Reaction to an all-time Rutgers loss to No. 25 Illinois

[@dlindy9143]

I can't fathom using a timeout to ice a college kicker when it was a 60 yard field goal in 30mph swirling winds. Even if they had tried for a second field goal after the miss, he would have had information to adjust and potentially make a second kick.

[@bobp2389]

Worse time out since I've been watching Rutgers since late 1960's. Why? To prolong the anxiety of Illinois? Illinois did not have a time out - but given one by Schiano. But remember the media was all gung ho before the rehiring for the 2nd stint, and many of us opposed this process to the AD and President opting to review what happened the first stint when not yet in the Big 10. Credit though the strong showing of talent of Rutgers Players this year - four games could have gone the other way, and the talent showed through from Washington Huskies Game on to the 3 games prior to the Illinois Game - and appreciate those efforts to represent Rutgers at the State U of NJ. Will take dedication for 2025 which is a tough schedule. I appreciate Aaron for seeing both sides of the story. Yes, Bowl Games in the past but have to get ready now for the future higher talent games against Oregon, USC, UCLA, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, and more. Credit again for the Washington Game which could have been called different and credit, yes, the last 3 wins. Do need improvement vs. Big 10 Teams. Aaron is right - yes, need depth. And yes, Dick Anderson was a good Coach as was Bateman and Burns during lower level seasons vs. Ivy League type games, and even Graber and Shea had some decent wins with little resources during rough years vs. Miame, VA Tech, Penn State, and others - they did not have the Kitchen Sink.

[@jasonspitzberg4658]

Hate that the seniors had to go out like that for their final home game. Schiano lost us this game when we had the chance to do something special. What a shame. Go RU

[@markwalters6964]

Rutgers got a gift when they overturned the interception. That ball hit his forearm and it was cradled for the pick. Nothing on video should have reversed the call. Great game though, good luck to Rutgers remainder of season.

[@georgeforbes4875]

His mistake was not that he called the timeout. The mistake was that the timeout was called just before the kick.

[@Delmarvafishing]

I waited to watch this video to this morning, the loss yesterday sucks. At the end of the day, players need to execute and they should have had that play stopped even with Gregs poor decision. Nothing is ever easy in that league, it could be worse we could be Maryland right now

[@kenf235]

Both the time out call by Schiano and the horrible breakdown on defense to allow a 40 yard game winning TD are inexcusable.

[@karlsmith1207]

Any long time Rutgers fan has a hard gut punch with this loss to Illinois for sure. I am hoping the Rutgers players can get up for Michigan State and have a 7-5 season.

[@__hjg__2123]

Thanks AB.. this one hurts A LOT...

[@DanielArbogast-f5z]

I am an Illlinois fan since 1960 and I believe the main reason Rutgers lost was not depending even more on there running back. That man is amazing and has been all season. Every incompletion stopped ths clock. Rutgers not only scored a lot of points but could have controlled the clock even more. Obviously Illinois cant score 23 points in the fourth Quarter if our offense is not on the field. Offenses have to be balanced but when you have a weapon like that running back you have to utilize him to win the game. I think your program has continuity and you should not make changes. By the way in the modern game your coach is not alone in failing to use a dominate running back to win games. What an athlete he is!

[@PaulyP-in-NJ]

Agreed. We left too much time on the clock and should've used Kyle more.

[@johnm8542]

Thank you for taking my words and expressing on your podcast

[@williamtan7781]

Kaliakmanis was fine, especially considering the wind. A lot of the balls were 50/50 and the receivers couldn’t bring them in. Credit to good coverage on the Illi side. Dunno how Schiano can be so bad with some of these game defining calls. You gotta feel for the team, I’m sure they’re wondering how the coach could give away the game like that. I don’t buy into this belief that Schiano is the only coach that can win at Rutgers. Would like to hear more in-depth why so much of the fan base thinks so.

[@yankeeseg94]

Because no other coach has come close. Did you forget Chris ash 78-0??

