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114 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f RUTGERS' FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS: 1. Can Rutgers survive without a fast start? It needs a fast start, as it faces the ninth-toughest schedule in the nation. 2. Will Gary Nova lead the Knights? Senior Gary Nova' s 17-11 record as a starter and 51/39 TD/INT ratio is good, but not great. A lot of Rutgers' suc- cess will hinge on his right arm. 3. Do new coordinators equal success? Ex-Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen and Joe Rossi will head up a defense that was third-worst in the FBS in passing yardage allowed. 4. Is Kyle Flood the guy? Since replacing Greg Schiano, Flood is 15-11 with two bowl appearances. Yet an early-season stumble, and Flood's seat could get hot. 5. Will the Big Ten be kind to the Knights? How fast it adapts to the new conference on the field and in recruiting tells the tale if it will be a competitor or league doormat. —Bobby Deren, ScarletNation.com Rutgers Tyler Kroft is a big-play threat at tight end after catching 43 passes for four scores in 2013. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2014 PREVIEW • NOT ON PURDUE'S SCHEDULE OF NOTE: Darrell Hazell's Kent State squad defeated No.15 Rutgers 35- 23 on Oct. 27, 2012, to give the Golden Flashes their first win over a ranked opponent in school history. (6-7 overall, 3-5 American, 7th) Date Opponent . . . . . . . . . Results 8/29 at Fresno State . . L, 51-52 (OT) 9/7 NORFOLK STATE . . . . . W, 38-0 9/14 EASTERN MICHIGAN W, 28-10 9/21 ARKANSAS. . . . . . . . . W, 28-24 10/5 at SMU . . . . . . . . W, 55-52 (OT) 10/10 at Louisville . . . . . . . . L, 10-24 10/26 HOUSTON . . . . . . . . . L, 14-49 11/2 TEMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . W, 23-20 11/16 CINNCINATI . . . . . . . . L, 17-52 11/21 at UFC . . . . . . . . . . . . L, 17-41 11/30 at Connecticut . . . . . . L, 17-28 12/7 SOUTH FLORIDA . . . . . W, 31-6 12/28 vs. Notre Dame* . . . . L, 16-29 * New Era Pinstripe Bowl Who's in Charge? COACH KYLE FLOOD Record at Rutgers: 15-11 (two seasons) Record vs. Purdue: 0-0 Date Opponent 8/28 at Washington State 9/6 HOWARD 9/13 PENN STATE 9/20 at Navy 9/27 TULANE 10/4 MICHIGAN 10/18 at Ohio State 10/25 at Nebraska 11/1 WISCONSIN 11/15 INDIANA 11/22 at Michigan State 11/29 at Maryland 2013 RESULTS 2014 SCHEDULE "I don't think Rutgers is going to be able to match up, up front, with the Big Ten competition. They just lack the size and the depth of the offensive and defensive lines. Skill position-wise, I don't think there are enough playmakers, especially on the perimeter of the offense, for the Scarlet Knights to have much success in their debut." — Tom Dienhart, Big Ten Network TOM'S TAKE Wrong Team, Gary! Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova has thrown more interceptions in the last two years than any active quarterback in the FBS, except Washington State's Connor Halliday. Connor Halliday (Wash. State) 35 Gary Nova (Rutgers) 30 Sean Mannion (Oregon State) 28 Bo Wallace (Ole Miss) 27 Sean Schroeder (Hawaii) 26 Download... An updated GoldandBlack.com mobile App or the Android and iPhone at Google Play and the App Store