One of former Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano’s staffers couldn’t believe his eyes. Waiting on line for autographs at a Rutgers spring game several years ago was none other than James Gandolfini, one of the iconic actors of our time.
But Gandolfini wasn’t just an A-plus-list celeb. He was a Rutgers alum, one who lent his household name of Tony Soprano and remarkably expressive face to helping Schiano build the Scarlet Knights into an upper tier Big East Conference program.
Schiano, now the Tampa Bay Bucs coach, issued a statement yesterday mourning the passing of Gandolfini, a Rutgers graduate of the Class of 1983, who died Wednesday in Italy of a heart attack at the age of 51.
“I am sad to hear of the passing of Jim Gandolfini,’’ Schiano said in the statement. “He was a great supporter of Rutgers football long before it was fashionable to be so.
“His generosity in helping us lent relevance to our football program at a time when it was desperately needed. In addition to his acting acclaim, he will be remembered by all Rutgers people as a compassionate alum and a great New Jerseyian.’’
Schiano and Gandolfini were both Jersey guys before they were connected. Schiano was raised in Wyckoff, Gandolfini in Park Ridge, just just a few miles away..
One of Gandolfini’s best friends, New Jersey chiropractor Dr. Mark Ohlstein, another Rutgers grad and longtime friend of the “Soprano’s” actor, heard a radio interview Schiano did shortly after getting hired. Ohlstein was blown away by Schiano’s passion and commitment, two traits that would describe Gandolfini’s conflicted roles of mob boss and family man.
Ohlstein reached out to Gandolfini and the wheels were set in motion. Gandolfini would film two TV commercials for Rutgers football. He also had his face on a Rutgers football billboard in high school football talent-rich South Florida that read, “Greetings From New Jersey.’’
Gandolfini was a Rutgers football season-ticket holder and would occasionally show up at practice. He never requested any special treatment, even though his TV character, Tony Soprano, would have had someone whacked if he didn’t get seats on the 50-yard line.
In fact, one commercial Gandolfini appeared in, “Horse Head,” was a satire on the strings he could pull. He promises three of his college pals, including Ohlstein, that he got great seats for a game. The four friends are delirious when they walk out of the tunnel and onto the field. But the three friends do not have the best seats in the house. They are then handed the costumes for the Scarlet Knights mascot and horse.
In another poster, Gandolfini — his arms crossed over his chest, that menacing face staring into the camera — has three sentences written above it:
“We can’t fail. We stand tall. This is R year.”
This will be remembered as the year the entertainment world lost a great actor, and Schiano and Rutgers lost a dear friend.