PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Not to discredit the work Rutgers has done, or the wins they have piled up, but for the 24th-ranked Scarlet Knights (7-1), everything that has gone on this season has been the preamble. November will be the payoff.
Rutgers returns to the field today for the first time since suffering their first loss of the season against Kent State on Oct. 27 and suffering through the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy. After a bye week, the Scarlet Knighs play host to Army with the knowledge their final four games will define if their season will be good or great.
Though Army is a non-league foe, a strong finish over the final third of the season is important because Rutgers is 4-0 in the Big East and aiming for its first league title and corresponding BCS berth. After losing 35-23 to Kent State, Rutgers had to alter bye-week plans because of Sandy, and also had to contend with the nor’easter that froze the state.
“[I told them] it’ll be critical that we’re a focused football team and getting back into the business of being 1-”‘0,” first-year coach Kyle Flood said of his Rutgers team that has won eight straight against Army. “Even though we’re in the last of our three four-”‘game seasons, the only thing we can control this week is to try to be 1-”‘0 versus Army,’’
Rutgers, fourth nationally in rushing defense at 88.5 yards a game, will face a triple-option attack that leads the country in rushing. Freshman placekicker Kyle Federico’s status remains uncertain, while sophomore quarterback Gary Nova is coming off a school-record six interceptions in the loss to the Golden Flashes.
“I think it’s no different than coming back out after you have a great performance,’’ Flood said. “You have to learn from your mistakes, because those situations are going to come up again at some point, but at the same time you have to be able to shift gears and start to learn a new game plan.’’