith Sargeant, "Rutgers vs. Kansas | Greetings from the Press Box: Where are the head coaches everyone expected?", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  41. ↑ Dan Duggan, "10 stats to know for the Rutgers-Michigan State game", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  42. ↑ Dan Duggan, "Norries Wilson earned Rutgers players' respect for handling 'tough situation' as interim coach", New Jersey Advance Media (nj.com), October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.

External links

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