Introduction
During the course of the 2005 college football season, GRA will follow the fortunes of two New Jersey institutions -- Monmouth University (West Long Branch) and Rutgers University (New Brunswick). Both schools enter their respective campaigns with high expectations. Each team opens its season tomorrow.
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Football season has always been a special, much-anticipated time in the Gillespie household; this year is no exception. Expectations again run high for the programs of my children's alma maters. My son is a graduate of and played football for Monmouth University, winning the program's highly coveted Coaches' Award during the 1999 season. My daughter is a graduate of Rutgers University.
Monmouth participates at the NCAA 1-AA, limited scholarship level, as a member of the Northeast Conference. Although this certainly is not the so-called "big time," the 1-AA level represents extremely well-played, entertaining football that garners a great deal of enthusiasm and fan support.
Over the years, many players have come from the ranks of 1-AA teams to have highly successful careers in the National Football League. In fact, Monmouth senior wide receiver, Miles Austin, has a legitimate chance to be drafted by an NFL team next spring.
Monmouth comes off highly successful back-to-back seasons, having gone 10-2 in 2003 and 10-1 in 2004. The Hawks won the 1-AA Mid-Major National Championship last year, in addition to having shared a second straight Northeast Conference title.
Rutgers is a member of the Big East Conference, which is the "big time." Rutgers' program has struggled mightily for respectability during its tenure as a Big East member. This year, finally, might be the season in which the program does garner at least a modicum of respectability.
Monmouth opens its 2005 season tomorrow, with an away game against perennial 1-AA power, Lehigh University. Lehigh enters the game ranked #14 nationally among 1-AA "majors." Kickoff is 1:00 PM (ET) at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, PA, with the game broadcast via the Internet on WMCX FM.
Although Lehigh is a prohibitive favorite in this contest, son Douglas and his close friend, Mike Rooney (of the Rooneys of Pittsburgh Steeler and NY Giant fame), leave for Bethlehem late this afternoon, to help lead what will be a large, vocal contingent of the Monmouth faithful tomorrow in cheering for the huge upset.
Rutgers also opens its 2005 season tomorrow, with an away game against the University of Illinois. Kickoff is noon (ET), with the game being televised nationally on ESPN2.
The respective 2005 schedules:
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Monmouth Rutgers
(Hawks) (Scarlet Knights)
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09/03 Lehigh Illinois
09/10 La Salle VILLANOVA
09/17 CALIF. (PA) Buffalo
09/24 Open Open
09/30F --- PITTSBURGH*
10/01 Stony Brook* ---
10/08 Sacred Heart* WEST VIRGINIA*
10/15 WAGNER* Syracuse*
10/22 ROBERT MORRIS* Connecticut*
10/29 Central Conn.* NAVY
11/05 St. Francis* SOUTH FLORIDA*
11/11F --- Louisville*
11/12 ALBANY* ---
11/19 --- Open
11/26 --- CINCINNATI*
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Home games in caps. *Conference game.
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