School: Rutgers University
Team: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Location: New Brunswick / Piscataway, NJ
Conference: Big 10
Stadium: Rutgers / SHI Stadium (Capacity: 52,454)
If you’ve gotten this far then I congratulate you. Rutgers has been an absolute doormat in the Big 10, let’s get that out of the way first. However, that does not mean this isn’t a worthwhile weekend you could mix in, especially if you are close by visiting New York City. Any true college football nerd will know that Rutgers is technically the birthplace of college football back in 1869 and this may just be a must-visit on your list. Here’s to hoping Greg Schiano can bring back the magic of Thursday nights in New Brunswick!
The Weekend
Travel: Rutgers is located in New Brunswick, NJ so your easiest method of travel if you are flying in is through Newark. Hop on the NJ Turnpike a half hour south and you’ve arrived.
Lodging: There are a few hotels right in downtown New Brunswick – the Hyatt Regency being one of them – that will put you in the heart of the city and only a ten minute drive from the stadium.
Local Food: The Rutgers University grease trucks get a lot of publicity and are worth a trip. They can be accessed on gameday by the stadiums if you look for the “RU Hungry” trucks. The fat sandwiches will coat the stomach nicely for what’s ahead.
Local Drink: A strip of bars downtown are worth checking out and if you want a good sports bar with legitimately good food, Stuff Yer Face is a solid spot.
The Tailgate
Located across the river in Piscataway, the most popular way to tailgate is in the fields and parking lots around the stadium. This is obviously one of those places where what is going on outside the stadium is just as important – if not more – than what is going on inside the stadium. Plenty of space to tailgate, throw the football around and enjoy the pre-game.
Unique Tradition
The Scarlet Walk is a tradition that, while similar to many other schools that walk their players from the bus to the stadium, holds a lot more history at Rutgers. Each of the players touches the statue that commemorates the first college football game ever played vs. Princeton in 1869. So while they may have recently developed a tradition of losing, you can no doubt hang your hat on the fact that this university is part of the reason this great sport started in college long ago.
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