Rutgers’ Greg Schiano avoids bold predictions, but Scarlet Knights know their goals
Published Jul. 27, 2023, 7:00 a. m.
By Patrick Lanni | NJ Advance Media for NJ. com INDIANAPOLIS — Rutgers coach Greg Schiano left many big-picture questions unanswered at the Big Ten’s Media Day event Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium, but his players vocalized what they hope will define their legacies. When asked about realistic expectations facing his program in 2023, Schiano dodged a bulk of the answer.
“That’s always a tough question,” Schiano said, before offering a sidebar on why every game defines a microcosm of a season. As for what’s a realistic expectation in 2023, no one expects Rutgers to be contending for a national title, but competing for a bowl game — and the team’s first winning season since 2014 — would be a realistic start. Schiano did not budge on that bold prediction, but his players hope they’re the ones to change the narrative.
Tight end Johnny Langan, who has never hid from any opportunity, whether it’s a position change or tough question, answered whole-heartedly. “It’s kind of bowl game or bust for me,” Langan said. “It’s my last go-around here at Rutgers so I just know that I’ll do anything in my power to make that happen.
I’m hopeful for more than just a 6-6 season. I’m just excited to get after it. I think we’re going to shock a lot of people this year.
This team is a lot different than ones I’ve been on in the past. Just the energy, we’re really taking accountability for each other. We’ve been building this up for four years.
We think we have everything in place, and we’re ready to go. ” Asked if a bowl game was on the list of goals for the season, junior defensive end Aaron Lewis agreed with Langan. “Yes, it is,” said Lewis, who has drawn some preseason recognition as an All-Big Ten pass rusher.
“We all want to help this program take that next step. I feel like we’ve turned it around. Now it is time to take that (next) step and really show what Rutgers University could really do.
We put in too much work this offseason to not (do that). ” Like Schiano, Lewis said getting to 6-6 starts with a commitment to each other. “I would feel content if, at the end of the season, I can look back with all my teammates and say that everybody on this team was abiding by the culture, laid out all they could and give everything they could, that’s all I could ask for,” Lewis said.
“Obviously, we want to win a championship, we want to have a positive record. Those are things we obviously want. Now, to have your teammates around you, knowing the guy next to you put everything on the line, that’s the feeling that I want.
” When asked what it would mean to make a bowl game, senior linebacker Deion Jennings, one of the breakout defensive stars from last year’s unit, said “it would mean everything. ” “I’ve been here for six years so to go out on a winning season would be amazing for me because of all the hard work, the time I’ve put in,” Jennings said. “It would mean the world to me.
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