[@williamtan7781]

Ash had no head coaching experience and only 5 years of defensive coordinator experience. He was also picking up Kyle Flood’s leftovers and dealing with integration into the B1G. And maybe he just wasn’t that good? I don’t know if any realistic candidate could’ve won at Rutgers during the 2010-2020 after Schiano left. But we’re in a better place now and have put a basement and floor underneath our feet. Who’s to say that in 2025-2030 another coach with recruiting credentials and prev head coach experience couldn’t do better than Schiano? I think Greg has done good things in making Rutgers pseudo-respectable, in recruiting, and building up the culture and atmosphere of the team. But I don’t know how far he can take us. Every step forward seems so incremental. Future schedules won’t have all the opportunities this year did. And after a fiasco like yesterday, can anyone imagine competing against the top tier of the conference? Who’s to say someone else doesn’t have a higher ceiling?

[@Tedisntakidanymore]

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! Wow! This defeat easily takes pride of place in the pantheon of great RU athletic fails. All afternoon I was thinking of Teddy Bridgewater, Cincinnati, W Virginia, friggin Kent State on homecoming (with the Orange Bowl guys in attendance) None can touch Illinois.

[@lexwaldez]

Your worst loss... SO FAR. That was weird. The kicker hadn't played a snap. He was pre-iced. Kicking into a 16mph wind and your plan is at best, give him multiple attempts to dial it in? No. Schiano is a good coach that just made a mistake. We're all human and we all make mistakes. That was just a bad mistake. Just like Coach B putting the kicker out there. We all learn from it and move on. ON THE OTHER HAND... timeout or no, the problem was a total defensive breakdown on 4 and 13, 14 seconds on the clock and no timeouts? Three horrible mistakes in a row. Trying the kick, calling the timeout and giving up a tuddy with 4 seconds on the clock. Wild.

[@mikee2511]

Horrible icing of the kicker. I don't think that it actually works

[@adrianliz]

This one hurts.

[@lawsoncoates8334]

This one hurt SO much!! In hindsight right? Agonizing game to watch and have the outcome that it did. I feel for these kids. 😢

[@-musiclee-]

Aaron you’re missing a point here and wrong about Bret Bielemas decision to kick. That was genius. He knew that Schiano was gonna call a time out. So out coached him knowing it was a free practice shot to test out kicker and wind. You ever think of that tactic. ?? Genius!!

[@thescarletfaithful]

@@-musiclee- I know Bielema said that in the postgame presser. That’s not what he said immediately after on the field. Either way, Schiano taking the bait is a tactical mistake of epic proportions.

[@-musiclee-]

@ yes that was dumb. If he was gonna ice kicker. Shoulda been just before , shoulda never let him kick it And why can’t Schiano admit he F$&$ed up? With those conditions it’s NEVER a great if it works. Bad if it doesn’t . Let him kick!!! 🦵

[@sammylee3690]

I definitely feel bad for the seniors who didn't quit after the dismal October. I only got to watch the final 2 minutes of the game. After the go ahead touch down by Rutgers i thought the game was over. I give credit to Illinois on not giving up at all during the next possession. I am frustrated overall as it shows rutgers did take half step forward but isnt quite there yet due to many factors. I do expect a 7-5 season which is a step forward but a disappointment when it comes to the strength of schedule. This was the season where the program was supposed to have taken advantage of the returning players, weaker schedule, and establishing Rutgers as a mid tier B1G program. I think Rutgers has established itself upper team in the low tier of the B1G. I am hopping that the program can at least break into anmis tier program.

[@mr.g3588]

I think Schiano looked at his stupid Algo sheet and it said to ice the kicker. He must not be using the latest AI model that factors in distance and weather conditions 🤨 everyone sitting in that stadium knew there was no way the kick makes it with that wind. The blitz on the last play was icing on the cake. What a disaster

[@PaulyP-in-NJ]

AI model didn't factor in common sense either 🤔 😢

[@markciocco2509]

I encourage all to put this in perspective, it’s a football game. There is substantially worse suffering taking place around the world.

[@georgemcbride7857]

A heartbreaking loss.

