Rutgers' Heisman hopeful has long history of success
On the day in late October when the Rutgers football team took on No. 2 South Florida on national television, they wheeled out a 36-foot tall, high-definition television at Joe Fosina Field in New Rochelle.
It was here that the legend of Ray Rice was born in the New Rochelle Youth Tackle League, and about 500 fans filled the same field to be together to watch "Ray Ray" barrel past defenders and lead Rutgers to an upset.
Joe Fosina, the guy they named the field after and who's been with the league forever, says Rice is a "god" in his hometown.
"He spoke at a (league) reunion dinner in January with players from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and Ray Rice is up there talking about how they paved the way for him," says Fosina, the league president. "He constantly gives back to the community. When he walks down to the field, all the kids go crazy."
They don't need to bring in the big screen tonight because "Ray Ray" will play only an hour away, when Rutgers faces Army at West Point in another nationally televised matchup.
Rice is the school's career leading rusher (4,171 yards) and the face of Rutgers football as it rose from the dead of Division I. There's even a Web site ? seerayrun.com ? promoting the junior's run to the Heisman Trophy.
"I've really enjoyed every moment with it and just embraced every moment," Rice said.
Rice could walk around Rutgers' New Brunswick, N.J., campus with a big-man-on-campus swagger. But all the hype hasn't changed Rice. He's one of the most down-to-earth, big-time athletes a fan could come across.
Teammate Courtney Greene calls his best friend, "the most friendly guy on campus." Rice is routinely stopped and has long chats with students who are meeting him for the first time.
"I'm not naive of the fact that I'm getting well-known," said Rice, who has 1,257 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns this season. "But, every fan I try to shake hands with and let people get to know me. I'm not putting on an act."
Rice's act on the field hasn't changed since youth football. Greene, Rutgers' free safety, was the fullback. Rice, all of 7 years old, was the tailback.
"He was the same as he is now," Greene said. "One or two guys would try to tackle him and he would be running over them, scoring touchdowns."
Rice also excelled on defense.
"He played nose guard and he was in the backfield on every play," Fosina said. "The center and the guard couldn't block him."
Rice's legend grew at New Rochelle High, where he won state Class AA championships in 2003 and 2004.
Monroe-Woodbury was one of Rice's victims. Rice ran for 189 yards and three scores in a 41-0 quarterfinal win in 2004.
"You couldn't arm tackle him," said Chris Dollbaum, a former Monroe-Woodbury defensive tackle. "He'd break any arm tackle. You had to hit him hard."
Now, Rice doesn't run over defenders like he did in youth football. He runs through them. Ask West Virginia safety Ridwan Malik, who tried to lower a shoulder on him a few weeks ago and was flattened.
"Ray Rice is definitely one of those stronger backs," Army defensive tackle Mike Gann said. "He's going to knock you over if you don't bring all your legs and everything with you when you tackle him."
This season, Rice added catching passes and blocking to his skill set.
"Watch him over time, carry after carry, blocking assignment after blocking assignment, and now add catching the ball out of the backfield and you will definitely give him his due," said Charles Davis, a college football analyst for the NFL Network. "He's a do-it-all, down-after-down, Mr. Dependable, all-heart guy that can play."
The Army defense will see for itself.
And so can the New Rochelle faithful.
Army's game plan: Army's rushing attack was invisible again at Air Force Saturday. Quarterback Carson Williams barely had enough time to call "hike" on passing downs. Somehow, Army must sustain a few time-consuming drives against Rutgers, even it means bringing backup quarterback Kevin Dunn to run an option package and energize the ground game. Punter Owen Tolson might be Army's best offensive weapon. Defensively, coach Stan Brock said Army won't stack the line of scrimmage to stop Rutgers' Heisman Trophy candidate, Ray Rice. So tackling Rice at the point of attack is essential for Army to stay in the game.
Rutgers' game plan: Stop a two-game losing streak with a steady helping of Rice to wear down Army's front seven and set up quarterback Mike Teel throwing deep. Don't turn over the ball. Play aggressive on defense and force Williams to find another option other than senior Jeremy Trimble, whom Rutgers will likely double-team.
Watch out for: Rutgers junior wide Tiquan Underwood. Rice gets a lot of the attention, but Underwood is putting up some huge numbers. Underwood has six games of 100 or more receiving yards. He has caught three touchdowns of 65 yards or more. And Underwood isn't afraid to catch the ball in traffic.
Gut check: Army junior cornerback Josh Mitchell gets the start after senior John Laird was lost for the season with a leg injury. Mitchell is a solid tackler. He will have to be on his game against taller receivers Underwood (6-foot-2) and Kenny Britt (6-4).
Crystal ball: Don't give Army much of a chance if its offense continues to play like it has all season. Army had no turnovers last week and still were soundly defeated 30-10 by Air Force. Army has not scored a rushing touchdown in 26 quarters. Rice will have a minimum of three scores.
