PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Former coach Greg Schiano didn’t just build the Rutgers football program. He was Rutgers football, micromanaging every detail down to the Scarlet Block “R” that adorns the Hale Center and the bumpers of cars from Neptune to Newark to New York City.
When Schiano left in January to take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head- coaching job, the Rutgers community fretted over the fate of the program.
They need fret no more. Rutgers promoted assistant head coach Kyle Flood, who could become the first coach in school history to open 8-0 if Rutgers beats Kent State tomorrow.
“The only people I felt I had anything to prove to is the players,’’ Flood told The Post. “The players had supported me. And I felt I owed it to them to show them from the very beginning that I could make this program just a little bit better.’’
Those who believe Flood is winning with Schiano’s players are missing the big picture. In addition to becoming head coach for the first time, Flood hired eight new assistants. And Flood played a major role in recruiting many of the players now wearing the Scarlet and White.
“Kyle was a big part of what we built,’’ Schiano told The Post. “He wasn’t some pedestrian bystander. He knew the kids, knew the program. And I’m sure he’s put some of his personality in place.’’
He has. Flood, 41, a Queens native who played football at Iona, is the kind of guy you could see yourself having a beer with at a backyard barbecue.
“We always had a sense of it being a player’s team, but Coach Schiano’s a very strong personality and he was at the forefront of a lot of the things that were known for Rutgers football,’’ senior defensive tackle Scott Vallone said.
“He was the consistent presence since we started winning in ’05. But now it’s a new regime and now we’re the ones that have been here for a while. He’s more of a laid back personality and he lets the players take ownership about what happens.’’
One of the things on which Flood stamped his imprint was the doling out of discipline. Under Schiano, there was a closely monitored system of strikes. Strikes for being late could result in tough, 30-minute workouts or other punishment.
Flood came up with a unique version of study hall.
“Club Hale,’’ said Vallone.
Players that break the rules must attend study hall on Saturday nights after games, prime time social time for players.
“You don’t want to be in that club,’’ said Flood.
The Scarlet Knights (7-0, 4-0 Big East) have a chance to do something under Flood they never accomplished in Schiano’s 11 seasons — win a Big East title.
“The South Florida game to me was the first big test,’’ Flood said referring to a 23-13 road win in Week 3. “[Thursday night is] the biggest stage in college football. It’s like Monday Night Football for college.
“The players are thinking, ‘Is he really going to be himself? Is he really going to be the same he’s been throughout this process from getting the job through spring and summer?’ I think that’s where the players, by the end of that game were like, ‘Oh all right this is really who he is.’ ’’
