Rutgers Scarlet Knights Tailgating

In Game

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.

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Cannon

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 HighPoint.com Stadium.

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