Times Herald-Record
November 09, 2007
On the day in late October when the Rutgers football team took on No. 2 South Florida on national television, they wheeled out a 36-foot tall, high-definition television at Joe Fosina Field in New Rochelle.
It was here that the legend of Ray Rice was born in the New Rochelle Youth Tackle League, and about 500 fans filled the same field to be together to watch "Ray Ray" barrel past defenders and lead Rutgers to an upset.
Joe Fosina, the guy they named the field after and who's been with the league forever, says Rice is a "god" in his hometown.
"He spoke at a (league) reunion dinner in January with players from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and Ray Rice is up there talking about how they paved the way for him," says Fosina, the league president. "He constantly gives back to the community. When he walks down to the field, all the kids go crazy."
They don't need to bring in the big screen tonight because "Ray Ray" will play only an hour away, when Rutgers faces Army at West Point in another nationally televised matchup.
Rice is the school's career leading rusher (4,171 yards) and the face of Rutgers football as it rose from the dead of Division I. There's even a Web site ? seerayrun.com ? promoting the junior's run to the Heisman Trophy.
"I've really enjoyed every moment with it and just embraced every moment," Rice said.
Rice could walk around Rutgers' New Brunswick, N.J., campus with a big-man-on-campus swagger. But all the hype hasn't changed Rice. He's one of the most down-to-earth, big-time athletes a fan could come across.
Teammate Courtney Greene calls his best friend, "the most friendly guy on campus." Rice is routinely stopped and has long chats with students who are meeting him for the first time.
"I'm not naive of the fact that I'm getting well-known," said Rice, who has 1,257 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns this season. "But, every fan I try to shake hands with and let people get to know me. I'm not putting on an act."
Rice's act on the field hasn't changed since youth football. Greene, Rutgers' free safety, was the fullback. Rice, all of 7 years old, was the tailback.
"He was the same as he is now," Greene said. "One or two guys would try to tackle him and he would be running over them, scoring touchdowns."
Rice also excelled on defense.
"He played nose guard and he was in the backfield on every play," Fosina said. "The center and the guard couldn't block him."
Rice's legend grew at New Rochelle High, where he won state Class AA championships in 2003 and 2004.
Monroe-Woodbury was one of Rice's victims. Rice ran for 189 yards and three scores in a 41-0 quarterfinal win in 2004.
"You couldn't arm tackle him," said Chris Dollbaum, a former Monroe-Woodbury defensive tackle. "He'd break any arm tackle. You had to hit him hard."
Now, Rice doesn't run over defenders like he did in youth football. He runs through them. Ask West Virginia safety Ridwan Malik, who tried to lower a shoulder on him a few weeks ago and was flattened.
"Ray Rice is definitely one of those stronger backs," Army defensive tackle Mike Gann said. "He's going to knock you over if you don't bring all your legs and everything with you when you tackle him."
This season, Rice added catching passes and blocking to his skill set.
"Watch him over time, carry after carry, blocking assignment after blocking assignment, and now add catching the ball out of the backfield and you will definitely give him his due," said Charles Davis, a college football analyst for the NFL Network. "He's a do-it-all, down-after-down, Mr. Dependable, all-heart guy that can play."
The Army defense will see for itself.
And so can the New Rochelle faithful.
Army's game plan: Army's rushing attack was invisible again at Air Force Saturday. Quarterback Carson Williams barely had enough time to call "hike" on passing downs. Somehow, Army must sustain a few time-consuming drives against Rutgers, even it means bringing backup quarterback Kevin Dunn to run an option package and energize the ground game. Punter Owen Tolson might be Army's best offensive weapon. Defensively, coach Stan Brock said Army won't stack the line of scrimmage to stop Rutgers' Heisman Trophy candidate, Ray Rice. So tackling Rice at the point of attack is essential for Army to stay in the game.
Rutgers' game plan: Stop a two-game losing streak with a steady helping of Rice to wear down Army's front seven and set up quarterback Mike Teel throwing deep. Don't turn over the ball. Play aggressive on defense and force Williams to find another option other than senior Jeremy Trimble, whom Rutgers will likely double-team.
Watch out for: Rutgers junior wide Tiquan Underwood. Rice gets a lot of the attention, but Underwood is putting up some huge numbers. Underwood has six games of 100 or more receiving yards. He has caught three touchdowns of 65 yards or more. And Underwood isn't afraid to catch the ball in traffic.
Gut check: Army junior cornerback Josh Mitchell gets the start after senior John Laird was lost for the season with a leg injury. Mitchell is a solid tackler. He will have to be on his game against taller receivers Underwood (6-foot-2) and Kenny Britt (6-4).
Crystal ball: Don't give Army much of a chance if its offense continues to play like it has all season. Army had no turnovers last week and still were soundly defeated 30-10 by Air Force. Army has not scored a rushing touchdown in 26 quarters. Rice will have a minimum of three scores.
Times Herald-Record
November 09, 2007