[@markciocco2509]

Heartbreaker

[@winningspeechmoments9141]

Rutgers didn't lose on the last play. They lost because their pass defense was non existent in the second half. We made their QB and WR look like Monatana and Rice. Kudos to our offense.

[@user-tr1vy2bq7w]

The game should have been over anyway if the interception wouldn't have been reversed. No way there was enough evidence to change the call on the field. Great game. Go Illini!

[@RSeaker]

It looks as though USC, UCLA, and UW took their lumps in the Big10 this year but will catch up over the next 1-2 years with aggressive recruiting/NIL and portal activity. What is Rutgers doing?

[@CaptainPicardy]

Two steps forward then one painful step back. That’s the price we pay for Sciano. The staff was aggressive, maybe too aggressive considering the injury situations.

[@ignacioa3698]

Yeah Schiano can be a complete moron at times!!!!! Yeah with that end-game performance they deserve to go play at the Alaska bowl under 5° temperatures for all I care. A train wreck of game ending management!!

[@ArthurStolte]

Don't think it is an all time loss. Gut wrenching yes. Schiano does a great job getting the team ready. He needs to get better in these situations.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Aaron you’ve got a mid-roll ad one minute into your videos. I’m not sure if you are aware of it.

[@NOOTNOOT82599]

A long list of missed opportunities in Schiano 2.0 that may come to define his second tenure: 2020 Illinois 2020 Michigan 2021 Michigan 2021 Northwestern 2021 Maryland 2022 Iowa 2022 Nebraska 2022 Michigan State 2023 Michigan 2023 Wisconsin 2023 Ohio State 2024 Nebraska 2024 UCLA And now 2024 Illinois. When will it end? When will we finally beat a ranked team? Other teams can do it. Why not us? It feels incredibly unfair. This was supposed to be a breakthrough year. This season was supposed to be mostly sunshine and rainbows. Instead it’s been mostly pain. Literally and figuratively. How many times this year have we escaped our own incompetence? Feels like too many times to count. Schiano’s decisions late this game feel like fireable offenses. One other side note: For the 3 major sports teams, (football, men’s and women’s basketball. We finally have offenses, but the defenses we’ve been known for have seemingly gone either AWOL or gotten worse. Why is that? I’ll end with this: If we lose to Sparty plus the bowl game Schiano is on the hot seat. If he doesn’t beat at least one ranked team next year, I want him gone. Get someone who can maintain the floor as well as raise the ceiling. No reason we can’t have both. No reason we can’t have a coach who can’t both recruit AND coach.

[@yankeeseg94]

My thing is you are never this harsh on Pike! It took pike 9 years to actually have a team that can possibly make noise in the tournament. And anytime ppl would criticize him you would shut them down! Which it turns out you were right. But you dont defend Greg like that. Not even close

[@ellisgordon2379]

Pikiell has built up a lot more credibility especially when it comes to statement wins

[@yankeeseg94]

@ how? All he has done is go to the tournament 2 times in 9 years. Greg has done it 3 in 5 years. You delusional

[@yankeeseg94]

@ how?? Pike has gone to 2 tourneys in 9 years. Greg has gone to 3 bowl games in 5 years. U delusional

[@michaeldavisnj88]

​@@yankeeseg94Pat Hobbs stepping down as AD two weeks before this football season meant Steve Pikiell's buyout got cut in half. I say put him on hot seat next season if we somehow miss the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row this season.

[@yankeeseg94]

@ idk about that he is recruiting better

[@Newbcardcollector-sv8wd]

Name 5 QB's in the big ten better then Altmayer

[@thescarletfaithful]

@@Newbcardcollector-sv8wd Gabriel, Howard, Moss, Rogers, Rourke, Allar while Brosmer and Edwards are on par with Altmayer.

[@Newbcardcollector-sv8wd]

@@thescarletfaithful yea absolutely no way on moss, rodgers, brosmer and edwards. Not even close buddy. I will give you gabriel, howard and rourke, but that's it . Your delusional if you dont think a QB with an 8-3 record 20 TD's 3 Int, 4 fourth quarter comebacks and 2,375 yards is not a top 5 QB in the league.

