Rutgers Football Head Coach Greg Schiano spoke to the national media on Wednesday in Indianapolis at the annual Big Ten Media Day Conference.
“I love what we are doing. I love the culture we are building,” Schiano said. “We had the highest GPA in program history, and that is something very important to me. Football is a big part of it, but football ends, and their lives continue after it.”
Schiano added that the program is a developmental one at Rutgers and that the pipeline is “almost full” with a roster of players who are starting to make an impact on the program on the field.
“One of the most important things is to know who we are,” Schiano added.
Rutgers opens the season September 3 against Northwestern. The Wildcats fire head Coach Pat Fitzgerald this summer after he was entangled in a hazing and sexual abuse scandal within the Northwestern program. Northwestern appointed David Braun as its head coach.
“We will get what we study. Make sure your own team is ready. I need to make sure Rutgers is ready on the third, because I know Northwestern will be.”
Meanwhile, Schiano announced that Gavin Wimsatt will be his starting quarterback when the Scarlet Knights take the field in September.
“It was just a good time to do it before camp starts. If he hadn’t earned it, it wouldn’t be done. But there are some benefits to know which way you are going to go and do it before camp. Those questions are all off the table and it is not a distraction,” Schiano said of the decision.
Wimsatt struggled last season, playing in eight games, and completing 44 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Johnny Langan, Deion Jennings, and Aaron Lewis also spoke about the keys to the 2023 season.
“I want to win with the guys, the players and coaches. We put a lot of time and effort into what we do,” Deion Jennings said.
Added Aaron Lewis “We talked about taking the next leap; we have to put our foot down and get serious about it. This defense has the aspirations to be amazing. Everyone has to do their one job and chop.”
North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival 2023
