I became an incoming freshman with the Rutgers class of ’74. I have fond memories of being in high school with my fellow current classmate and soon to be R.U. compatriot Matt who was a star basketball player at Sayreville War Memorial High School. In addition to watching the Bombers tear through their opponents on the court, I used to drive up to New Brunswick to catch the big time college games I would read about in the sports pages of the Home News. They had a player who wasn’t the tallest or most imposing figure on the court. He was no Lebron or Shaq yet he played with heart and soul as the starting point guard and became Rutgers basketball MVP in 1967. His name was Jimmy Valvano and he achieved legendary status in life, coaching North Carolina State to an NCAA championship in 1983. He later became an inspiration to many after he succumbed to cancer and established the Jimmy V Foundation, which has helped many patients with treatment and guidance. That is what Rutgers basketball has always meant to me.
During their 1975-’76 Final Four appearance, The Scarlet Knights rose to the top of the nation’s hoop cream and established the program as one of the best in the country, recruiting schoolboy talent from all across the land and abroad. I am happy to say the games have not gotten any less exciting and the RU spirit is alive and well at the “RAC” on the Livingston campus in Piscataway. As of this writing the men’s team is 9-2 and the women’s team is 8-3. Both are looking forward to successful seasons and hoping to be asked to “The Dance” as March Madness looms right around the corner. The men will be facing powerhouses like St. John’s, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Georgetown. The women will challenge perennial poll-topper Tennessee, as well as Miami, Syracuse, Providence and Marquette. The Big East Tournament reigning champion Rutgers men’s team will be defending its title in the last tourney of its kind, as next year, the Knights move to the big time Big Ten Conference. Exciting times for the Scarlet Stars are ahead and you can be a part of it. Tickets are available online and all roads lead to the Rutgers Athletic Center.
For information and sales, check out the official website. And remember…
“RU Rah Rah RU Rah Rah Hoorah Hoorah Rutgers Rah. Red Team Upstream Upstream Red Team. Rutgers Rutgers Rah Rah Rah.”
www.scarletknights.com/basketball-men/history/history.asp
www.scarletknights.com/basketball-women/schedule/schedule.asp