[@yankeeseg94]

@@thescarletfaithfulno way 😂

[@jackconnor5123]

Moss is already getting benched. He can't even start the game. How can he better than Altymer? Other QBs you mentioned at least have some reasons. Moss is definitely worse than Luke​@@thescarletfaithful

[@jrmarcus]

@@jackconnor5123 Some of the guys he mentioned are at the same level statistically (except TD to INT difference where Altmyer is much better). There's no way you can say definitively Moss, Rogers, Edwards, and Brosmer are better. He's just being salty and will say anything. This seems to be more of a homer type of channel, and that's fine. Not everyone wants to be a journalist.

[@markciocco2509]

Well, at least there is a basketball game today.

[@drewpballs2276]

Go Illini

[@thelarson1000]

ILL

[@HMStanley4]

I usually enjoy these commentary shows with you, but your emotional point of view as a fan hurt your ability to report fairly. You criticized Schiano for 14 seconds of play. During that one play, who were the DB/S that were on the field? How many defenders were between the 15 and 20 yard lines that did not make the play and were not prevented by a block? Did Altmyer make a great throw in spite of the blitzer coming full speed into his face(smacking him down into the turf)?How did Rutgers with injuries to starters at OL, DL, LB, TE along with Sam Brown and Chris Long (nevermind the injuries that happened during the game to Rogers and Longerbeam) against a team ranked #24 in the nation? What is Altmyer's normal completion percentage as compared to today's percentage vs. that abysmal secondary? At about the 19 minute mark, you read some objective stats and stated the coaches did do some good coaching. BTW, RU will have a difficult time getting the best recruits and transfers as long as there is an (out of control) NIL and RU needs to compete against the pro teams from NY and Philly.

[@thescarletfaithful]

@@HMStanley4 that last play never should have happened. That’s the point. And yes there are challenges which I have acknowledged with injuries and NIL many times this season. But not having depth on the field for the last play once again is on the coaches. And LOL they didn’t need Chris Long and Sam Brown for this game. They had it won. The coach cost them. Appreciate you watching and your comments regardless. Agree to disagree.

[@HMStanley4]

@thescarletfaithful to base an evaluation on 1 play about an honorable coach is ridiculous. It is a tremendously difficult job to keep a team together with this many injuries nevermind competitive against schools with greater resources. Give the man a break.

[@thescarletfaithful]

@ I gave him credit in this episode for doing just that. At the same time, it doesn’t absolve him of a horrible decision that resulted in a loss that cost this team so much.

[@yankeeseg94]

@@thescarletfaithfulyou can make this claim about any decision. Athan fumbling, Igbignosun allowing a 65 yarder with horrible tackling, DBs not stopping 1 player. Any one of those things can change the game

[@thescarletfaithful]

@@yankeeseg94 Of course that is true. But all of that happened and Rutgers was in position to win. Let the opponent kick a 58 yard field goal into the wind and let the chips fall where they may. You play the percentages and that's the right decision, make or miss. Schiano overthought it.

[@thelarson1000]

They were there because Illinois will be in the citrus bowl

[@yankeeseg94]

All time loss is exaggerated. We lose to a top 25 team with a decimated roster. The fact that it was close is thanks to the progress of Schiano

[@marcgreenberg1329]

@Aaron Breitman, the season waa a failure

[@michaeldavisnj88]

@@marcgreenberg1329 According to you.

[@naujelbr]

This is not an all time loss. It’s just not. I don’t know what people are seeing, and I was screaming at Schiano in October. Imagine if that kid hits the field goal before the time out. The D couldn’t go full prevent and give them a closer FG.

[@thescarletfaithful]

@@naujelbr With all that was on the line to secure real progress, the way the lost it makes it an all-time loss for me personally. If you fail to have a winning season it’s a failure. This loss could have implications past this year in my opinion. The weight of it makes it an all-timer to me.