Who’d have believed it?  A top 25 that includes Rutgers before the season even starts.  (And no.  I don’t remember if they were ranked pre-season last year, and, darnit, I’m not looking it up.)

The Scarlet Knights, I believe, owe their lofty ranking to 2 things, and 2 things only: Runnig Back Ray Rice and Head Coach Greg Schiano.  If either one of these 2 figures so much as develops a bad cough during the season, they’re going to bleed votes.  (This mostly holds true for Ray Rice - who will soon be known as the most under-appreciated and highly ignored Heisman candidate East of the Mississippi.  Ever.)  He’s really, really good.  He’s also really short, but that’s nothing more than an observation lacking any wit.  I just like to point it out because I’m a bit insecure and I like to point out other people’s faults, perceived or otherwise.  Woooo sahhhhhh.

Their 2 loss season last year was impressive, but if you look over their 2006 schedule, it’s hard to keep from laughing.  Actually, if you look at their 2007 schedule, it’s hard to keep from laughing too, so I guess they aren’t really set up for much of a let down this year.  Have you ever heard of Norfolk State?

Offense: They have to replace 32-game-starter Ryan Hart at QB.  Let’s see how good Ray Rice is against 11 guys in the box.  Probably still pretty good, but is he gonna be Reggie Bush good?  Because he needs to be.

Defense: Last year’s squad allowed just 14.3 points per game.  Problem is, they’ve got to find replacements for 5 of those guys.

Special Teams: Coached very well by coaches who understand the tremendous importance of blocked punts - an art that is neglected by far too many other coaches.  They’ve also got very good kickers, including the current holder of the all-time field goals scored.

Facts:

• Last year’s win in the Texas bowl was the first bowl win in Rutgers’ history.  It took them 137 years to do it.
• Schiano was offered a reported 2.2 million a year to leave Rutgers for Miami.  A lot of you knew that, but…
• Did you also know that Rutgers’ offensive coordinator, John McNulty, turned Miami down for their offensive coordinator job?  Who’d have imagined that sort of thing happening even 5 years ago?

HLS T25 Meta:

• Highest spot on a HLS Ballot: 10
• Lowest spot on a HLS Ballot: 15
• Average ranking on HLS Ballots: 12.5

Why Alex Trebek Loves Them:

• The first American intercollegiate football game was played between Princeton and Rutgers on November 6, 1869.

Around the Web:

• Knight Hawk
• AOL Fanhouse

HLS Tracker 10 Forecast Says:

They could have a really big year in New Jersey.  The 2007 schedule isn’t exactly murderers row.  You get past West Virginia, and Louisville, and you’re pretty much golden.  I sort of wonder if this is the sort of schedule about which REDACTED has always dreamed.  But if they can’t pass the ball at least a little bit, then they can forget about any BCS games.

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• And So It’s Down To Ten…
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