League: NCAA Football
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Team Mascot: Scarlet Knight
Year Opened: 1994
Capacity: 52454
City / State: Piscataway / New Jersey
Rival Team: Penn State Nittany Lions
Rutgers University wanted a rivalry, so coach Kyle Flood hung a countdown clock to the PSU game in their facility. While this rivalry is fairly one sided in Penn State’s favor, it is still a fun game to watch.
Rutgers puts on a fantastic tailgate each Saturday, and there is truly something for everyone. The students will usually set up tables and play a variety of drinking games and get ready for kickoff their way, while the others in attendance are more laid back and set up grills, radios, and coolers as they relax and enjoy the fall weather. Rutgers is a great place to go if you want to party your face off before noon, or take the family for a fun Saturday excursion.
The pregame festivities include a great pregame show put on by the band and cheer squads which start an hour before kickoff and begins a procession into the stadium and a great line of “grease trucks” which make some of the heaviest sandwiches you will ever come across. They also present a great option for after the game if you’ve been partying with the students all day and need to refuel. Feel free to set up your grills if you want something a little bit lighter; you can do so in the yellow, blue, green and scarlet lots.
One of the coolest things you will see on your way in from New York on game day is the Empire State Building. The massive skyscraper is lit up in red for Rutgers home games. To take all of this in the best times of year are to go in late September and October when the leaves are changing as it presents a very scenic background to the game and tailgates, or against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Maryland for prime games on their schedule.
Approximately two hours before kickoff, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights will be dropped off on Scarlet Knight Way on the north side of the stadium. A tunnel is created by fans, the marching band, and the cheerleaders as the team heads into the stadium.
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The “First Game” Statue at Rutgers Stadium celebrates what is believed to be the first-ever American football game, which was played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. It’s supposed to be good luck to touch the statue before the game, so stop by to bring the Scarlet Knights some extra luck.
For a more family friendly tailgate, the Kids Zone is where to be. This tailgate includes many activities such as games, rides, plenty of food, temporary tattoos, and a poster making station. The Kid Zone opens two and a half hours before kickoff and is a great spot for families.
RAC Lot A majority of Rutgers tailgating happens in the RAC lot to the northeast of the stadium. Contrary to what the “official” rules are, it is okay to set up a tent for your tailgate if you want to and are respectful of others. The lot technically opens three hours before kickoff, but many fans will come earlier and then pay the attendant when he/she arrives.
Johnson ParkOne of the closest options for tailgating is Johnson Park which is right across the stadium. There is plenty of room here for parking and tailgating with fellow Rutgers fans.
Rutgers Kids' ZoneFor a more family friendly tailgate, the Kids Zone is where to be. This tailgate includes many activities such as games, rides, plenty of food, temporary tattoos, and a poster making station. This area opens two and a half hours before kickoff and is a great spot for families.
Before the game kicks off, Rutgers makes a unique, and new entrance that was instituted by former coach Greg Schiano. As the Scarlet Knights make their way onto the field, one player is chosen each week to haul out an axe and drive it into a stump to symbolize Coach Schiano’s keep chopping mantra. The players and crowd go bananas after the axe crushes through the stump and shortly after kickoff takes place.
Rutgers is in New Jersey home to Jon Bon Jovi, and to show this part of their background at the games a 12-year-old boy, Nicholas Sasso, nicknamed Lil’ Jovi will get on the jumbotron and crank out Livin on a Prayer on the air guitar. This tradition started by accident as he was first caught doing it by chance and has become a staple of gameday with his act.
Here comes the boom, Rutgers won’t just remind you with a good hit across the middle they’ll show it to you. The Knights keep a loaded cannon in section 131, and the tradition goes back to when they used to play against Princeton each year, numerous tales of cannon stealing and pranks ensued over time, but the tradition is kept alive today. So, cover your ears when the Knights take one in for six because it’s going to be a blast.
At the end of the game, the band plays the school’s Alma Mater song and the crowd sings along, which is typical at many stadiums. However, at Rutgers what makes this unique is the band usually lets one graduating senior come down and conduct the band for it. Talk about creating a lasting memory.
In section 131, the Scarlet Knights keep a loaded cannon, keeping alive a tradition that dates back to the 1800s and when Rutgers used to play Princeton University, who also have a cannon. Many jokes and pranks have been pulled over the years between these two schools, making the cannon a staple of SHI Stadium.
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Rutgers’ Scarlet Knight mascot has been appearing at games since 1955. The mascot can be seen in his scarlet armor riding his trusty white charger on game day and is a great part of the Rutgers football tradition. Look for the Scarlet Knight to energize the crowd when you’re at a Rutgers football game.
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March, men of Rutgers
Down the field today.
March to another score,
Forward to the fray;
Fight, men of Rutgers
As in days gone by
Fight! For the Scarlet Flag over the rest must fly.
Keep Rutgers colors to the fore
For they must win so fight, fight, fight!
And we’ll advance some more to score,
The Rutgers flag flies high tonight, alright, alright
We’ll fling the Scarlet Banner out,
And Rutgers men will fight, fight, fight, fight, fight;
The bells of Queens each victory shout
The bells of Queens must ring tonight.
RU, Rah, Rah;
RU, Rah, Rah,
Whoo-Rah, Whoo-Rah;
Rutgers Rah
Up Stream Red Team
Red Team Up Stream
Rah, Rah, Rutgers Rah
Keep Rutgers colors to the fore
For they must win so fight, fight, fight!
And we’ll advance some more to score,
The Rutgers flag flies high tonight, alright, alright
We’ll fling the Scarlet Banner out,
And Rutgers men will fight, fight, fight, fight, fight;
The bells of Queens each victory shout
The bells of Queens must ring tonight.
From far and near we came to Rutgers,
And resolved to learn all that we can;
And so we settled down,
In that noisy college town,
On the banks of the old Raritan.
Chorus:
On the banks of the old Raritan (my friends) Where old Rutgers evermore shall stand,
For has she not stood
Since the time of the flood,
On the banks of the old Raritan. Then sing aloud to Alma Mater
And keep the scarlet in the van’
For with her motto high Rutgers’ name shall never die On the banks of the old Raritan.
Repeat Chorus
