Thursday, October 02, 2003

Break up Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are 3-1 for the first time since the 1993 season after posting a 48-27 victory Saturday against Navy.

Are they for real?

That question will be answered as the Scarlet Knights play host to No. 4 Virginia Tech at noon Saturday. A near-capacity crowd is expected at Rutgers Stadium for what could be the school's biggest game in the past two decades.

Even if Rutgers gets pounded by the Hokies -- who are favored by 26 1/2 points -- there are some signs that third-year coach Greg Schiano finally might be turning around the program. And it couldn't happen at a better time for the Big East Conference, which won't be able to replace the strength it will lose after Miami and Virginia Tech leave.

The Scarlet Knights' three wins -- against Buffalo, Army and Navy -- won't vault them into the Bowl Championship Series, but it's a start after they lost to Buffalo and Division I-AA Villanova last year and to Navy in 1999. So wins are wins as far as this program is concerned, and the team earned some respect after their 44-28 loss Sept. 6 at Michigan State.

With winnable games against Temple and Connecticut remaining, five wins is certainly within reach. The Scarlet Knights could even get to six considering they play host to Boston College, Syracuse and Pitt down the road. Six wins would mark the best season at Rutgers since 1992, when they finished 7-4.

But there are other signs beyond wins and losses that reflect Rutgers' improvement. Schiano has a few early commitments from promising high school players and is slowly rebuilding credibility with prospects in New Jersey.

Freshman running back Justise Hairston rushed for 161 yards and four touchdowns against Navy and became the first Rutgers player in more than a decade to score four touchdowns in a game. He is one of a number of promising underclassmen that are seeing significant playing time.

The Navy game also drew 32,382 fans to Rutgers Stadium, which is the best attendance at the venue in three years.

Reyes of hope

Syracuse (3-1) was picked to finish sixth in the Big East, but the Orangemen have made a strong showing and could be the surprise of the conference.

The defense is always fairly strong at Syracuse and this year is no exception. But the biggest reason for their success is junior Walter Reyes, who leads Division I-A in rushing (170.25 yards per game). He has 681 total yards, which is the best four-game start in Big East history, and has scored 10 touchdowns.

Saturday, in the Orange's 34-7 dismantling of Toledo, Reyes rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns and averaged 9.5 yards per carry. Last season, Reyes rushed for 1,135 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said Reyes is making a natural progression.

"Walter has had some big plays and the line and the guys on the perimeter have done a great job of blocking," Pasqualoni said. "He had a good year last year and I think he matured some with experience, and what we are seeing now is the continuation of that maturing process. Those things have all contributed to his success."

Reyes success means the Big East currently has the NCAA's leading rusher, passer (Pitt's Rod Rutherford), receiver (Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald) and tackler (Syracuse's Rich Scanlon).

Syracuse has an open date this week but will get a good idea of just how good it is after its Big East opener Oct. 11 against Virginia Tech. After that, the Orangemen face Boston College and Pitt.

Now or never

Temple is 0-4 and that includes a loss to Division I-AA Villanova and losses to Louisville and Cincinnati. That means this week may be the Owls' best chance to avoid a winless season as they travel to Middle Tennessee State (0-4).

The Blue Raiders are 4-0 against current or future (Connecticut) Big East teams. Two of those wins came against Miami in 1931 and '32 and the other two are against the Huskies. MTSU did, however, give Missouri all it could handle Sept. 20th, but the Tigers nipped the Blue Raiders, 41-40, in overtime.

Still, if the Owls lose this week, 0-12 is a possibility. Their remaining seven games are against Big East teams.

Smart team

Boston College (3-2) has been somewhat mediocre on the field, but is a standout in the classroom. The Eagles lead Division I-A football teams with a 95 percent graduation rate based on numbers released by the NCAA in September for players who entered college in 1996.

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